1.Acts 7 The best OT Commentary, Steven shows how Israel always rejects God the 1st. time and will receive Jesus at the 2nd. Coming, Steven reminds me of Jesus, God changes programs, and the blessings are not limited to the land and temple, Joseph coins found , camel cart models found, medicine of Egypt, ekklesia, unwilling, Rephan, receive my spirit, martyrdom, LXX, KJVism

2. BIBLE IN FIVE Pastor Dave Kooyers Valley Bible Fellowship Box 433 Boonville CA 95415 http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org (707) 895-2325 God bless you as you examine His Word, Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5, Dave Matthew 10:8 Freely you received, freely give. These Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are provided "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-15). To help Christians to "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." So that "we are no longer...tossed here and there...by every wind of doctrine." They may be downloaded and modified free of charge. 3. Acts 7 4. The Best OT Commentaries Acts 7 Hebrews 11 5. Steven Summarizes The OT Gods best is always rejected 1st. Received 2nd. Implying; Jesus was rejected 1st. time He will be received at the 2nd. Coming 6. Heb 11, Acts 7, Nehemiah 9:9-25, All 3 Have History Summaries Nehemiah 9:9 "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea. 10 "Then Thou didst perform signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants and all the people of his land; For Thou didst know that they acted arrogantly toward them, And didst make a name for Thyself as it is this day. 11 "And Thou didst divide the sea before them, So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground; And their pursuers Thou didst hurl into the depths, Like a stone into raging waters. 12 "And with a pillar of cloud Thou didst lead them by day, And with a pillar of fire by night To light for them the way In which they were to go. 13 "Then Thou didst come down on Mount Sinai, And didst speak with them from heaven; Thou didst give to them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments. 14 "So Thou didst make known to them Thy holy sabbath, And didst lay down for them commandments, statutes, and law, Through Thy servant Moses. 15 "Thou didst provide bread from heaven for them for their hunger, Thou didst bring forth water from a rock for them for their thirst, And Thou didst tell them to enter in order to possess The land which Thou didst swear to give them. 16 "But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments. 17 "And they refused to listen, And did not remember Thy wondrous deeds which Thou hadst performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But Thou art a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness; And Thou didst not forsake them. 18 "Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, 'This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,' And committed great blasphemies, 19 Thou, in Thy great compassion, Didst not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. 20 "And Thou didst give Thy good Spirit to instruct them, Thy manna Thou didst not withhold from their mouth, And Thou didst give them water for their thirst. 21 "Indeed, forty years Thou didst provide for them in the wilderness and they were not in want; Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell. 22 "Thou didst also give them kingdoms and peoples, And Thou didst allot them to them as a boundary. And they took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon, And the land of Og the king of Bashan. 23 "And Thou didst make their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And Thou didst bring them into the land Which Thou hadst told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 "So their sons entered and possessed the land. And Thou didst subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, And Thou didst give them into their hand, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, To do with them as they desired. 25 "And they captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, and grew fat, And reveled in Thy great goodness. 7. Steven Reminds Me Of Jesus In 3 Ways He made no defense for himself against the trumped up capital charges against him NAU Mark 15:4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You! Instead he preaches to his accusers, fulfilling? NAU Luke 12:11 "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 8. Steven Reminds Me Of Jesus In 3 Ways He also made no railing accusations, threats, curses, warnings of judgments, or charges against them, for the wrong they were bringing upon him. NAU Acts 7:60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep. This is what Jesus did. NAU Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.. 9. Steven Reminds Me Of Jesus In 3 Ways NAU Acts 7:1 The high priest said, "Are these things so? He is given the chance to deny the charges, and defend himself. What does he do? He surveyed the entire Old Testament. Acts 7:2-50 This is what Jesus did. He did not open His mouth, then; NAU Luke 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Jesus began with Moses, Steven began with Abraham. 10. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary But what did Stephen say in this powerful discourse that resulted in his death? Though he touched on the accusations made against him, Stephen did not give a legal defense of himself. Rather, he set forth Israel's past history and God's past workings in order to vindicate Christianity. In this discourse three ideas run like cords through its fabric: 11. Their 3 Main Points (DLK) 1. There is progress and change in God's program. God was creative and innovative in His dealings with humans and particularly with Israel. 2. The blessings of God are not limited to the land of Israel and the temple area. Some of Israel's greatest favors were bestowed apart from the temple and the land. 3. Israel in its past always evidenced a pattern of opposition to God's plans and His men. 12. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary 1. There is progress and change in God's program. God was creative and innovative in His dealings with humans and particularly with Israel. (a) The promise to Abraham (vv. 2-8). From working with the entire human race (b) The sojourn of Joseph (vv. 9-16). This move to Egypt (c) The deliverance under Moses (vv. 17-43) (d) The building of the tabernacle (vv. 44-46). Constructing the tabernacle so that it was portable implied it was temporary (e) The construction of the temple (vv. 47-50). Even the temple was to be a symbol of God's presence and not the very home of God 13. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary In God's workings with the nation from Abraham to Solomon there was innovation and change. The point is clear: If God changed so many things in Israel's history, who is to say that the Law and the temple were permanent? 14. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary 2. The blessings of God are not limited to the land of Israel and the temple area. Some of Israel's greatest favors were bestowed apart from the temple and the land. Stephen gave four examples: (a) Israel's patriarchs and leaders were blessed outside the land. Abraham was called in Mesopotamia and given promises before he lived in Haran (w. 2-5). In Egypt... Joseph found favor with Pharaoh because God was with him (vv. 9-10). Moses was commissioned by God in Midian (vv. 29-34). To 15. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary substantiate the fact that God blessed Moses while he was in Midian, Stephen carefully recounted that two sons were born to Moses there. (b) The Law itself was given outside the land: Moses was in the congregation in the desert (v. 38). (c) The tabernacle was built in the desert. The tabernacle was with them in the desert (v. 44). In fact the Jews brought it with them when they took the land (v. 45). (d) Even the temple, though in the land, was not to be limited in its theology. How could the temple be God's dwelling place when the Scripture declares, Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool? (v. 49; Isa 66:1) 16. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary 3. Israel in its past always evidenced a pattern of opposition to God's plans and His men. This is the main point of Stephen's discourse, as its climax affirms (Acts 7:51-53). You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! This theme is seen throughout the message, but there are some definite specifics. (a) Instead of going directly from Mesopotamia to the Promised Land, Abraham tarried in Haran (vv. 2-4). (b) Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt (v. 9). (c) Moses was rejected by the Israelites (vv. 23-29). It is highly significant that both Joseph and Moses were not accepted until 17. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary their second appearances (vv. 13,35-36). The parallel with Christ could not have escaped Stephen's hearers. (d) Israel rejected true worship by turning to idols (vv. 39-43). Her blatant unbelief was seen in idolatry, a sin which the Jews of the Apostolic Age particularly abhorred. As a result God judged the nation by sending her into Exile in Babylon (v. 43). (e) The people of Israel missed the point of the temple (vv. 48-50). The strong and clear assertion of Stephen (v. 48) implies that the Jews believed the temple was God's dwelling place on earth, the Jewish counterpart to Mount Olympia. Indeed the temple was to be a place of worship and prayer; but it was not God's home (cf. 1 Kings 8:23-53). 18. Acts 7, Bible Knowledge Commentary Stephen's three main points in this discourse fit together. Since there is progression in God's program and since His blessings are not limited to the temple, Israel had better be careful not to "resist" (Acts 7:51) His workings as they had in the past. They would withstand God's purpose by refusing to see His work in the church and His blessing outside the borders of Israel. This defense related specifically to the accusation made against Stephen in 6:11-14 19. Their 3 Main Points (DLK) 1. There is progress and change in God's program. God was creative and innovative in His dealings with humans and particularly with Israel. 2. The blessings of God are not limited to the land of Israel and the temple area. Some of Israel's greatest favors were bestowed apart from the temple and the land. 3. Israel in its past always evidenced a pattern of opposition to God's plans and His men. 20. "Archaeology and Abraham's Journey" Wayne Jackson. 1991, TODAY'S CREATION MOMENT NAU Acts 7:4 "Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. The total length of Abram's travels amounted to more than a thousand miles. Clearly, Abram could not have traveled that far so long ago, argued the critics. Several years ago, a clay tablet was discovered in ancient Babylon that sheds some light on the critics' challenge. The tablet was a wagon rental contract. The contract forbids the wagon renter from taking the wagon as far as the lands of the Mediterranean coast. One archaeologist observed that this meant that travel over such great distances was so 21. "Archaeology and Abraham's Journey" Wayne Jackson. 1991, TODAY'S CREATION MOMENT common that Babylon's rent-a-wagon outlet had to place mileage limitations in rental contracts. Over the years, hundreds of challenges have been raised against the accuracy of the Bible. Yet, none of the Bible critics' words have stood the test of truth. The Bible God's Word has! 22. Egyptian Paper: Coins Found Bearing Name Of Joseph, World Net Daily NAU Acts 7:9 "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, Biblical patriarch ID'd in hieroglyphs, depiction of cow linked to Pharoah's dream Egyptian coins carrying the name of Joseph, the biblical patriarch whose arrival in Egypt as a slave eventually provided salvation for his family during decades of drought across the Middle East, have been discovered in a cache of antique items shelved in boxes in a museum, according to a new report. The report from the Middle East Media Research Institute said the coins with Joseph's name and image were found in a pile of unsorted artifacts that had been stored at the Museum of Egypt. 23. Egyptian Paper: Coins Found Bearing Name Of Joseph, World Net Daily An image from the Middle East Media Research Institute revealing Egyptian coins tracked to the time of Joseph Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2009 /09/111091/#0L4BAOxup9 2mTZbU.99 http://www.wnd.com/2009 /09/111091/ 24. Pharaoh? NAU Acts 7:10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household. 25. Acts 7:13, On Their Second Visit Gen 45:19-20 "You are also directed to tell them, 'Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 26. Gen 45:19 Acts 7:14 Models of Earliest (Camel-Pulled) Vehicles Found June 26, 2009 -- Some of the world's first farmers may have sped around in two-wheeled carts pulled by camels and bulls, suggests a new analysis on tiny models of these carts that date to 6,000-5,000 years ago. The cart models, which may have been ritual objects or children's toys, were found at Altyndepe, a Chalcolithic and Bronze Age settlement in Western Central Asia near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Together with other finds, the cart models provide a history of how wheeled transportation first emerged in the area and later developed.. 27. Exodus 13:19, Carry My Bones Acts 7:15 "And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16 "From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. Genesis 50:25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, "God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here." Exodus 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, "God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you." 28. The Hygiene of Circumcision, And Medicine Of Egypt Chuck Missler talks about superstitious medical practice of Egypt in Genesis Notes, pages 60-63. Acts 7:20-22 "At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house. 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. Exodus 15:26 I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer." 29. Acts 7:21 Hebrews 11:23 Exodus 2:5, The Daughter Of Pharaoh Acts 7:21 "And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. Exodus 2:5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. Unknown says, My granddaughter asked me what; Q. Who was the greatest female businessperson in the Bible? A. Pharaohs daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. (profit) 30. Who Spoke To Moses? NAU Acts 7:38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. Exodus 19:3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 31. KJVism NAU Acts 7:38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. This is in The Defenders Study Bible, KJV, 1995 KJV Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: ekklesia Meaning: an assembly, a (religious) congregation 32. Acts 7:39, Unwilling NAU Acts 7:39 "Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, John 5:40 and you are unwilling to come to Me Matthew 23:37 How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Oswald Chambers says, God does not have to come and tell me what I must do for Him, He brings me into a relationship with Himself where I hear His call and understand what He wants me to do, and I do it out of sheer love to Him When people say they have had a call to foreign service, or to any particular sphere of work, they mean that their relationship to God has enabled them to realize what they can do for God. 33. Acts 7:43, Molech 34. Rephan Acts 7:43the star of your god Rephan, Amos 5:25-26 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god which you made for yourselves. REPHAN = The Babylonian name for the god of the planet Saturn. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Wikimedia Commons, Star_of_Rephan 35. Acts, 7:49, A Building For God? Acts 7:49 'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord, 'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE? NAU Acts 20:20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, New Church Building 36. Acts 7:49, New Church Building 37. Acts 7:52, Seized, Mistreated, And Killed His Slaves NAU Acts 7:52 "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; Matthew 21:35, 22:6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. Matthew 23:34 "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 38. ACTS 7:56, They Stoned Stephen Acts 7:56-57"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him Why so angry? 39. Acts 7:56, Standing? NAU Acts 7:56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. NAU Acts 2:34'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, Psalm 110:1, Acts 5:31, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, 1:13, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22 Why is Jesus standing? Some say Hes standing because He is a witness of this crime. But I say NAU John 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself 40. Acts 7:59, Psalm 31:5 NAU Acts 7:59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" NAU Psalm 31:3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; For Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me. 4 Thou wilt pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me; For Thou art my strength. 5 Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 41. Acts 7:55-60 Martyrdom of Stephen Acts 7:59-60Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them... Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 42. Lion's Gate, Saint Stephen's Gate The Christ in Prophecy Journal, By Nathan Jones On the way to our bus we went through the Lion's Gate in the Arab Quarter. See the little lions? It's also known as Saint Stephen's gate, the site where Stephen was stoned to death and became the first Christian martyr (Acts 6-7). 43. Was Stephen The First Martyr? 44. Acts 7:60 Acts 7:60When he had said this, he fell asleep. Was Stephen the first Martyr? Martyr = 1. a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion. 2. a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause: a martyr to the cause of social justice. 45. John the Baptist: The First NT Martyr There are three martyrdoms are recorded in the New Testament: John the Baptist in ca. AD 31, Matthew 14:10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. Stephen in ca. AD 35, Acts 7:59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" James the apostle in ca. AD 44, Acts 12:2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. Jesus was not a Christian, a follower 46. Acts 7:2-53, 70,75 in Jacob's family Another apparent discrepancy in Stephen's discourse is in Acts 7:14. Stephen stated that 75 persons were in Jacob's family, but the Hebrew text has "70 " in both Gen 46:27 and Ex 1:5. In both places the Septuagint has 75. It is commonly said that Stephen, a Greek- speaking Jew, would have used the Septuagint and therefore was making only an "honest" mistake. This difficulty, however, can be resolved in other ways. One of the most widely accepted solutions is to recognize that the Hebrew text includes Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (a total of 70), but that the Septuagint omits Jacob and Joseph but includes Joseph's seven grandchildren (mentioned in 1 Chron 7:14-15,20-25). This is supported by the Hebrew in Gen 46:8-26 which enumerates 66 names, omitting Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph's two sons. Another solution is that the Septuagint's 75 includes the 66 plus the 9 wives of Jacob's 12 sons (Judah's and Simeon's wives had died and Joseph's wife was in Egypt). 47. Acts 7:2-53, Jacob was buried at Shechem Acts 7:16 contains another apparent discrepancy. Stephen's words imply that Jacob was buried at Shechem whereas the Old Testament clearly affirms that he and his wife Leah (and his parents Isaac and Rebekah and his grandparents Abraham and Sarah) were interred in the Cave of Machpelah at Hebron (Gen 49:29-50:13). However, the bodies buried at Shechem did not include Jacob but did include those of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph was buried first in Egypt but was reburied in Shechem (Gen 50:26; Ex 13:19; Josh 24:32). True, Josh 24:32 refers only to Joseph's bones, but evidently his brothers were also buried at Shechem (though Josephus states otherwise). The pronoun their (Acts 7:16), then, does not include Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but looks back to the words our fathers in verse 15 and refers to Joseph and his brothers. 48. Acts 7:2-53, Jacob, not Abraham, bought the plot of ground Stephen's phrase, the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem (v. 16), presents another problem. Actually Jacob, not Abraham, bought the plot of ground (Gen 33:19). This may be explained by saying that Abraham in a sense did purchase the property in the person of his grandson. Abraham would be given title to Shechem through Jacob. This favorable allusion to Shechem, the "capital" of the Samaritans, would not please Stephen's audience. But his reference to Samaria prepares readers for the next step in the outreach of the gospel (Acts 8). Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament 49. Acts 7:2-53, The 400 And 430 Years Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old A chronological problem exists in 7:6, where Stephen said Israel would be enslaved and mistreated 400 years. For in Gal 3:17 Paul implied that the period of time from the Abrahamic promise in Gen 15:13-16 to Mount Sinai was 430 years. The difference between the 400 and 430 years can easily be accounted for by understanding that Stephen used round numbers. Another explanation is that the 400 years was the actual time of bondage whereas the 430 years described the time from the confirming of the covenant in Gen 35:9-15 to the Exodus, which occurred in 1446 B.C. The main problem, however, is the time Israel spent in bondage in Egypt. If Gal 3:17 means it 50. Acts 7:2-53, The 400 And 430 Years Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old was 430 years from the" promise given to Abraham (Gen 15) to the Exodus, the time in Egypt would then be 215 years. However, if Acts 7:6 is taken at face value the bondage was 400 years. Perhaps the best solution is to say Paul was looking at periods of time. The promises were given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These three patriarchs were all recipients of God's promise. The promise was reconfirmed in Gen 46:1-4 to Jacob at Beersheba as he was on his way to Egypt. From that point (the end of God's giving promises to the patriarchs) to the Exodus was 400 years. (Cf. Harold W. Hoehner, "The Duration of the Egyptian Bondage," Bibliotheca Sacra 126. October- December 1969:306-16.) 51. LXX or the Hebrew OT? Steven was Greek so its not surprising he used the LXX. Most NT quotes are from it. We can be sure there are no errors in his quoting from it because no one objected to his account in this legal hearing. His enemies would have been completely familiar with all these differences from the Hebrew, and yet they uttered not a word. 52. Acts 7:60 Luke 23:34, Father Forgive Them Rev. Robert E. Eversull recounts that, During the summer lull between graduate school studies I outlined my sermons for the coming fall I submitted the sermon titles for each week until Christmas to the local newspaper. At the beginning of September, the church school superintendent requested that I recognize and install the teachers during a Sunday morning worship service. so I sent notice of the installation service to the local newspaper. A few days before Christian Education Sunday the newspaper reported: "This coming Sunday, the Sunday school teachers of the Oxford Church will be recognized and installed. Reverend Eversull's special sermon for this occasion is entitled, "Father Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do!" 53. Acts 7:60, Steven Fell Asleep Mid-sermon NAU Acts 7:60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep. Gordon Keeleyg tells, When our son was born, my in- laws arrived with a beautiful, hand-crafted cradle. The gleaming golden oak bed with carved bars and ball bearings for smooth rocking displayed meticulous craftsmanship. As we carried it in the house, my father- in-law, a retired minister, said, "I recycled the oak planks from some church pews. Somehow I suspect it's not the first time someone will sleep on them." 54. THE END Praise God that we dont have many Christian martyrs in the USA yet!