 Okay, welcome back everyone. We looked at the life of Stephen and we saw how he was such a great testimony. He got introduced in Acts chapter 6 and we have already read about his martyrdom in Acts chapter 7. Seems like the Bible presents a very small picture of this man's life. But what an impactful life. So much for us to learn from him. A true disciple we can say of the Lord Jesus. So let's take time to maybe reflect on what we have learned so far. So if there are any questions you may go ahead and ask them. We'll talk about all those things and then move on to chapter 8. So I just have a few questions and one of the first questions that I want to ask is, in verse 3 we say, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush. So it says the angel of the Lord and then it's actually God who is actually speaking and we all know that the bush actually represented God. So God was speaking, it says I am the God of Jacob and Abraham and even in verse 38 I think the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. So even we know that in Mount Sinai it's God actually who spoke. So does the Old Testament the angel actually signifies God always? This is one of the first questions and then I'll go ahead. Guys, Jefina, that's asked like a theologian. I'm glad you noticed that portion there where it says angel. So he said verse 31 of Acts 7 and when 40 years had passed an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush. So we don't really kind of give a lot of emphasis on that because as you pointed out we are very clear that it was God who spoke. And the other was Jefina in verse 38. This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. So you see the angel, right? If you actually look up that word, angelos is a messenger. So just because it says angel does not mean that it's a heavenly being called as we classify angels. It simply means messenger. So God is the one who minister to Moses that we know. So we go by the meaning of that word angel. So in English, yes, it seems like it's the created heavenly being the angels but that's not the understanding. Message, messenger, angelos in Greek. I hope that clarifies it. So the other question that I have is in verse 38, who received the limit of 44 rankers. So I believe it's the 10 commandments maybe but I'm not sure that what this word actually signifies. And they also want to know God verse 43 where it says, I love, can you read the Babylon, God's truth, I mean, I just want to know the meaning of the words of verse 43 and what this meaning or rankers actually means. Yes, sure, Jefina. So going back to the portion where it says this is he was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. And with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles. Oracles that is referring to the 10 commandments which were given to Moses to be passed on to the children of Israel. And verse 43 is it. So this particular section which Stephen spoke is quoted from Amos chapter 5. So basically he is just quoting what Amos the prophet had already mentioned and Amos actually had said beyond Damascus. But for whatever reason Stephen has put the word there beyond Babylon. Okay, now why he did that we don't at least I don't know but he is just what Stephen is trying to say is that even though God was so real to the people they were worshiping other gods and goddesses. So that's why he says Tabernacle of Moloch, Remfan, Images and it's like saying you know God will carry you away beyond Babylon is I don't know in my view it's like judgment isn't it? Like because you're away from God that you will experience God's judgment is what Stephen was trying to tell them. So that's the thing. Does it answer your question or not really but yeah I just shared some views maybe you could look up further. What was the specific? I just wanted to know the meaning of this. Actually I'm not very sure of the Tabernacles and stuff. I'm still early morning. So I just wanted to know what actually my wife mentioned this over here. And the reason as you said it's right because they kept worshiping the other gods but maybe I'll just look up the other gods and show. I hope I'm not taking a lot of... It's good to look into the details. Yeah I have three. So in verse 42 you see they made a verse 41 and 42. It says they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices, rejoiced in the work of the gods. So and then in verse 42 it says that God came the month to worship the post of heaven as it is written. So what does the host of heaven actually signifies? They worship the calf and understand that. Is it the post of heaven is God? I just don't know. I'm just wondering like what he gave them up on. Okay. See here Stephen is summarizing that they worship everything else other than God. That's his point. So he's not being very specific to a timeline where it's only the worship of a calf because he's also speaking of Moloch, Remphan. These are all gods and goddesses of other religions, philosophies, places, communities. So it's not specific to a particular timeline. So in general he's saying you're worshiping everything other than God. So in that context when he says you worship the host of heaven, he means that there was also practices where people worshiped stars, you know, like heavenly bodies and heaven. So you could also infer that as heavenly hosts like maybe angel worship. So all these false practices were there among the people which were picked up from other communities. So that was his point. So I hope it answers. It's not specific to a timeline because if it was only to a timeline, you're right. So when Aaron and all were there, only the calf is mentioned. But it's over a long period of time. In general they are saying that he's saying that your hearts are so far away from God. Okay. Sure. What is the next one? So the next one is I just want to clarify this in verse 22. We see Moses was mighty in words and deeds. But we all know what he said in Exodus 4-10 that I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. Moses says this with God. So I heard people preaching that even if you're me, I explain God will help you through this. And I once, I