Acts 7:1-8

A Face Like an Angel

Perhaps Paul reported to Luke the remarkable appearance of the face of Stephen. Luke told Theophilus that those in the council saw Stephen's face "as the face of an angel." The closest thing to this experience is found in Exodus 34:29-35 which reports that Moses' face shone after he had been with the Lord to the point that people could not look directly at him. Despite Stephen's appearance, the high priest asked him if the accusations of blasphemy, which had been brought against him, were true (Acts 6:15; Acts 7:1).

This man, full of faith, power, wisdom and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3; Acts 6:8), directed his answer toward a history of God's dealings with Abraham and his children. It seems significant that a man accused of blasphemy would begin his defense by talking about the "God of glory." He reminded the council of Abraham's call to leave the country of his people, which was first received in Ur of the Chaldees and renewed in Haran after his father's death. As Stephen noted, Abraham then moved, under God's direction, to the land of Canaan (Acts 7:2-4; Genesis 12:1-9).

Though God did not give Abraham an inheritance in the promised land, he did promise to give him a son and to give the land of Canaan to his descendants. Stephen also said God told the father of the faithful his children's children would be held in bondage in Egypt for four hundred years. The actual length of their stay in Egypt was 430 years, but Stephen rounded off to 400, just as God had in Genesis 15:13. He continued his speech by noting how God told Abraham he would judge the nation of Egypt and bring his people out to serve him in the land of promise at the end of the appointed time. Ash notes Stephen mentioned God judges all those who oppose him, which is a good observation for those members of the council who were at that time questioning him. After making those significant promises, God instituted circumcision as a part sign of the covenant between Abraham and his descendants (Acts 7:5-8; Exodus 12:40-41; Genesis 17:9-14).