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In this eighth installment expounding the book of Acts, John Ritenbaugh explains that Stephen ignited the ire of the Hellenistic Jews, a group passionately devoted to the temple, law and land as a defensive reaction to their historical scattering or diaspora, Stephen rebukes them for their reactionary (almost superstitious) devotion to the past or reverence to a specific temple location, advocating instead a pilgrim mentality(on the move-physically and spiritually), realizing that God is not confined to a fixed specific location. Stephen points out that historically, God has dealt with His people without land or temple, but instead through a series of deliverers (Joseph, Moses, and ultimately, Jesus Christ), initially unrecognized or rejected by their own people. Stephen suggests that his audience has rejected the Deliverer and have replaced it with an idol (of worshipping the temple) as their forefathers had turned to a golden idol, while rejecting God and His living law.

Deliverer Hellenists Joseph as a deliverer Martyrdom of Stephen Meir Kahane Moses as deliverer Persecution Persecuting a thistle Pilgrim, attitude of Pilgrim mentality Spread of Gospel Spirit and letter of the law Stephen

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