Post by Shepherd on May 8, 2009 10:36:42 GMT -6
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STEPHEN’S CONDEMNATION OF THE RELIGIOUS
RULER OF THAT DAY.
ACTS 7:51-53...YE STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EA RS, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST; AS YOUR FATHERS DID, SO DO YE. WHICH OF THE PROPHETS HAVE NOT YOUR FATHERS PERSECUTED? AND THE HAVE SLAIN THEM WHICH SHEWED BEFORE OF THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE; OF WHOM YE HAVE BEEN NOT THE BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS; WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE LAW BY THE DISPOSITION OF ANGELS, AND HAVE NOT KEPT IT.
Stephen said, sow stubborn you are. How heathen your hearts, how deaf you to God’s message. You are just like your ancestors; you too have always resisted the Holy Ghost. Was there a single prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God’s messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous servant. And now you have betrayed and murdered him. You are the ones who received God’s law, that was handed down by angels, yet you have not obeyed it.
They would not hear God any more than their ancestors hear Him. Stephen reminds them of the deliverance out of Egypt. You see God made Moses the deliverer, and the children of Israel refused to obey him. During the wilderness time there was a series of rebellions against God, brought to a climax in the making of a golden calf. Stephen concludes with Joshua, who led them into the land, and Jesus, who made the way to heaven.
MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN
You see Stephen became the first martyr. And this portion we see that Saul of Tarsus was introduced.
ACTS 7:54...WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THING, THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART, AND THEY GNASHED ON HIM WITH THEIR TEETH.
As the members of the council listened to Stephen they became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger. They hated Stephen for saying what he did.
ACTS 7:55...BUT HE, BEING FULL OF HE HOLY GHOST, LOOKED UP STEDFASTLY INTO HEAVEN, AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD
But Stephen, full of he Holly Ghost, looked up to heaven and sa w God’s glory, and Jesus standing at the right side of God.
God had promised Jesus Christ that He would glorify Him, and giver Him a name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is exalted to the right hand of God.
HEBREWS 1:3...WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH.
By Him being seated on the right hand of God indicates that His work was completed. That doesn’t mean He isn’t still working in our behalf.
ACTS 7:56-58...AND SAID, BEHOLD, I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED, AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. THEN THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND STOPPED THEIR EARS, AND RAN UPON HIM WITH ONE ACCORD, AND CAST HIM OUT OF THE CITY, AND STONED HIM; AND THE WITNESSES LAID DOWN THEIR CLOTHS AT A YOUNG MAN’S FEET, WHOSE NAME WAS SAUL.
Stephen said, “I see heaven opened and the Son of man standing at the right side of God. With a loud cry they stopped up their ears, and all rushed together at him at once. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses left their cloaks in charge of the a young man name Saul.
Stephen and Saul of Tarsus—are together here for the first time, and the last time. They were standing on the opposite sides of the Cross.
ACTS 7:59-60...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 THEIR SIN TO THEIR CHARGE. AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE FELL ASLEEP.
They kept on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He knelt down and cried in a loud voice, “Lord do not remember this sin against them.” He said this and died.
Stephen falls asleep the arms of the savior. Stephen goes into the presence of Jesus who is standing to meet him. Stephen is the first martyr of the church.
Paul was there, a Pharisee he thought he had everything he need. He looked up into heaven when Stephen said that he saw the heavens open. I believe that Saul looked up saying I wish I could see what he saw. Stephen was a witness to Saul and I believe that Stephen who prepared Saul for the appearance of the Lord on the Damascus road.
[/size]RULER OF THAT DAY.
ACTS 7:51-53...YE STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EA RS, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST; AS YOUR FATHERS DID, SO DO YE. WHICH OF THE PROPHETS HAVE NOT YOUR FATHERS PERSECUTED? AND THE HAVE SLAIN THEM WHICH SHEWED BEFORE OF THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE; OF WHOM YE HAVE BEEN NOT THE BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS; WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE LAW BY THE DISPOSITION OF ANGELS, AND HAVE NOT KEPT IT.
Stephen said, sow stubborn you are. How heathen your hearts, how deaf you to God’s message. You are just like your ancestors; you too have always resisted the Holy Ghost. Was there a single prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God’s messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous servant. And now you have betrayed and murdered him. You are the ones who received God’s law, that was handed down by angels, yet you have not obeyed it.
They would not hear God any more than their ancestors hear Him. Stephen reminds them of the deliverance out of Egypt. You see God made Moses the deliverer, and the children of Israel refused to obey him. During the wilderness time there was a series of rebellions against God, brought to a climax in the making of a golden calf. Stephen concludes with Joshua, who led them into the land, and Jesus, who made the way to heaven.
MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN
You see Stephen became the first martyr. And this portion we see that Saul of Tarsus was introduced.
ACTS 7:54...WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THING, THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART, AND THEY GNASHED ON HIM WITH THEIR TEETH.
As the members of the council listened to Stephen they became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger. They hated Stephen for saying what he did.
ACTS 7:55...BUT HE, BEING FULL OF HE HOLY GHOST, LOOKED UP STEDFASTLY INTO HEAVEN, AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD
But Stephen, full of he Holly Ghost, looked up to heaven and sa w God’s glory, and Jesus standing at the right side of God.
God had promised Jesus Christ that He would glorify Him, and giver Him a name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is exalted to the right hand of God.
HEBREWS 1:3...WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH.
By Him being seated on the right hand of God indicates that His work was completed. That doesn’t mean He isn’t still working in our behalf.
ACTS 7:56-58...AND SAID, BEHOLD, I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED, AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. THEN THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND STOPPED THEIR EARS, AND RAN UPON HIM WITH ONE ACCORD, AND CAST HIM OUT OF THE CITY, AND STONED HIM; AND THE WITNESSES LAID DOWN THEIR CLOTHS AT A YOUNG MAN’S FEET, WHOSE NAME WAS SAUL.
Stephen said, “I see heaven opened and the Son of man standing at the right side of God. With a loud cry they stopped up their ears, and all rushed together at him at once. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses left their cloaks in charge of the a young man name Saul.
Stephen and Saul of Tarsus—are together here for the first time, and the last time. They were standing on the opposite sides of the Cross.
ACTS 7:59-60...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 THEIR SIN TO THEIR CHARGE. AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE FELL ASLEEP.
They kept on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He knelt down and cried in a loud voice, “Lord do not remember this sin against them.” He said this and died.
Stephen falls asleep the arms of the savior. Stephen goes into the presence of Jesus who is standing to meet him. Stephen is the first martyr of the church.
Paul was there, a Pharisee he thought he had everything he need. He looked up into heaven when Stephen said that he saw the heavens open. I believe that Saul looked up saying I wish I could see what he saw. Stephen was a witness to Saul and I believe that Stephen who prepared Saul for the appearance of the Lord on the Damascus road.
