Acts 7:56
"And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened,
and the Son of man standing
on the right hand of God."
We begin where Stephen was addressing his opponents. He ask them which of the prophets sent by God did not your fathers persecute. "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers," (Acts 7:51-52).
Stephen's speech turned the judicial council into an enraged mob, while Stephen, realized what was about to happen, he saw a vision of heaven with the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God. "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God," (Acts 7:56). The huge mob of people rushed at Stephen, took him outside of Jerusalem, and stoned him to death. Just as Jesus had prayed Father forgive them and into thy hands I commit my spirit, so Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit and Lord do not hold this sin against them. "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep," (Acts 7:59-60).
The death of Stephen marked the beginning of persecution directed primarily against Hellenist believers led by Saul who was a consenting witness to Stephen's execution. The Hellenist believers are; (Jewish Christians whose mother tongue was Greek. They were Jews of the Diaspora, who returned to settle in Jerusalem. The Jews of the Diaspora principle meaning relates to the settling of the Jewish people outside of Palestine after the Babylonian exile thousands of years ago).
It was just a few years later that God called that same Saul to become an apostle of the new faith and bring the work of Stephen to fulfillment. But as Augustine said, "The Church owes Paul to the prayer of Stephen." However hard he tried Saul could never forget the way in which Stephen had died." The blood of the martyrs even this early had begun to be the seed of the Church.
My Friends, I'm sure that the story of Stephen has been heard many times. But I want all to ponder on the message that Stephen has for us here. When we except Christ as our personal Savior, our Loyalty and Love belongs first to Him. We never put nothing before God! The old becomes new in Jesus Christ, enjoy the new you.
Amen!
Reading: Acts 7:1-60
Ref: Biographical: Who's Who In The Bible
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Stephen's speech turned the judicial council into an enraged mob, while Stephen, realized what was about to happen, he saw a vision of heaven with the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God. "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God," (Acts 7:56). The huge mob of people rushed at Stephen, took him outside of Jerusalem, and stoned him to death. Just as Jesus had prayed Father forgive them and into thy hands I commit my spirit, so Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit and Lord do not hold this sin against them. "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep," (Acts 7:59-60).
The death of Stephen marked the beginning of persecution directed primarily against Hellenist believers led by Saul who was a consenting witness to Stephen's execution. The Hellenist believers are; (Jewish Christians whose mother tongue was Greek. They were Jews of the Diaspora, who returned to settle in Jerusalem. The Jews of the Diaspora principle meaning relates to the settling of the Jewish people outside of Palestine after the Babylonian exile thousands of years ago).
It was just a few years later that God called that same Saul to become an apostle of the new faith and bring the work of Stephen to fulfillment. But as Augustine said, "The Church owes Paul to the prayer of Stephen." However hard he tried Saul could never forget the way in which Stephen had died." The blood of the martyrs even this early had begun to be the seed of the Church.
My Friends, I'm sure that the story of Stephen has been heard many times. But I want all to ponder on the message that Stephen has for us here. When we except Christ as our personal Savior, our Loyalty and Love belongs first to Him. We never put nothing before God! The old becomes new in Jesus Christ, enjoy the new you.
Amen!
Reading: Acts 7:1-60
Ref: Biographical: Who's Who In The Bible
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
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