Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?

And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just one,

of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.

Hey listeners, this is Nick from Scripture Central, and today's podcast addresses the question,

Why did Stephen rehearse Israelite history?

As the church grew in Jerusalem, the 12 apostles called seven men to assist with the temporal needs of the saints, especially the widows.

One of these seven men, named named Stephen was full of faith and

power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Because of this, Stephen was arrested on

false charges of disrespecting Moses, the law, and the temple. He was brought before the council, where he would offer one of the most well-known sermons recorded in the Book of Acts.

Throughout his sermon, Stephen refers to various events in Israelite history.

As noted by Andrew C. Skinner and D. Kelly Ogden,

Stephen reviews the history of Israel to show how great persons, events,

doctrines, and practices were all types and shadows of Christ, and how all the past culminates

in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. In so doing, Stephen further shows how Israel's history

is a cycle of apostasy and restoration.

Israel has a long history of rebellion against the Lord Stephen shows, which culminated in the rejection of the Messiah.

Stephen begins his sermon by referring to the obedience of Abraham.

The God of Glory appeared unto our Father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia,

before he dwelt in Chiran, and said unto him, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,

and come into the land which I shall shoo thee. Because Abraham obeyed the Lord, a covenant was made

with him that his seed would inherit the

promised land. Abraham's faith and obedience set a standard for his descendants that would,

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