The Stoning of Stephen

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: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 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 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 clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 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 7:51-60

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12

Stephen was one of seven deacons chosen in Acts 6 to minister to the new converts. Stephen was also a wonderful preacher who confounded the Jewish Rabbis with the truth. He was falsely charged with blasphemy and was brought before the Sanhedrin to testify to what he had said. He preached a wonderful sermon about the history of Israel and their continual rebellion against God. At the end of the sermon Stephen could see that they leaders were not listening to the truth but were continually looking for a way to condemn and kill him. At the end of his sermon he cut it short and pronounced guilt on the leaders and they acted out their hatred to God by killing His servant, the only one they could get their hands on. Stephen, the deacon/sponsor died trying to help his people see the light. It is also interesting that Stephen’s death marked the end of the 70 week prophecy of Daniel 9. This was the probationary period of time given to the nation of Israel to repent and come into right relationship with God. As a result of their killing of Stephen they testified, as they had also done at the trial of Jesus, that they did not want God ruling over them. Their murder of Stephen ended their time of probation, they cut themselves off from God, and Stephen’s replacement, Paul of Tarsus, sent the gospel message out to the whole world.

Prayer for Today: God, please help us to have soft hearts that we may hear Your messages from whomever You want to send. Help us to recognize You in their message and help us to receive it as something of value. Grant us Your great deliverance from our addictions to error and fear. Thank You for Your deliverance.