think it happened in Bible call you on someone objectedly. No, in Acts 22 it says that he's so mighty in words and deeds. So was Moses mighty in words or no? Because he himself said I am slow of speech, slow of tongue. So what is your point? Okay. So for this we must understand the life of Moses. Thankfully Stephen is narrating it like a story. He said the first 40 years of his life, he was in Egypt and he was raised up as a prince of Egypt. So our understanding when it was 22 it says Moses learned it all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds. We accept it as it is because he was scholar, he was learned and a scholarly man. The other people in Egypt would not have had the training and the knowledge which Moses carried. So he was mighty in words and deeds that we know. Okay. Now this was during the time that he was in Egypt. Now he went to become a deliverer of God's people. He struck the Egyptian and then he fled from Pharaoh. He went into the wilderness. Okay. So that is the next 40 years of his life and towards the end of those 40 years is the burning bush experience. So it is said in this way. Okay. I am just sharing what I have heard and a lot of commentators say that in the preparation of Moses maybe he thought that initially he thought that God had chosen the right person. God thank you for choosing me because I am so well equipped to be the deliverer and he went ahead in his own strength to do what God called it to do. But in the next 40 years God worked out his character. Where he came to a point in the next 40 years where he said, why are you sending me? I can't even speak properly. So it's like his dependence moved from self or not even upon God. It was really unfortunate that he was in this position when the burning bush experience happened where he was trying to deny the assignment. Okay. So it's the same person, learned person but he's been through a journey and because of that journey you could say he had a change of mind or he had lost all the confidence which he had in his upbringing. In his qualifications where he had come to a point where he realized it's going to take more than my qualifications to do what God wants me to do. So some people say God built his character to eventually depend on God more than himself. So it's the same that he was mighty in deeds and words but as he went through the wilderness experience his heart changed and his mind changed. So we have to see this timeline difference. I have one final question. In verse 58 we see the cast in mouth stoned him and the witnesses lay down their clothes at the feet of the young man. So you have any idea on what practice is this? Like I feel like it's a cultural practice maybe after stoning they lay down their clothes or something. So I just want to know is there any idea, any significant difference between that? Yes. So yes, Tehfiga, it seems like there was a certain practice once the people were outraged they cast him out of the city. So you do read about this casting out of the city stoning even in the case of Paul. So maybe it was the common way of treating betrayers, treating whatever term you can use but anyone who was convicted under the Roman law. So execution of Stephen happened in the same way as would have happened for any other betrayer. And this is a traditional Jewish custom, so you can read it up. There are certain steps to that where they store the person outside of the city and there are steps to it. I am just looking at one portion here that is describing the Jewish custom of stoning. And it says in some Jewish writing called as Mishnah, the stoning has some steps. Like once the trial is finished, a man is convicted, he is brought to be stoned. Ten cubits from the place of stoning are told to confess their sin. And then they go ahead to strip the person and there are other practices such as the witnesses push the criminal from behind, he falls face downward. So it's a custom of punishment which I think they followed for Stephen also, they tried to follow the same thing. And as far as the clothes is concerned, it doesn't mention here that it is there in the Jewish custom. But my guess is that it could be because remember even Jesus's clothes, it talks about the criminal's clothes, they put lots to actually get it. So something with the clothes could be there, some practice with the clothes. In this case, they just brought the clothes and put it at Saul's feet. One second, one second. Let's look at it. Yeah, let me just have a look at that. Please tell me the verse there, 58. There are clothes. Okay, fine. Yeah, so my apologies. I confuse this with the clothes of Jesus, right? So there are clothes it says, yeah, so then it would be the clothes of the stoners and not of Stephen. So they put down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. So yeah, I don't know, that's part of the tradition also. But you're right, it's their clothes. Okay, could be. It seems like a custom. Yeah, seems like a custom which they practiced. Sure. Okay, thank you. Anything else about Stephen? If others have something to share or talk about, what do you like the most about Stephen? Okay, so Jeffrey is saying boldness. How about the others? Clearly studies the books of the... Yeah. Yes, that's a good idea. Good views from the outside can be... True. So well taught or we could say he had learned the details of the Jewish law and the customs. So that's true. Good church he was quite well aware of. And imagine I began by saying that the initial years of the church were roughly eight years. Isn't it? So Stephen would have been part of the church for like some six years, seven years, something like that. But in six or seven years to have believers like Stephen in the church who are so strong, so bold, full of the Holy Spirit and power is amazing. Yeah. Imagine if our churches were filled with such people. Anything else? Class? The others? Is there any views? Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit is such an inspiring one. Yeah. Yeah. But he's full of the Holy Spirit. True. Thank you. All right. So let's move on. The life of Stephen always is... It kind of makes you upright, awakens you to live that full, bold life for Christ. And let's see what else is happening in the Book of Acts and who are the other people and what they are doing for the Lord. So until Acts chapter eight is the roughly eight years that will be completed. So Acts chapter eight is another beautiful, beautiful chapter which highlights the life of a person known as Philip. And we will see all that God did through the life of Philip. But then the beginning of the chapter is the closing off of the death of Stephen. So there's a little more that is being spoken about regarding Stephen and then we go into Philip's life. So let's begin with Acts chapter eight and verse one. Let's read three verses which are connected to chapter seven and then we can go to the next section. So who would like to read three verses please? Acts chapter eight was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. And the devout man carried Stephen, state them to his burial and made great lamentation over them. As for Saul, he may have a coffin church entering every house and dragging off men and women, coveting them to prison. Thank you Rosalind. So it says a great persecution arose. But the fact is that we have been seeing persecution right from Acts chapter three. There's something or the other that is happening against the church of Jerusalem, the leaders. Now we have seen the death of Stephen, one of the church members has been killed. So persecution has been there all along and it seems great enough. But Luke now describes the season of persecution as great persecution. More than what we have read till now, there is this whole release of persecution against the people who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Against the church, it says, against the church of Saul, all the believers in the church of Jerusalem. And what happened as a result of this, people were scattered. That is understandable. Maybe they fled for safety to other parts of the Judean region. They fled for safety to outside of the Judean region. But what did they carry in these, let's say, you know, seven years of being in the church? Hopefully they were all, most of them were like Stephen, you know, equipped with the word filled with the Holy Spirit. And these ready people gave it to other parts of the region. The Apostle's state back is what we are told. So it also specifies it throughout the region of Judea and Samaria. So that's primarily where the people went. And it also tells us a little bit about burial of Stephen. So obviously, Stephen was stored, he died, but the church ordered his life by burying him. And they were all broken or grieving because of the death of such a precious person in their lives. And they lamented or they grieved over the death of Stephen. There is a mention of Saul here twice in these three verses. Earlier we saw that people put their clothes at his feet. But now twice it says Saul consenting to the death leading the team that persecuted Stephen. Third was Saul, he made havoc of the judge. So we must understand that persecution of the church was a reality. But there is an individual who is heading up or who is keen to this persecution, which would be Saul. And so we get this image of the man known as Saul that he was truly zealous to defend his faith. Now why do you think this young man was so zealous to go against those who believed in Jesus? Any idea why Saul could have been full of fire to kill people, drag them out of their homes, do all the things that he was doing. Maybe you can speak it to the... So I remember Paul saying in one verse that because of Christ I think nothing is meaningful anymore. And there he says I am imperfect. Like he was a real Jew and how much more he can get. Maybe one of his thought was he believed so much in this Jewish tradition. He had so much idea about the Jewish tradition where he might be soon too much into the tradition that might have led to this. It's just one of my views. Thank you, Jafina. So yes, Paul does talk about himself as somebody who was brought up in the Jewish traditions better than anyone else. So Philippians chapter 3 verse 5 where he says he was circumcised on the eighth day. So you see all the law was followed very correctly in his upbringing. And then he says that he was of the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews and a Pharisee. So his qualifications in the Jewish faith were notable. And so he carried the pride of being a Jew, being a Pharisee. We know the perspective that the Jews had about Jesus that he came to go against the laws of Moses and the instructions of worship. So even Paul or Saul at that time he had the same mindset that Jesus and all his followers where a threat to the faith which they had practiced all their lives. And that is why he wanted to go against the believers of Jesus Christ. Also one thing that comes to my mind is that though he was doing all these things somewhere we can sense that he was true to what he believed even when he was not a follower of Jesus. You see his character, his personality, he is so passionate, isn't it? He is so passionate for what he believes that before he comes through Jesus he is a persecutor. And what does the passage say? What kind of a persecutor was he? In verse 3, he made havoc of the church, meaning he created a big scene. That means a lot of people were being persecuted and people were scared that they heard the name of Saul. Entering every house it says meaning mercy, no mercy. He did not have any compassion for the followers of Jesus. And it also adds there dragging of men and women. So when Luke writes men and women the understanding we get is that ok, dragging men that may show that the people are brutal. But dragging women shows that they were beyond brutal because they had no mercy even for women. And that's the kind of anger that Saul carried in his heart for those who were going against the Jewish faith. Now he was also putting people in the prison so it gives us a very scary picture of this man called Saul. Whenever we see somebody who is against God to this extent our finite thinking says that God can work in anybody's life but this person, isn't