In the final scenes of Acts chapter 6, we watched as Stephen was hauled into court and accused of blasphemy—a charge which, if proven, could result in his lawful execution. Luke recorded the accusations against Stephen when he wrote, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law" (Acts 6:13b, NKJV).
The high priest gave Stephen the opportunity to defend himself against the charges that had been leveled against him. Luke wrote, "The high priest said, 'Are these things so?'" (Acts 7:1a, NKJV).
Stephen responded to the high priest's question by preaching a wonderful—if somewhat lengthy—sermon. Stephen's sermon consisted of historical example after example that the ancestors of the Jews who were interrogating him had consistently resisted the Holy Spirit, and then he concluded that they were doing the same thing. Luke wrote, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you" (Acts 7:51, NKJV).
We have learned that there was a recurring theme in Stephen's sermon: The Jews "resist the Holy Spirit," and then God extends mercy to them. The Jews "resist the Holy Spirit," and then God extends mercy to them. The Jews "resist the Holy Spirit," and then God extends mercy to them.
In last week's lesson we examined the fourth historical example Steven gave as proof that the Jewish people were guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit—"The Story of a National Event." In today's lesson we will examine the final historical example offered by Stephen as proof that for generations the Israeli people had been guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit—"The Story of David and Solomon."
