One of the greatest benefits of the Holy Spirit is the wisdom He bestows and the ways and means He imparts to enable a person exercise that wisdom. Our instant discussion centers on the response and defence of Stephen to the charges levelled against him. False accusers and false witnesses had charged him with speaking blasphemous words against Moses (Acts 6:11). As an earnest defender of the faith, he showed a clear and complete understanding of the Scriptures, great honour and reverence for the call, character, commission, consecration, consistency, conviction and courage of Moses.

He showed with incisive boldness and clarity that the Jewish nation was guilty of rejecting Moses, the deliverer and the mediator. He proved that the nation with their leaders had always been guilty of refusing the man of God’s choice. As they rejected Joseph at first, so they rejected Moses.

Indeed, they also rejected Samuel (1 Samuel 8:7), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-12), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 6:15-17), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:3-8), Amos (Amos 7:12-16), the prophets sent by God (Jeremiah 7:23-26), Jesus, their Messiah and Saviour of the world (John 1:10,11; 5:43; 12:37; 15:24,25; 16:2,3), and the Apostles of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

Stephen reminded his accusers and judges that the nation had had a history of generations of rejecters and rebellious people. If they finally rejected Jesus, the only Saviour of the world, they would seal their doom and forever bring upon themselves and future generations, eternal damnation. “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you,” (Acts 13:40,41).

Each generation pretends to receive the prophets rejected by former generations. “If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets,” (Matthew 23:30).

The nation of Israel professed to receive and even reverence Moses, but when God first sent him, he was refused and rejected.“He supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not,” (Acts 7:25). Moses understood his divine call and commission to be the deliverer and redeemer of the nation, but the nation did not recognise the divine appointment. They were “slow of heart to believe.”

The Jews in the days of Jesus and during the period of the early Church also had spiritual blindness concerning Christ. Though Christ showed “many infallible proofs” as “a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,” miracles “which none other man did,” they understood not, they received Him not, they believed not. “Until this day remaineth the same vail upon their heart,” (2 Corinthians 3:14,15).

Stephen was not a blasphemer as they falsely reported. He affirmed and acknowledged Moses’ ability, appointment and anointing. He said, “Moses was exceeding fair,” “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,” “Moses was mighty in words and in deeds,” he “understood how that God by his hand would deliver them.” Their question showed their ignorance and rejection: “who made thee a ruler and a judge ‘over us?’”

Stephen’s point is clear: the former generation rejected the mediator sent from God, and the present generation rejects the Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5,6) approved, appointed, anointed and sent by God. Israel was guilty of rebellion and rejection. Are you guilty of rejecting Christ as your Mediator, Saviour, Deliverer and Lord?

• Further reading (King James Version): Acts 7:17-53. Acts 7:17-28; Exodus 1:7-22; Psalms 83:2-5; 105:23-26; Hebrews 11:23-27; Exodus 2:1-15; Luke 18:34; Matthew 13:14,15; Luke 24:19-27; 1 Corinthians 2:7,8; Luke 19:14, 41,42 Acts 28:25-27. Acts 7: 29-37; Exodus 3:1-10; Mark 12:26,27; Exodus 3:10,14,15; Isaiah 63:11,12; Hosea 12:13; Psalm 118:22,23; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 2:22-24,36; 3:22-26; Matthew 17:1-5; 2 Peter 1:16-19.Acts 7:38-53; Exodus 32:1-10; 31-33; Nehemiah 9:26,29,30; Isaiah 1:2-18; Jeremiah 7:22-28; Ezekiel 20:6-13; Romans 1:21-32; 2 Chronicles 6:18; Isaiah 66:1,2; Jeremiah 4:3,4; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Hosea 10:12.