it? That's the way we think but we will see that something amazing happened in the life of this man called Saul. So now let's move on. We will read the passage ahead of verse 3. Let's read verses 4 to 8. So whoever is an expert who would like to read, can go ahead and do this. Let's speak quicker that we can complete chapter 8 otherwise we will have to carry it on to the next session. Therefore those who were scattered when everywhere preaching the word then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord had heeded the things spoken by Philip hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirit crying with a loud voice came out of many who were poses and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Thank you, Zully. As I shared earlier we are introduced to a new person in the church. His name is Philip. Have we read Philip's name anywhere else? I am saying new person because a lot of details we will understand about Philip's life. But is there a mention of his name anywhere else? Do you remember? Yeah, in chapter 6. That's right. So the 7 men who were chosen, Stephen was one of them, so was Philip. So we talked about Stephen a volunteer and now Philip a volunteer also. But what is the impact of the life of this man called as Philip? So there are details about Philip's life in Acts chapter 8. Here what we are seeing is Philip went out to the city of Siberia. So he has gone from Jerusalem to Siberia to what? To preach Christ to the people. That means that he is performing a very evangelistic role to take the gospel to another part of the region. And we notice how when he spoke lots of people responded. So multitudes it says, multitudes responded to the preaching of Philip. And what kind of preaching did he do? What kind of ministry did he do? Very much in line with the kind of ministry that Jesus did because along with the preaching were the miracles. So verse 6 says people were hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. So preaching along with ministering the supernatural power of God. That's how he did ministry. Now what else happened in his ministry? Unclean spirits crying with the loud voice came out of many who were possessed. So deliverance. He laid miracles, deliverance. Last portion is again healing. Even the paralysed labor he is what we see. Now notice verse 8 it says there was great joy in the city. Now think about this. One believer goes to another city to preach that Jesus is the Messiah. It's almost like a picture baby. The picture we get is how crusades were held. But people will go to a particular place and have a crusade meeting or something. Talk about Jesus and healing state place, deliverance state place. All this happened. So when the gospel is preached, when the power of God is devastated powerfully. What happens verse 8? There was great joy in that city. So even for us. But we minister the word of God, the gospel of God. And the power of God. What happens in the lives of people? This is what is supposed to happen that there is great joy. Because God's power is intervening in people's lives. They are being set free. They are being restored. They are being called according to the purpose that God has for them. They are being saved. They are being transformed. So overall in the city, in Samaria, what happened? There was great joy. So as ministers of God, when we go, we step out and we take the gospel out. Let's remember that our ministry can be like the ministry of Philip. So powerful that it actually brings transformation and joy in the city. Now what were the reactions of the people in the city of Samaria? Let's look at that. We will specifically look at the reaction of a sorcerer by the name of Simon. So let's read from verse 9 to verse 13 and then we will continue from there. Who would like to read this passage? Yeah, Rosalind, please go ahead. Verse 9. But there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest sorcery of all time. Okay Rosalind, sorry to interrupt you. There seems to be some delay baby in hearing your voice. Maybe it's the correction. So I would need to request another person to read it. Jefina, could you please read? Acts chapter 8 verse 9. But there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great to whom they gave all heed from the least to the greatest saying this man is the great power of God and they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ both men and women were baptized then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Okay, so something very very interesting for us to do. There is a man, it's a man here and what is the description about this man? He was called as the great power of God and we know that he is a sorcerer. Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city so he practiced sorcery and he's called as the great power of God so which tells us that he must have done some supernatural works that's what people are looking at him as the great power of God and what is his response to the ministry of Philip? We are told that Philip preached about the kingdom of God people believed, people were baptized Simon also believed that means that the supernatural through the life of Philip or the ministry of Philip must have been very real. Think about it because there is a man who has moved in the occult in a very powerful way and he is listening or witnessing the ministry of Philip how could such a man be amazed to see what is going on unless what is going on is greater than what he has experienced of the spiritual realm. So something for us to think about we said that Philip is just a volunteer he has come to sub-area to preach the gospel but with mighty sides and vandals there is a steeped in the church there is a Philip in the church what a church isn't it? That even a sorcerer he believed it says verse 13 Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip had was amazed seeing the miracles at sides which were done so the reality of the supernatural in the times of the early church is something to be noted because unless the miracles were authentic the miracles were distinct or they stood out above the people a sorcerer will never be amazed