BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 8:1

Monday, 6 June 2022
 
Now Saul was consenting to his death.At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 8:1
 
Chapter 7 ended with the death of Stephen. Chapter 8 will now build upon that as the persecution of the church takes hold. This begins with the person, Saul, who was just introduced in verse 7:58 –
 
“Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” Acts. 7:57-59
 
Of him, Luke records, “Now Saul was consenting to his death.” Luke uses a noun found only here in Scripture, anairesis. It is “a taking off,” or “a taking away.” In other words, Stephen’s life was taken away from him. As such, the word can indicate the state of death, murder, slaying, and so on. The ESV gives a good translation of this by saying, “execution.” Another way of conveying the thought might be, “And Saul was consenting to his termination.”
 
As for Paul himself, by allowing the clothes of the witnesses to be watched over by him, he agreed with what was occurring and may have even prompted each person to give his best shot, or “make that apostate pay.” With this setting the tone for the start of the chapter, the words continue with, “At that time.”
 
The Greek reads, “in that day.” There was no delay in moving from one event to the next as “a great persecution arose against the church.” The idea here is that if Stephen is apostate, then all those aligned with him – and who are teaching the same doctrine – are as well. There was guilt by association and those people who were aligned with him were to be weeded out.
 
Stephen died based on his words to the council, and they felt his words could not be condoned in others. Therefore, the persecution immediately began against the church, meaning the people who comprised the church, “which was at Jerusalem.”
 
Jerusalem was the focal point of all that had occurred, and it had become an established body of believers, united in their belief that Jesus is the Messiah. They met together, worshipped together, and were well established there. This has all been evidenced so far in Acts.
 
With the doctrine of Stephen now openly brought forth, the council perceived that his thoughts about the apostasy of the leaders did not die with Jesus, but that it had continued on with the apostles and disciples. They could not tolerate this.
 
Having consented to the death of Jesus, the connection made by Stephen to the past where Israel’s leaders had put the previous prophets to death could not be swept under a rug. The writings of the same prophets who were rejected by the leaders in the past had become a part of their own Scriptures!
 
What Stephen said was true, but in their arrogance, they rejected his words because they had already rejected the words of Jesus. Surely, they were “different” than their fathers before them. But deep inside, they knew the words against them were true. And so, the witness of these followers had to be extinguished as well. As a result of this new persecution, Luke next records, “and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.”
 
The words now set the tone for what Jesus had said in Acts 1:8 –
 
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
 
The actual fulfillment of His words will be seen in just a few verses. But this persecution now is the seed that will germinate and take root in those areas. The death of Stephen, and the persecution that now follows, is the means by which Jesus’ words would begin to take effect.
 
These people in the church probably came from those other areas and had simply settled down in Jerusalem to learn from the apostles. With the persecution now taking hold, they would return to where they were from. That is all “except the apostles.”
 
The apostles probably told each disciple something like, “You go. Get back to your hometown and tell the good news about Jesus. We will stay here and keep the church united, even in its dispersion.” They would be a focal point for people to return to and hear about others who had gone off to different areas, thus the church could be kept united through the efforts of the apostles.
 
Life application: What may seem like a catastrophe may be just the opportunity needed to get things going in a new direction. This is certainly the case with the church in Jerusalem. There was a time when people needed to separate and begin sharing the news about Jesus beyond the walls of their own houses. The persecution of the church was the spark that lit the fire of this new chance for growth in numbers and expansion in territory, but at the time, it certainly did not seem either pleasing or of great value.
 
The Lord, however, has plans that go beyond our own limited thinking, and so let us attempt to look for His hand in tragedies, trials, and difficulties. Let us accept that His will is to be done, and if what has happened or is happening is a part of that, we should be thankful that He can use us in such a state to continue His redemptive purposes.
 
When we look back someday, the wisdom displayed now, and that may be hidden at the time, will become evident. Let us trust in this.
 
