Who did Stephen preach to in Acts 7, and what history did he review?
Stephen preached to his Jewish religious leaders. His sermon reviewed Jewish history, going all the way back to Abraham, and then referring to the forefathers who came out of Egypt under Moses, beginning around Acts chapter 7 verse 36. The context also ties this to Israel passing through the Red Sea and being baptized unto Moses.
Les teaches that in Acts chapter 7 Stephen is preaching a tremendous sermon to his Jewish religious leaders. Stephen has gone all the way back to Abraham and brought the Jewish history before them. Then, beginning around Acts chapter 7 verse 36, Stephen refers to their forefathers who came out of Egypt under Moses. Les connects this with I Corinthians chapter 10, where Paul goes back to Exodus and reminds the Corinthians that the fathers were under the cloud, passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Les points out that this baptism does not mean they got wet, because they walked through on dry ground. He ties the idea of baptism here to the called-out assembly, the Ecclesia, the Church in the wilderness, and notes that Israel was not baptized to become members of that Ecclesia.
More Questions
What does Stephen do in Acts 7 before he applies the rebuke to his Jewish audience?
Stephen's speech in Acts 7 traces Israel's history all the way up from Abraham, builds on the Abrahamic covenant and the promises made to the nation, and then applies it to his Jewish audience.