isn't it? because he is being called as the power of God by the other people but if Simon the sorcerer is surely the supernatural would have been demonstrated incredibly in the city of sub-area and lot of people believed they were baptized so they became followers of Jesus so Simon the sorcerer also became a follower of Jesus what else is happening in the city of sub-area let's read let's go from verse 14 and read till verse 25 I would request Zellie to please go ahead and read is that okay? Zellie could you? Now when Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent Peter and John to them who when they had come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as he had fallen upon none of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and when Simon saw that through the laying of the Apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money saying give me this power also that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit but Peter said to him your money perished with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money you have neither part nor portion in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray God if perhaps perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you for for I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bond by iniquity then Simon and certain said pray to the Lord for me that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me so when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord they returned to Jerusalem in many villages of some of Samaritans sure thank you so much Jazali we can look at the life of Simon these verses but also before we go to Simon's life look at how the leadership of Jerusalem functions so that is a new city where people are accepted Christ don't you think they should just be happy with that but they send out Peter and John to do what to go and minister the baptism with the Holy Spirit so the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an important next step after accepting Christ as far as the early church leaders are concerned so this is a pattern everywhere first they will go preach the gospel people will believe they will repent they will be baptized they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit they will be taught about it and they will be prayed for so that they may receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit and when Peter and John were sent to the Samaritans they laid hands on them and the people received the Holy Spirit now notice Simon saw it says it was 18 the lay on of the apostles hands and he offered them money so what we must understand here is when the apostles laid hands there was a baptism in the Holy Spirit but then there could have been some supernatural manifestations isn't it that is the reason Simon actually noticed something and he offered money for that so our thinking is that by the lay on of the hands there were supernatural manifestations that's the point so why should Simon offer money unless something supernatural took place by the lay on of hands maybe the gifts of the Holy Spirit were manifested which he noticed and was amazed by and he offers money to the apostles he says give me this power also that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit so you see he is making the power of God very transactional I'll give you this you give me that but this comment really upset Peter and he says let your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money we can't buy the power of God we can't buy the work of the Holy Spirit it is like this honoring God isn't it we think like this that we can give something to get what the Holy Spirit is doing so Peter calls up to repent it says you must repent of your wickedness perhaps God may forgive you but also verse 23 is very interesting because we are told that Peter rebukes and says you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by equity so it shows us that Simon being the believer was caught up in the works of the flesh what is that bitterness, equity and Peter again by the Holy Spirit remember Peter earlier analyzed and sapphira he could dessert that I was desserting about Simon the sorcerer and he said it's not right the way your heart is you may be a believer but your heart is not right before the Lord and he actually rebukes him so let's just stop here we will pray it close and then we will continue on to the rebaving of Philippe's ministry in the next class so I just want to request Sabar to please go ahead and pray J. Heavenly Father we come to under the name of Jesus we thank you for this day we thank you for the class that we had we thank you for the power and the authority that you have given us Jesus we thank you for the Holy Spirit we thank you for baptizing us filling us with the Holy Spirit for an amazing time we are living in Jesus where we have the revelation of the cross the revelation of the Holy Spirit God I just pray that as we are learning this truth will the passion for your temple the passion for your kingdom the passion for us to mightily over the places where the people have lost it will keep growing in our house and not only in the book of Acts but even us ourselves will move in the mighty presence of God we will move in the authority of God we will move in your power and house Stephen was defined as a man of full of faith and power Jesus and our life will be defined like that our testimony will be like that help us to have such boldness and passion and desire for your kingdom we give you all the glory and honor Jesus name of Jesus Thank you Jafina class I am really sorry I don't know why I always have a cold once I put on these edibles I don't know if it has to do something with the pressure that is causing here but my apologies for all the slippers different interruptions but I hope it won't take away from what we are learning regarding God and his power so please do pray for me I really trust that I would that I will be well from this whole situation in the coming classes thank you so much for your patience and adjusting God bless you all let's wrap up for now and we'll see each other in the next class God bless you