THEMES FROM THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (a) Give an account of Stephen's defence before the Sanhedrin. (b) State three lessons that ca...

Answer Details

a) In Acts 7, Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin to face charges of blasphemy. In his defense, Stephen tells the story of the Jewish people, from Abraham to Moses to David. He emphasizes how God has always been with them and has delivered them from their enemies. But then he accuses the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit and betraying and murdering the righteous prophets who spoke of the coming of Jesus. Stephen's defense is a bold and powerful declaration of the truth, but it angers the members of the Sanhedrin, who proceed to stone him to death.

b) From Stephen's defense, we can learn several lessons. First, we can see the importance of knowing and understanding the history of our faith. Stephen's defense shows how God has been at work throughout history, leading up to the coming of Jesus. Second, we can learn the importance of boldness in our faith. Stephen fearlessly proclaims the truth, even when it puts him in danger. Third, we can learn the importance of forgiveness. Even as he is being stoned, Stephen prays for his persecutors, asking God to forgive them. These lessons can inspire us to deepen our own faith and commitment to God, and to share the good news of Jesus with others, even in the face of opposition.