Heavenly Father, how many times have we experienced trials and troubles and later looked back to see just how perfectly they fit into a greater plan. And yet, the ones we face now seem daunting and even overwhelming. Help us to remember that You worked out what happened in the past, and so we can trust that You are working out what is happening now. We know that You are with us. Help us to see Your hand in the events and to remain steadfast through them. Amen.

Acts 7:60

Sunday, 5 June 2022
 
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:60
 
The previous verse spoke of Stephen being stoned and calling out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” With that, the first recorded martyr of the church age is prepared to yield up his spirit, but he has one more thing to say while under the inspiration of the Spirit (Matthew 10:19, 20). And so, Luke records, “Then he knelt down.”
 
This is something Luke carefully records five times in Luke and Acts. The act of kneeling while praying is found here and in Luke 22:41, Acts 9:40, Acts 20:36, and Acts 21:5. Such a position of humility goes back to the Old Testament where Solomon knelt down before the assembly when praying at the dedication of the temple and when Daniel was said to kneel three times a day when he prayed and gave thanks before his God.
 
The act is then one that defines a particular communication between man and his Creator. The other instances of kneeling for prayer that have been recorded make this perfectly clear. With this noted, it next says, “and cried out with a loud voice.”
 
This would otherwise be perfectly unnecessary. If he had something to say to the Lord in his final moments of death, unless it was to make two points, he would have simply breathed it out to God alone. But the prayer is not for his benefit. It is for those stoning him. First, it is to once again impress upon their minds that he accepts Christ Jesus as being fully God. Secondly, it is to ask Jesus for mercy upon those set on his destruction. He had just called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He now calls out, “Lord.”
 
He uses the same word, Κύριε [Kurie], that he just used when he said “Lord Jesus.” Thus, it is without any doubt that the address is to Jesus. And in his final petition, he calls out, “do not charge them with this sin.”
 
First, he acknowledges that Jesus is God through his kneeling to Him in prayer. Secondly, he reaffirms that by using the term Kurie, thus tying “Lord” with the glory of God described in verse 7:56. Thirdly, he does this by acknowledging that Jesus can, in fact, impute sin or withhold the imputation of sin – something only God can do.
 
But there is a fourth display of the deity of the Lord to be found here. Even if Stephen knew this or not, the Holy Spirit who was inspiring him to speak did. The reason for this is that with the coming of Christ, there is a new dispensation and a more perfect means of seeking God and of obtaining His pardon.
 
If anyone there stoning him reflected on their own Scriptures, they would remember the last martyr recorded there, and which define the dispensation of the law. In this, they would take to heart his words then and the contrasting words of Stephen now –
 
“Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, ‘Thus says God: “Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.”’ 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, ‘The Lord look on it, and repay!’” 2 Chronicles 24:20-22
 
Jesus referred to this in Matthew and Luke, reminding these same leaders of this exact event –
 
“And He said, ‘Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.’” Luke 11:46-51
 
The order of the Hebrew Bible is different than how we have it. Their books go from Genesis to 2 Chronicles. As such, Abel was the first martyr recorded in their Scriptures while Zechariah was the last.
 
Jesus was saying that the blood of all of these would be required of all of them. The reason for this is that they rejected the word that recorded these things and continued down the same perverse path. Jesus would come to take the guilt for all sin if the one committing it would simply receive His pardon. But in not doing so, the blood guilt would remain.
 
Stephen now contrasts the appeal of Zechariah by asking for their sin to not be imputed to them. The Holy Spirit was telling them that this was possible because 1) Jesus had died for their sins, and 2) Jesus had risen, proving He is God. In His rising, He ascended to His rightful position of authority and had the ability to forgive any who would come to Him. And 3) it is thus a lesson concerning the law versus grace.
 
When the law was given, three thousand died in the first rebellion under that law (Exodus 32:28). When the Holy Spirit was given, three thousand were saved on that first day (Acts 2:41). When the law was in effect, the call was for justice against the offenders. When the dispensation of grace came into effect, the call is for mercy and pardon against the offender.
 
The clear and unambiguous lesson in this final verse of Acts Chapter 7 is that Jesus is God, and that through Him alone can come the forgiveness of sins. With this understood, Luke finishes the verse and the chapter with, “And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
 
Rest well, Stephen, the call will not be long, and you shall be raised to receive your crown.
 
