Stephen was probably critical of the system of Old Testament laws, claiming they had already lost their effectiveness because of their failure, of not practicing what they preach, and also because they had reached fulfillment in Christ. This viewpoint, which Stephen put it very skillfully, brought him into conflict with powerful leaders, elders, scribes and among the Jewish people. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. So they procured some men to say, 'We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against God.'
Having in this way, they managed to turned the people against Stephen, they took him by surprise, and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They put up false witnesses to say, 'This man is always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law. We have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us. The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.
The lengthy speech which Stephen made is reported in detail. - Acts 7:1-54 - He summarized Old Testament teachings, showing how God had guided Israel and reviewed Israel's history in such a way that he replied to all false charges made against him, without actually denying anything. This amounted to a criticism of the Sanhedrin itself. Stephen denounced the council as 'stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears' and accursed them of resisting the Holy Spirit. Then he charged that they had killed Christ, just as their ancestors had killed the prophets, and failing to keep their own law by not practicing what they preach.
Stephen's speech enraged the Sanhedrin so that they were 'cut to the heart' and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. 'I can see heaven thrown open.' he said, 'and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. Among the people consenting to Stephen's death that day was Saul, who later became the apostle Paul - great Christian missionary to the Gentiles. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and said aloud, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them'; and with these words he fell asleep.
Stephen's martyrdom was followed by a general persecution which forced the disciples to flee from Jerusalem into the outlying areas. This scattering led to the preaching of the Gospel first to Samaritans and then to the Gentiles in the nations surrounding Palestine. - Acts 7:1 to 8:8 -
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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