Stephen preached an expositional sermon overview of how Jesus is fulfillment of their Scriptures:
- Abraham: God appeared to Abraham and promised Canaan to his offspring, but foretold of slavery in Egypt for 400 years, but then God would judge Egypt. Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, and Jacob was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. As the time of promise drew near the people grew numerous in Egypt, but they were enslaved.
- Moses: Moses was born, was beautiful in God’s sight, and was instructed in the wisdom of the Egyptians. At 40 he avenged the death of a Hebrew, but they didn’t understand that he was seeking their salvation, so he fled. At 80 an angel appeared to him in a fiery bush. God said to him that he would deliver his people, and he was sending Moses to Egypt as ruler and redeemer. Moses led Israel out of Egypt through signs and wonders. Moses said, “God will raise up a prophet like me from your brothers.” Israel rejected God worshipping a golden calf. This led to judgment in exile to Babylon.
- Joshua: Israel came into Canaan.
- David & Solomon: David wanted a house for God, but Solomon built it. But the Most High doesn’t dwell in houses made by hands.
He then applied this to their hearts – their fathers killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One [Jesus], whom you have now betrayed and murdered. You had God’s Word, but didn’t keep it. They were enraged. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” They cast him out of the city and stoned him to death under the direction of Saul [later the apostle Paul]. As they were stoning him, Stephen said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he said this he died.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word. The entire history of the Old Testament was pointing at Jesus Christ. Israel failed yet God is faithful to His Word. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on Jesus’ account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Do not fear this world. Go out in confidence. In Christ death is not dying. Do not fear those who can kill the body and not the soul, rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.