Who rehearses the history of Israel in Acts 7 like Paul does later in Acts?
Stephen is the one who rehearses the history of Israel in Acts chapter 7. He is described as rehearsing again the whole history of Israel, just like Paul does a little later on in the book of Acts. This identifies Stephen as the person in view.
Les explains that Stephen is rehearsing again the whole history of Israel, just like Paul does a little later on in the book of Acts. Then in Acts 7:6, Stephen says Abraham's seed, or offspring, would sojourn in a strange land, be brought into bondage, and be treated evil. Les notes the time is given as 400 years rather than 430, but says this is not a contradiction; it is simply a benchmark of where they measure time. Les also uses a map illustration with the Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mediterranean, and Euphrates River, and points to Ur, where God first spoke to Abram and told him to leave Ur and his family for a land God would show him, which would be Canaan. He suggests Abram may have been fifty years old when the Lord first spoke to him.
What details does Acts 7 contain that are not found in the book of Genesis?
Acts 7 supplies details absent from the Genesis account: Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, became the top man in Egypt under Pharaoh, was mighty in words and deeds, and his life divided into three 40-year segments—Pharaoh’s palace, desert sheepherding, and leading Israel.
Why does Stephen recount Israel's whole history in Acts 7?
The provided context does not state why Stephen recounts Israel's history; it only shows he rehearses it, as Paul later does, tracing Abraham's seed, bondage in a strange land, and the 400-year period, clarifying it is a time benchmark, not a contradiction.
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.
Why does Les take the class to Acts chapter 7 when overviewing the book of Acts?
In overviewing the book of Acts, Les brings the class all the way to Acts chapter 7 in order to lead up to Saul of Tarsus and the outcalling of the Church, which is the next part of resurrection.