Who consented to Stephen’s death?
What happened to the church in Jerusalem at that time? What was the result?
Where were they scattered to? Who stayed behind?
What were some of the things Saul did to the church?
What did the scattered disciples do as they went out to different places?
Where did Philip go?
Did the Samaritans listen to him?
What kind of miracles did Philip do there? What was the result?
What did Simon do? What did he claim?
Who paid attention to him? What did the people say? Why?
Who else did they pay attention to now? Concerning what? What did they do as a result?
Did Simon believe? What did he do? What was he amazed at?
Who learned that the Samaritans had received the Word of God? Who did they send to them?
What did Peter and John do when they arrived?
What kind of baptism had the Samaritans received? What had they not yet received?
What did the apostles do for them to receive the Holy Spirit?
When Simon saw this, what did he offer them? For what?
What was Peter’s response?
Why did Peter say that Simon had “neither part nor portion in this matter”?
What did he suggest Simon do?
What did Peter say that Simon was poisoned and bound by?
What was Simon’s prayer?
After they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, where did they return to? Where else did they preach?

Thought Questions

Is persecution ever a good thing? What was the fortunate result of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem in this case? Do you think the disciples would have had as much motivation to go to places like Samaria otherwise?
Why do you think Samaria was a logical safe place for an enemy of the Jews to go?
Verse 13 says that Simon believed, although later in the chapter Peter points out that he was “poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” What do you think was really going on inside Simon’s mind? How would you compare your faith to his?
Do you think Philip knew if Simon truly believed the Gospel in his heart? Why did he agree to baptize him, and allow Simon to follow him? What should be the qualification for baptism?
When a group of people receives the Word of God, what next step needs to be done in follow-up? What can we learn from vs. 14-15?
What does it mean to you to receive the Holy Spirit? How is this different from simply being baptized in the name of Jesus?
From verse 19, explain the root of Simon’s sin. Where do you see this principle today, maybe even in your own life?
Was Simon really repentant? What does his request for the disciples’ prayer tell you? Could he have been forgiven?

My prayer is:
that, if facing persecution, my response would be to go out and tell others the wonderful things God has done;
that my desire for accepting the gospel and receiving the Holy Spirit would be motivated by love for the One who loved me, not for personal power;
and that my repentance for sin would truly be motivated by sorrow for rebelling against the One who loved me, not for avoidance of consequences.

What did Moses say God would raise up?
What does verse 38 say this Prophet’s roles with Moses and the wilderness congregation were?
How did their fathers react to him? What did they want to do?
Whose works did they rejoice in then?
What did God do with the people as a result?
What did their fathers have with them in the wilderness? Whose pattern was it built according to?
What events took place between the time of Moses and David? (vs. 45)
What did David want to do for God? Who ended up doing that?
Where does God dwell?
Why does Stephen, at this point, call his audience “stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears”? What have they always done?
How many of the prophets did their forefathers kill? Who else did they kill?
Who did they receive the Law from? Did they keep it?
How did Stephen’s audience react to his sermon?
How did Stephen respond? Why?
Where did Stephen see the Son of Man?
What did the council do to him at this point? Where did they take him?
Who was watching the witnesses’ clothes?
What was the last thing Stephen said?
How does it describe his death?

Thought Questions

Does this half of the sermon give you more insight into why the council who was listening to Stephen reacted they way they did? Was Stephen saying anything untrue? Do you think he was out of line to be that bold? What would you have done in his situation, knowing the murderous potential of the people who had just killed his Master, Christ?
Summarize the story of the children of Israel as Stephen states it, from the time of receiving the Law until Solomon built the temple. How does this compare with human nature as you see it around you? How about you–in your heart, would you rather humbly submit to God’s Law and worship as He commands, or worship the creation of your own hands?
What does “stiff-necked” mean? What does “uncircumcised in heart and ears” mean? What was circumcision intended to symbolize?
Do you think the council understood exactly what Stephen was telling them? What does it mean that they were “cut to the heart”? Has there been a time when you simply heard the words of the Bible, and were cut to the heart, but felt more like responding as the council did, rather than humbling yourself and admitting wrongdoing? How did you end up reacting?
This is where Saul (Paul, to the Gentiles) comes into the story. How is this tiny mention of him significant? (read also 8:1) What does it tell you about him? How do you think he reacted to the sermon at that time? How about later, as he possibly reflected on it further?
Do you think Stephen will be surprised to see Saul in heaven–and even more so, to hear of the work he did in establishing the church? Has there been a time when you have shared Christ with someone and felt like it had fallen on deaf ears, maybe even with disastrous results? What does this tell you about “planting seeds”?
What do you think a martyr’s death is like to them? From the description in vs. 55-60, does it sound like Stephen was suffering, or rejoicing? Does this give you strength in case something like this might ever have to happen to you?

My prayer is:
that I would have the boldness, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to speak the truth despite the consequences, with faith that hearts can eventually be changed without my knowledge;
that I would be “cut to the heart” by God’s words, but not “stiff-necked” or “uncircumcised in heart and ears,” but rather would be humbled and receptive to the Holy Spirit;
and not to fear death by martyrdom, rather, to know that the glory and comfort of Christ would be with me in any emergency.

What did the high priest ask? What things? (from chapter 6)
Where did Stephen begin his story?
Where did the God of glory appear to Abraham?
What did God tell Abraham to do?
What places did Abraham live in?
What inheritance did God give Abraham? What about his children?
What was destined to become of his ancestors?
What covenant did God give Abraham? Who were the first few generations after him?
Summarize Joseph’s story.
Where did Jacob die? Where was he buried?
What happened near the time when God’s promise for deliverance drew near?
Which character was born next? Summarize his story.
Who did Moses kill? Why? What was the reaction of his fellow Hebrews?
Where did Moses flee to? What did he find there? How long was he there?
What did God say to Moses? How did he respond?
What irony does Stephen point out in verse 35?

Thought Questions

Why do you think Stephen was telling the priests this story? Don’t you think they were already quite familiar with it?
Do you think it is important to study and understand what God is trying to say through the historical record in the Old Testament? All of it, or just parts of it?
Read Acts 6:11-14 again. What are the charges that these particular people were blaming Stephen with? How does the telling of this story answer the high priest’s question in verse 1, “Are these things so?”
Is there a certain spiritual theme that Stephen emphasizes in his retelling of the story of the patriarchs?
What are some ways Stephen points out the faith that the patriarchs had in unseen things?
What are some ways Stephen points out the difficulties and oppression the patriarchs faced due to their actions of faith?
Read verse 35 again. Why is this an important statement for what Stephen was trying to get across? What are some similarities between Moses and Christ?

My prayer is:
that I would better understand Christ’s work as recorded in the New Testament by knowing how He worked during the times of the Old Testament;
that, like the Patriarchs, I would have faith in unseen things,
and that, like the Patriarchs, I would receive God’s strength to overcome difficulties, even persecutions, as a result of that faith.