Life application: We need to be careful to not take the words of Stephen too far and assume that everyone is automatically forgiven since the coming of Christ. This is not taught in Scripture. Rather, all sins can be forgiven in Christ, but the offender must be willing to acknowledge his offense against God, and also acknowledge that the forgiveness can only come through the sacrifice of Jesus.
 
This is clearly demonstrated both here and in Jesus’ words on the cross –
 
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’” Luke 23:34
 
Before running ahead with Jesus’ words and saying that 1) everyone must forgive everyone of their wrongdoings, and 2) God in Christ automatically forgives everyone for all of their sins (both teachings are to be found in various degrees throughout Christian churches), one needs to ask the simple question, “Were the Jews collectively forgiven of their rejection of Christ Jesus or not?”
 
The answer is clear. Their temple was destroyed, the people fell under the promised punishments of Deuteronomy 28, and they were beaten down, exiled, and pursued exactly as the law indicated they would be. No, they were not forgiven. Nor are any others forgiven who do not come to Christ acknowledging that they have sinned.
 
Stephen’s call was not a call to automatically forgive them. Rather, it was the call of the Holy Spirit, through Stephen conveying a witness that Jesus is God; that He is the full, final, and forever means of obtaining forgiveness; and that grace can be bestowed, even when the attack is personally against Jesus. To attack His church is to attack Him (see Acts 9:3-5).
 
The forgiveness that Israel still needs, even to this day, is available. It will come someday when they call out to Jesus for it. When they do, and only when they do, will it be poured out on them. For now, any individual person – Jew or Gentile – can be forgiven by placing his faith in the gospel (the one and only gospel). For Israel the nation, they will be placed in a right standing when they acknowledge Jesus as Lord –
 
 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Luke 13:34, 35
 
When they do, the fountain of forgiveness will be poured out on them –
 
“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.” Zechariah 13:1
 
Pray for the lost around you. Pray for Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. These things can come about when Jesus is added to the equation. And be ready to open your mouth and speak out the gospel when the opportunity arises.
 
Heavenly Father, thank You for the forgiveness that comes through the shed blood of Christ. May many eyes be opened to their need to call out today for it. Amen.
 

Acts 7:59

Saturday, 4 June 2022
 
And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:59
 
The words of this verse are important to consider in their greater context. They are tied directly to verses 55 & 56 and can be understood more clearly by presenting them in this manner –
 
“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ ... 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” Acts 7:55, 56, & 59
 
There are several points of importance concerning what is said now. The first is that the word “God” is inserted by the translators. The Greek reads –
 
“And they were stoning Stephen, he was calling and saying...”
 
As such, there are various ideas about how to rightly translate it. For example, the Pulpit Commentary (among other similar commentaries) says inserting God “is certainly not justified by the context, because the words which follow, ‘Lord Jesus,’ show to whom the invocation was made, even to him whom he saw standing at the right hand of God.”
 
As such, there are various translations of the words –
 
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, (NIV)
And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, (NKJV)
They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, (NASB)
 
Some stick with the action and leave out the implied object. Some say “God.” Some say “Lord.” And so on. What is obvious is that Stephen is praying to Jesus. That is understood from the previous verses, and it is obvious from the final clause of this verse. To leave the object out is fine. It expresses the Greek. To say “Lord” is clear and precise and it is an exacting expression of what the intent is.
 
However, the commentaries (such as the Pulpit above) that say that translating this as “God” are incorrect fail to consider the intent of the translators. Jesus is the Lord and Jesus is God. By making such a statement, they fail to understand the meaning of “the right hand of God.”
 
As noted in previous commentaries, this is a statement that confirms Jesus is God, not the other way around. The right hand of God is not a physical position, as if He is sitting (or standing) next to God. It is a way of saying that He is at the position of all of the authority and power of God. By inserting the word “God,” it is thus an acknowledgment of this.
 
With this understood, and regardless of the three general translations noted above, Stephen continues with, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” This is the second main point of importance. Prayers are to be made to the Lord YHVH, meaning “God” (such as in Psalm 39:12), or simply to God (such as in Psalm 54:2). Any observant Jew would know this. To hear any other prayer would be considered blasphemy –
 
 “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.” Exodus 23:13
 
“Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, 8 but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.” Joshua 23:6-8
 
By invoking the name of Jesus, as he is being stoned, he is explicitly acknowledging that Jesus is the Lord God. The fact that he is being stoned means that the Jews have rejected this notion. Regardless of that, this is the intent of Stephen’s words, and thus it makes this a direct and explicit reference to the deity of Jesus.
 
The record says that Jesus is the glory of God and that He is at the position of all of the power and authority of God. Stephen then acknowledged that. Stephen then appeals to Jesus in the presence of all of the Jews, invoking His name and calling for Him to do something that only God can do, meaning receive his spirit.
 
Life application: Those who deny the deity of Christ are without excuse. The record of the Bible leaves no other option than the Father is God, the Son is God, and that the Holy Spirit is also God. As such, there is a Godhead that forms the Trinity.
 
Stephen’s words now clearly confirm that he understood that Jesus is God, and his calling out His name at the ending of his life is a final, forceful acknowledgment of that. It is another witness against those of his people who disbelieve, and it is a witness against anyone who denies the intent of what he says.
 
Even if you do not fully grasp the idea of the Trinity, and nobody fully does, you should – by faith – accept that it is what the Bible teaches. Be clear in your thinking and be steadfast in your acknowledgment that Jesus is God.
 
Glorious God Almighty, You have revealed Yourself in the Person of Jesus. In seeing Him, we are seeing the complete expression of who You are in a manner that we can understand. Thank You for this eternally available view into Your very nature. You have done it! Thank You for what You have done. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts 7:58

Friday, 3 June 2022
 
and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:58
 
The previous verse saw the council in a tizzy, and they ran at Stephen with one accord. With that remembered, it now says, “and they cast him out of the city.”
 
The verb is an aorist participle and should read, “And having cast him out of the city.” One action is taken before the next in a lively description of what occurred. As for the act itself, offenders were to be taken outside of the gates of the city to be stoned. This is not stated in every instance where stoning was outlined as the punishment, but it is generally understood that it was to be so.
 
This was to show the heinous nature of the crime. It was as if the person was cut off from the community’s favor, blessing, and protection. There are exceptions to this, such as Deuteronomy 22:21 where a certain infraction required a young woman to be stoned at the door of her father’s house. In the case of perceived blasphemy, being taken outside of the city was the appropriate spot for this to take place. As such, it says they cast him outside the city “and stoned him.”
 
Here, the verb is imperfect. It more correctly reads, “and they were stoning him.” Again, the presentation by Luke is lively and active, detailing it as if the reader is there watching the events unfold.
 
As for the process of stoning, there are some rabbinic commentaries on the method of stoning that was prescribed, but they may or may not match what Scripture actually says and should be avoided for this reason. When a person was stoned, the general practice would follow that stated in Deuteronomy 13 –
 
“If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you.” Deuteronomy 13:6-11
 
There are variations to the practice (as noted above concerning Deuteronomy 22:21), but the general idea was to symbolically excommunicate the person from the congregation by taking him out of the gates. This would also keep the city from defilement. From there, those who were personally aware of the offense were to be the first to cast the stones, and then all of the people were to join in until the offender was dead.
 
This could be the accusation that Jesus wrote with His finger in John 8. When they brought the woman caught in adultery to be stoned, they asked Him what should be done. He simply stooped down and wrote. It can only be speculated what He wrote, but it could have been this very law. They had failed in two ways. First, they only brought the woman, not both of them. Secondly, they brought her to the temple, not out to the gates of the city –
 
“If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you.” Deuteronomy 22:23, 24
 
With the reason for mentioning that Stephen was taken outside the city understood, the narrative continues, saying, “And the witnesses laid down their clothes.”
 
The word “clothes” should read “garments.” It is a long flowing outer garment that would inhibit the casting of stones. In other words, these witnesses – meaning those who were to cast the stone first – wanted to ensure they got the maximum amount of effect out of their toss. And so, they would take the outer garment off. The laying down of the clothes is specifically noted to introduce the next person. It is obvious they laid them down in order to cast, but it says they laid them down “at the feet of a young man.”
 
Vincent’s Word Studies notes that the term “young man” used by Luke “gives no indication of his age, since it is applied up to the age of forty-five. Thirty years after Stephen's martyrdom, Paul speaks of himself as the aged (Plm 1:9).”
 
All we can know is that the person standing there watching over the garments is a man less than forty-five years old “named Saul.” This is the first time Saul, later called Paul and who will become the apostle to the Gentiles, is named in Scripture. This act of guarding the clothes of those stoning Stephen is alluded to in Acts 22:20, where Paul speaks of what is now recorded by Luke –
 
“And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.”
 
By guarding the clothes of these men, he was agreeing to the execution.
 
Life application: As you read the Bible, pay attention to the introduction of names or events that seem disconnected from the continuing narrative. Quite often, what is introduced at one point, and which seems to have nothing to do with what is said at the time, is a vital key to knowing where the narrative will soon take place. An example of this is found in Genesis 22.
 
There, the account of Abraham taking Isaac to be a whole burnt offering to the Lord is given. At the very end of the chapter, it suddenly says –
 
“Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, ‘Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.’ 23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.” Genesis 22:20-24
 
This family line comes after the account of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah and before the record of Sarah’s death and burial in Genesis 23. But then the reason for it is realized in Genesis 24:15 when Rebekah is suddenly reintroduced into the ongoing narrative. This instance is not unique, but it happens again and again in the ongoing biblical account.
 
Pay attention to these introductory clues. The reason for them will be made manifest as you continue along with your reading. The Bible is showing us that it is a logical, orderly, and planned out document that leads in a steady fashion to its ultimate purpose – the coming of the Messiah. Everything in it makes sense when it is taken with that in mind.
 
What a wonderful treasure of wisdom and order is Your precious word, O God. Thank You for how it is presented, and how it leads slowly and inevitably to the revealing of what is most important of all, meaning the coming of Jesus. Thank You for such wisdom and detail that fills us with the surety that we are truly dealing with Your word. Yes, thank You for this wonderful word. Amen!

Acts 7:57

Thursday, 2 June 2022
 
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; Acts 7:57
 
Stephen had just called out, stating that he saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. It was all the council could take. Stephen was claiming that the Man they had betrayed and handed over to the Romans for crucifixion was now in the position of all authority and power. It would mean that He was the One spoken of by Daniel who would judge them all.
 
With this, Luke next records, “Then they cried out.” This was probably done for two reasons. The first was to snarl at Stephen some more while accusing him of blasphemy. Secondly, it would have been to drown out any more words from him. Hence, they cried out “with a loud voice.”
 
One can almost imagine the ruckus of seventy-plus people wildly howling out. It would turn very quickly from a ruling council to an out-of-control mob. Along with crying out in a loud manner, it says they “stopped their ears.”
 
The verb means “held together.” In other words, they would have folded the bottom of their ears up and tightly held them in place so that they wouldn’t hear any more words. This, together with their crying out, would completely drown out the sound of Stephen’s words. It was a way of demonstrating that they believed his words were blasphemous and they would no longer tolerate hearing anything he said. In this frenzied state, it next says, “and ran at him with one accord.”
 
The entire council got up from their seats and came forward as a single tidal wave, rushing upon him and seizing him. Their minds were made up and they would move to take action against the “offender.” But Stephen had seen the heavenly vision. Thus, he was certain that whatever was to happen had divine sanction. He would be unmoved by whatever was to come.
 
Life application: The early church was heavily persecuted by the leaders of Israel. As Acts continues, it will be seen that the believers were subjected to being arrested, imprisoned, and even executed. This has continued on throughout the church age and throughout the world. The gospel is a point of liberty for the human soul. But leaders often want control over their people. Someone who is free in his soul is not a person that can be easily manipulated into perverse obedience.
 
