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Acts
7:1-60
 | Reading the Text:
|
| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 |
Chapter XIV,
On
Patience,
Tertullian
(c. 202) |
|
Chapter LV,
On
the Resurrection of the Flesh,
Tertullian
(c. 211) |
|
Chapter XXX,
Against Praxeas,
Tertullian (c. 213) |
|
Chapter XV,
Scorpiace,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
II.1,
V.2,
Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320). |
|
III.XII.13,
Adversus Haereses,
Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
|
On the Advantage of Patience
--
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 256) |
| From the
Geneva Notes.
 | "The nearer that martyrs approach to death, the nearer that they rise
up, even into heaven, as they behold Christ." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "Suffering times often are growing times with the
church." |
|
| From
Wesley's
Notes.
| "O
Saul, couldst thou have believed, if one had told thee, that thou thyself shouldst be
stoned in the same cause?" |
|
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "How bright the record of this first martyrdom
for Christ, amidst all the darkness of its perpetrators; and how
many have been cheered by it
to like faithfulness even unto death!" |
|
| From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "His faith was so strengthened that, by faith, he saw the Savior in
Heaven, through the opened heavens. The scene was revealed to his soul, instead of his
eyes." |
|
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
|
Commentary,
Acts 7:55-60, C. Clifton Black, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
|
"Acts 7:55-60 is a doubly
cautionary tale. For those who persist in God's way, suffering
awaits... We terribly mislead our congregations and repudiate
scripture when suggesting that, for the sake of Israel's hope, we
too are not bound by this centuries' long chain (Acts 28:20). On the
other hand, as religious people we are subject to horrible
self–deception about our own righteousness, which consents to the
death of witnesses for the One who alone is Righteous (Acts 7:52-53;
8:1)." |
|
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"'You
received the Law as given by angels and did not keep it, (Acts 7:53),"
William Loader, Being the Church Then and Now: Issues from the Acts of the
Apostles.
| "What does it mean to keep and
understand the scripture?" |
|
|
"The Son of Man Standing at God's Right,"
Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
|
Commentary, Acts 7:2-16, Genesis 50:24-26, Safiyah Fosua,
The African American Lectionary Commentary,
2008.
| "Kwanzaa presents a unique
opportunity for our faith community to celebrate its black Christian
identity. This cultural observance should not be seen as something
outside the faith; the spiritual values of the Nguzo Saba are
consistent with Judeo-Christian spiritual values. The texts selected
for this liturgical moment prod us to remember the faithful who have
gone before us." |
|
|
"Precious Stones," Jenny Williams, The Christian Century,
2005.
| "If the flesh of Jesus could
break down the dividing wall between both Jews and gentiles and make
them into one, then surely the resurrected Christ can build farmers
and stay-at-home parents and mechanics and doctors into a dwelling
place for God." |
|
|
"Sticks and Stones," Scott Bader-Saye, The Christian Century,
2002.
| "In the simple act of feeding the
widow, Stephen does the works of Jesus, but in the process he opens
himself to the forces of the world that will not stand for such a
witness and he is stoned to death." |
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"Stephen's Defense and the World Mission of the People of
God," J. Julius Scott, Jr., Wheaton College
Distance Learning. |
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| Articles & Background:
|
"Acts
7:30-32: Recitation," at Dr. Vernon Robbins'
Encyclopedia of Socio-Rhetorical
Interpretation.
| "Abbreviation of the saying is especially noticeable in this context, since
the words in the Septuagint text are explicitly attributed to the Lord God. One might
imagine that direct speech of God would be recited exactly the same." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Bader-Saye, Scott,
"Sticks and Stones," The Christian Century, 2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Bovon, François,
"Beyond the Book of Acts: Stephen, the First Christian Martyr,
Traditions Outside the New Testament Canon of Scripture,"
Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2005.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Bovon, François,
"The Dossier on Stephen, the First Martyr," Harvard Theological
Review, 2003.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Brodie, Thomas Louis,
O.P.,
"The Accusing and Stoning of Naboth (1 Kings 21:8-13) as One Component of
the Stephen Text (Acts 6:9-14; 7:58a)," The Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 1983.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Donaldson, Mr. T.L.,
"Moses Typology and the Sectarian Nature of Early Christian
Anti-Judaism: A Study in Acts 7," Journal for the Study of the New
Testament, 1981.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Moessner, David P., "'The Christ Must Suffer': New Light on the Jesus -- Peter, Stephen, Paul
Parallels in Luke-Acts," Novum Testamentum, 1986.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Munoa, Phillip B., III,
"Jesus, the Merkavah, and Martyrdom in Early Christian Tradition,"
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Richard, Earl,
"Acts 7: An Investigation of the Samaritan Evidence," Catholic
Biblical Quarterly, 1977.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Richard, Earl,
"The Polemical Character of the Joseph Episode in Acts 7," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 1979.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Sayles, Guy,
"'Do Not Hold this Sin Against Us': An Expository Reflection on Acts
6:9-7:60," Review & Expositor, 2006.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Scott, J. Julius, Jr.,
"Stephen's Defense and the World Mission of the People of God,"
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1978.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Scott, J. Julius,
Jr., "Stephen's Speech: A Possible Model for Luke's Historical Method?"
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1974.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Sylva, Dennis D., "The Meaning and
Function of Acts 7:46-50," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1987.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Via, Jane, "An Interpretation of
Acts 7:35-37 from the Perspective of Major Themes in Luke-Acts,"
Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1979.
Image Browse-
PDF |
| Williams, Jenny, "Precious
Stones," The Christian Century, 2005.
Image Browse-
PDF |
| Wright, David F.,
"The Testimony of Blood: The Charisma of Martyrdom," Bibliotheca
Sacra, 2003.
Image Browse -
PDF |
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| Reviews:
|
Review:
Joachim Jeska, Die Geschichte Israels in der
Sicht des Lukas: Apg 7,2b–53 und 13,17–25 im Kontext antik-jüdischer
Summarien der Geschichte Israels.
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2001. Review by Kenneth Litwak in SBL's Review of
Biblical Literature. (Review is in English.) |
|
Reviews:
Todd Penner, In Praise of Christian Origins:
Stephen and the Hellenists in Lukan Apologetic Historiography.
T&T Clark, 2004. Reviews by Torrey Seland and William Malas, Review of
Biblical Literature, 2005. |
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| Sermons:
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| With Children:
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"Stephen Dies for
His Faith in Jesus," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
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"Stoning of
Stephen," Fr Max Bowers, Kids Church. |
|
"Stephen,"
children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian
Center. |
|
Crossword
on Stephen, Don Crownover's Bible
Puzzles. |
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| Drama: |
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
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| Hymns and Music:
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| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
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| Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts |
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