Acts 7: Stephen is speaking to the high priest and all who are surrounding the high priest, other religious leaders. They arrested Stephen because they did not like the Holy Spirit that was upon him. In Acts 6:10, it tells us clearly that this is the reason and the. In Acts 7:51, Stephen calls them out for resisting the Holy Spirit and eludes to them as being stiff-necked. A couple of things that amaze me about Stephen, first is his knowledge of the Word of God. Stephen in speaking with them walks through the Bible and lays out clearly the history of God people walking all the way through the Old Testament. Secondly, he is a man full of the Holy Spirit. Third, as they are stoning him, Stephen prays for those who are stoning him asking God to forgive them. What a man of God! What a heart!
"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 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."
â€â€Acts‬ â€7‬:â€55‬, â€60‬ â€KJV‬‬
This is just incredible. The thing I look forward to more than anything is being able to see the face of God. Here Stephen is having a near-death experience and looks up to see Jesus at the right hand of God. This experience must be true considering what he said as his final words... to not charge those stoning him with that sin. How can someone be able to forgive such a heinous action - unless he truly believed what he saw.
I thank God we have been given this Word, to learn and to grow. The Word of God is the only truth I need. I cannot wait till one day we get to see our Lord and Savior at the right hand of God. Praise be to Yah!
And Stephen sees God and Jesus... Standing at the right hand. Standing... not setting. As if he is welcoming Stephen, come my faithful servant and I will give you rest. Sigh...
Stephen being the first recorded christian martyr, this story is so powerful. Hits me every time I read it ,how Stephen asked the Lord to forgive them while being stoned..and with Saul (Paul ) being involved..it's amazing how God can use anything and everything for his glory .
I thank God for his holy word ...
Praise the Lord!!!
Even to this day, speaking the Word of God evokes anger in people and causes friction. It is POWERFUL and causes movement! Acts 7 is a perfect depiction: (v. 54) "when they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth." (V. 57) " Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him."
"do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Gen. 15:1
It had to be a scary situation to hear from the Lord, to see the Lord, and to know His promises, yet still moving in faith, without seeing anything coming to fruition yet. But Abram believed! Gods timing is so different than ours. I want to trust Him and His timing. Lord God continue to show me how to die to self and live for Your will and Your time and Your plan.
"But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'- except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.""
â€â€Genesis‬ â€14‬:â€22‬-â€24‬ â€NKJV‬‬
The King of Sodom was offering goods to Abram. He did not want to accept earthly wealth and instead wanted spiritual riches. He wanted what God had for him, not man.
6 Comments
Acts 7: Stephen is speaking to the high priest and all who are surrounding the high priest, other religious leaders. They arrested Stephen because they did not like the Holy Spirit that was upon him. In Acts 6:10, it tells us clearly that this is the reason and the. In Acts 7:51, Stephen calls them out for resisting the Holy Spirit and eludes to them as being stiff-necked. A couple of things that amaze me about Stephen, first is his knowledge of the Word of God. Stephen in speaking with them walks through the Bible and lays out clearly the history of God people walking all the way through the Old Testament. Secondly, he is a man full of the Holy Spirit. Third, as they are stoning him, Stephen prays for those who are stoning him asking God to forgive them. What a man of God! What a heart!
"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 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."
â€â€Acts‬ â€7‬:â€55‬, â€60‬ â€KJV‬‬
This is just incredible. The thing I look forward to more than anything is being able to see the face of God. Here Stephen is having a near-death experience and looks up to see Jesus at the right hand of God. This experience must be true considering what he said as his final words... to not charge those stoning him with that sin. How can someone be able to forgive such a heinous action - unless he truly believed what he saw.
I thank God we have been given this Word, to learn and to grow. The Word of God is the only truth I need. I cannot wait till one day we get to see our Lord and Savior at the right hand of God. Praise be to Yah!
And Stephen sees God and Jesus... Standing at the right hand. Standing... not setting. As if he is welcoming Stephen, come my faithful servant and I will give you rest. Sigh...
Stephen being the first recorded christian martyr, this story is so powerful. Hits me every time I read it ,how Stephen asked the Lord to forgive them while being stoned..and with Saul (Paul ) being involved..it's amazing how God can use anything and everything for his glory .
I thank God for his holy word ...
Praise the Lord!!!
Even to this day, speaking the Word of God evokes anger in people and causes friction. It is POWERFUL and causes movement! Acts 7 is a perfect depiction: (v. 54) "when they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth." (V. 57) " Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him."
"do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Gen. 15:1
It had to be a scary situation to hear from the Lord, to see the Lord, and to know His promises, yet still moving in faith, without seeing anything coming to fruition yet. But Abram believed! Gods timing is so different than ours. I want to trust Him and His timing. Lord God continue to show me how to die to self and live for Your will and Your time and Your plan.
"But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'- except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.""
â€â€Genesis‬ â€14‬:â€22‬-â€24‬ â€NKJV‬‬
The King of Sodom was offering goods to Abram. He did not want to accept earthly wealth and instead wanted spiritual riches. He wanted what God had for him, not man.