What was Stephen trying to accomplish in this sermon?
Stephen's purpose in this sermon was to bring the nation of Israel to the knowledge that the one they had killed was the King. This aligns with the whole premise of these early chapters of Acts, where Stephen reviews Israel's history to show their rejection of God's deliverers and ultimately their Messiah.
Les explains that Stephen’s whole purpose in this sermon was to bring the nation of Israel to the knowledge that the one they had killed was the King. Stephen builds his argument by recounting Israel’s history, including Moses’ own attempt to deliver Israel when he supposed his brethren would understand, but they did not. That pattern parallels Christ’s first coming: He presented Himself as Messiah and King, yet the nation did not comprehend who He was. Stephen’s sermon aims to confront them with that reality, as part of the premise of these early chapters of Acts.