This hostility towards believers is quickly rushing upon the people of the United States. Believers are being purged from the military through planned contrivances. This will make the military easier to manipulate. Believers are being openly attacked in their churches because of their opposition to murdering the unborn. Society is being deadened to such things by an unsympathetic news media.
 
Soon, to stand before others and proclaim the message of Jesus may be a cause for being openly executed, even without a trial. As far-fetched as that sounds, it is no more far-fetched than the current administration openly violating public law with no repercussions for their actions. And yet, it is happening daily. Be ready to take your stand now. Be firm in your convictions, and be prepared to hold fast to your faith, even if the inevitable outcome is death. This may be necessary, so prepare yourselves now for what may lie ahead.
 
Lord God, it is sad to think that those nations that once proudly proclaimed the good news of Jesus are now almost at complete enmity with that message, but that day has arrived. Give Your people the inner strength to work against this unholy tide and to stand firm on their faith in Your word. It sure is needed in this darkened hour. Amen.

Acts 7:56

Wednesday, 1 June 2022
 
and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:56
 
The previous verse contained Luke’s words describing the situation surrounding Stephen. This verse now describes Stephen’s own words about that situation. When taken together, they read –
 
“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” Acts 755, 56
 
It is Stephen who saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at his right hand, with that vision, he exclaimed, “Look!”
 
The word can be variously translated depending on the surrounding words, but in this instance, it signifies “Behold!” His eyes so clearly saw the vision before him that he must have felt certain everyone else could see it as well if they just directed their eyes in the same direction. To help them along, he then called out, “I see the heavens opened.”
 
It was as if what he was looking at was right in front of him. There is no doubt that what he saw was as real as the council members he had been speaking to. And yet, only he would have had the vision. The door to this otherwise unseen realm had been opened wide for him to behold. With this heavenly sight before him, he then says, “and the Son of Man standing.”
 
This is a term frequently used by Jesus when speaking of Himself. It is most commonly used in the books of Matthew and Luke, but all four gospels use it frequently. And yet, despite it being so commonly spoken by Jesus concerning Himself, this is the only time that the exact term is used outside of the gospels.
 
In Revelation, John uses the term twice without the article (a Son of Man rather than the Son of Man). Hebrews uses the term in a general way when citing the psalms as well. The term “the Son of Man” speaks more of Jesus’ deity than His humanity, even though it refers to His humanity. In other words, it is a way of saying that despite Him being a human being, He is also fully God.
 
Hence, this is the reason for Stephen’s proclamation now. He is telling the council just what Jesus had told them on the night before they crucified Him –
 
“‘Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.’70 Then they all said, ‘Are You then the Son of God?’So He said to them, ‘You rightly say that I am.’71 And they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.’” Luke 22:69-71
 
The council understood perfectly what Jesus was saying. In claiming that He was the Son of Man, they took it to mean that He is the Son of God – deity. The reference came from their own Scriptures –
 
“I was watching in the night visions,And behold, One like the Son of Man,Coming with the clouds of heaven!He came to the Ancient of Days,And they brought Him near before Him.14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.His dominion is an everlasting dominion,Which shall not pass away,And His kingdom the oneWhich shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13, 14
 
Stephen now confirms this to the council, implying that the Man whom they crucified is also the Lord their God, and He now stood in a vision before Stephen “at the right hand of God!”
 
As noted in the previous commentary, God does not have parts. To say Jesus is at the right hand of God is to say that He is God, with all of His authority, position, and power. The Creator of all things, the One who breathed life into man, the Lord who spoke forth the law at Mount Sinai, and the Son of Man named Jesus who this council had betrayed and sentenced to His death, is the Risen Messiah who stood from His position of authority to greet the man who would be His first of many martyrs.
 
Life application: As noted in the previous commentary, the care of the Lord Jesus for His people is wholly and perfectly evident in His standing up to receive Stephen’s martyrdom. Stephen faithfully witnessed to what he knew was true, and he was willing to boldly speak out his words despite whatever the council would decide to do to him.
 
