Acts, 7
23. And when he was forty years old, he wanted to visit his own people, the Israelites.
23. And when he was forty years old, he wanted to visit his own people, the Israelites.
Acts of the Apostles 7 narrates Stephen's speech before being stoned to death. He defends the Christian faith before the Jewish religious leaders, explaining the history of the people of Israel and pointing out how Jesus is the realization of God's promises. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in this chapter:
Genesis 12:1 - "Then the Lord said to Abram, 'Get out of your land, the midst of your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the earth I will show you.'" Stephen begins his defense by quoting the story of Abraham, who left his homeland to follow God.
Exodus 3:5 - "God said, 'Do not approach. Take the sandals out of your feet, for the place where you are is Holy Land.'" Stephen mentions Moses and his experience with God in the burning bush to emphasize that God is holy and worthy of worship.
Isaiah 66:1-2 - "Thus says the Lord, 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth, the dais of my feet. What will you build for me? Where will you build a temple? A temple as great as I do? Since when I did the universe, all these things exist. Stephen argues that God cannot be limited to one place, such as the temple in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 7:2-7 - Hear the word of the Lord, all the people of Judah who enters these doors to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Correct the way they are following and them Things they are doing, and I will make them dwell in this place. Do not trust in misleading words, saying, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!'. If you correct the way you are following and The things they are doing, if they actually practice justice, each of them next, and did not oppress the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, nor spill innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods for your own ruin, Then I will make them dwell in this place, in this land I gave to their ancestors forever. Stephen accuses religious leaders of being hypocritical, for they were disobeying God and trusting in their position as leaders of the temple rather than obeying God.
Psalm 110:1 - "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit you to my right until I put your enemies as a dais to your feet." Stephen closes his speech by pointing to the exaltation of Jesus, who is at the right of God and is the true leader and savior.
“O bem dura eternamente.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina