Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, June 12, 2013 Read – Acts 7:35-43 Moses is still at the center of Stephen’s speech – but one senses that the speech is growing in intensity. The religious leaders were likely able to put two and two together and recognize that this was all leading to an accusation against them. Just as the people had been unfaithful and rebelled against Moses – Stephen was building a case of their unfaithfulness in rejecting Jesus. Luke does allude to one OT passage in the speech of Stephen as fulfilling the words of the prophets. The reference is rather obscure, but when Stephen says, “Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness O house of Israel?” he is likely pointing to Amos 5:25. The rest of the quote does not reflect the further words of Amos – other “gods” are listed there. One might explain this discrepancy by reasoning that Luke may have been working from memory – and just as our memories sometimes betray us, Luke’s may have been a bit cloudy. The whole issue is of little significance to the point Luke and Stephen are making.