Are we willing to do the same for the witness of Jesus? How sure are you of your faith in Christ? And how capable are you of telling others about Him? If you received the gospel and were saved, was your life changed? That is a witness all by itself. It is something that testifies to the power of the gospel message.
 
And what about explaining the weightier matters of your faith? Can you accurately tell people why you believe Jesus is God? Can you explain difficult verses that people use against that notion? Stephen believed with all of his being that Jesus is God. He could not have said what he said otherwise.
 
Be ready to defend your faith. Be ready to tell others about the wonder that Jesus has brought about in your own life. And be ready to do so even if it will cost you your life. Your faithfulness will receive a full reward when you are brought before this wonderful, tender, caring Savior. He is Jesus.
 
Lord God, what a sure and blessed hope we possess! Thank You that our faith in Jesus is not dubious or unexplainable. We have a certain hope, and it is one that can be explained to any person, in any culture, and of any language. The gospel has a universal application because it speaks to the very heart of man. Thank You for this wonderful message of hope and reconciliation. Amen.
 

Acts 7:55

Tuesday, 31 May 2022
 
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, Acts 7:55
 
The words of the previous verse said that upon hearing the words of Stephen, those who heard them “were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” With that said, Luke next notes, “But he.”
 
It is referring to Stephen. He is set in contrast to those who were like enraged animals snarling at him. Instead, it says of him, “being full of the Holy Spirit.”
 
This was just as promised by Jesus. First, it is a reminder that everything Stephen had said has been under the influence of the Spirit and in accord with His intents –
 
“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11, 12
 
Also, it is an indication that Stephen was covered in the peace that can only come from being filled with the Holy Spirit –
 
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26, 27
 
As this is so, it also confirms that this council of leaders did not have the Holy Spirit to guide them. Instead, they stood as enemies of God because of their rejection of Christ. Stephen had said, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). This truth is borne out in the filling of Stephen, of whose words they rejected. As Jesus said –
 
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18
 
Next, in this state of being filled with the Holy Spirit, Luke says that Stephen “gazed into heaven.” It is the natural reaction of someone who is at his wit’s end. As humans, we may look away from something in disgust, we may look down in dejection, or we may look to heaven in hope of relief or to refocus our thoughts on higher things. It is the state that David wrote about –
 
“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;In the morning I will direct it to You,And I will look up.” Psalm 5:3
 
Stephen, finding no reassurance in the reaction from the council, lifted his eyes unto heaven “and saw the glory of God.”
 
It is the hope of the human soul. We look to heaven in hopes of discernment, relief, and stabilization of our thoughts, but we do so not really expecting to see anything but the roof of the building we are in or the expanse of the sky under which we stand. However, Stephen was given the relief for his soul that countless others of the past had hoped to find –
 
“Unto You I lift up my eyes,O You who dwell in the heavens.2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,So our eyes look to the Lord our God,Until He has mercy on us.
3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us!For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.4 Our soul is exceedingly filledWith the scorn of those who are at ease,With the contempt of the proud.” Psalm 123
 
In his looking up and beholding the glory of God, we are then given an insight into the exaltation of the Lord Jesus through what Stephen saw. Luke records that he saw the glory of God “and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
 
Several key points can be determined from this. One is that seeing the glory of God does not mean that a person has seen God. Both Paul and John confirm this –
 
“I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:13-16
 
“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12
 
Stephen saw the glory that let him know that God is there, even if He cannot be seen. Another point we can learn from this is one that has already been revealed earlier in Acts where Peter said, “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).
 
To be at the right hand is not a physical location. God does not have parts. Rather, it signifies being at the position of all power and authority. It is a confirmation of the deity of Jesus. He is the physical manifestation of who God is. Through Him, the unseen God becomes knowable and understandable.
 
