Witness

 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.'
Acts 7:37 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.7.37.ESV

At first, it might seem pointless and strange that Stephen gives his fellow Jews their own history lesson which I'm sure they knew well enough to mime to. I think there's a few reasons as to why he did so. Firstly, to comfort and reassure himself that he was on the right side of history

Most importantly though, I think Stephen was communicating to his hearers that in rejecting his Messiah, they were rejecting the only Messiah. He goes on about Moses at one point, and this verse illustrates why.

Stephen could have tried to defend himself as a man of integrity. Instead, he decided to make much of Jesus, the final Prophet raised up from the Jewish people for the world. Christ is the One promised to Moses.

Just as Moses led the people of God from slavery in Egypt to the promised land of Canaan, so Jesus leads God's people from slavery to sin to the promised new creation. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. We're blessed when we don't insist on some right to exist, but simply plead God's mercy and grace.

'O Lord, we praise You for Stephen's faithful witness of You. May we too speak up for You, and live lives of integrity to back up our professions of faith. In Jesus' name, amen'

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