Thirdly, it says that this Jesus, who appears in the position of authority and power as He dwells in the glory of God, is standing. Acts has already said that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God (Acts 2:34). It is also recorded several times in the gospels, in Ephesians, and in Hebrews. This then reveals to us that a change has taken place. A potentate will sit on his throne as a sign of rule and authority. For him to rise to a standing position will signify the bestowal of an honor, such as the knighting of a person or the crowning of an authority figure under him. It may even occur as a sign of welcoming someone to whom the king is intimately connected –
 
“Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand.” 1 Kings 2:19
 
Jesus, who is at the position of all authority and power, sitting at the right hand of God while dwelling in His glory, arose. It is a sign of welcoming family, of the closest friendship, and of honoring His subordinate. It is to confer a crown – the crown of life – upon him, and to welcome him into his new home. It is the mark of honor to the person whom Scripture will reveal is the church’s first martyr.
 
Life application: If any set of verses in Scripture shows us the affection of the Lord for His people, it is these verses concerning the coming death of Stephen. The Lord rose to acknowledge the one who would be His first recorded martyr. He will rise again someday when the last saint of the church age is brought into the number to be saved. At that moment, the call will go forth, and the church will be brought to Him.
 
Jesus is aware of every single person who is His. The deaths of His saints are not only known to Him, but they are being carefully recorded and tallied. Each brings us one count closer to the moment that our faith in Him has promised will come –
 
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
 
For the Lord to descend from heaven, He must first arise from the place of His sitting. Arise, Lord! Come for Your people. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 
Heavenly Father, You have sent Your Son to complete a mission and to call Him back to Your throne in heaven. But someday, He will arise from that throne to gather His people together. We long for that day, and may it be soon. Until then, give us patience as we live out our lives in hopeful anticipation of that glorious day. Amen.
 

Acts 7:54

Monday, 30 May 2022
 
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. Acts 7:54
 
Stephen has been quite clear in his words to the council, and they have perfectly understood what he meant. Because of this, a strong reaction has been elicited from them. As it now says, “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart.”
 
It is the same word introduced into Scripture in Acts 5:33, diaprió. This is the second and last use of it in the Bible. It comes from two words signifying “through” and “cut with a saw.” Hence, it signifies “sawn in two.” It is a state where a person feels he has been cut right in two, right down the middle, when overcome with grief or rage. At this time, it is a state of rage.
 
One can imagine a saw cutting through their minds as bits fly off in different directions. The more words they heard, the more their minds would be drawn apart. In this case, being reminded that they resisted the Spirit, were the murderers of the Messiah, and who were the stewards of the law, and yet they themselves did not keep it, their minds had become completely enraged and disjointed. In this state, Luke next says, “and they gnashed at him with their teeth.”
 
The Greek word translated as “gnashed” is found only here in the Bible, bruchó. Of this word, Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “Originally to eat greedily, with a noise, as wild beasts: hence to gnash or grind the teeth.” In their case, it is also a sign of rage. They were like wild animals clenching their teeth and snarling at Stephen. Things don’t look good for him at this point.
 
Life application: Speaking out the truth of the word can, and quite often will, get people riled up. Sometimes you can present it as a challenge, sometimes as a warning, sometimes as a point of correction for someone’s conduct, and so on. Depending on who is being addressed and what the circumstances are, these things may be taken well, or they may be taken as an offense. But as long as you are presenting your words with the proper intent and in the proper context, you are doing your job.
 
Stephen is addressing Israel’s leaders. They should have known better, and he has been as direct as Jesus was concerning their failings. There is nothing wrong with this approach. Quite often people get too caught up in the thought, “You need to do this in love.” That is often a means of silencing you. Stephen’s words are true, they are direct, and they are biting. The psalms are often written in such a manner. We must take God’s word as it is presented and accept that stern warnings or open chastisement are a part of how it is presented.
 
Let us remember this and present our words as the occasion necessitates. Don’t let others shut you down when you are doing exactly what you should be doing. Present your words and let the chips fall where they may.
 
Lord God, help us to be wise and discerning in how to present Your word, and how to present correction to others when necessary. It is not always an easy task, so be with us and help us to glorify You in all such situations. May it be so! Amen.

Acts 7:53

Sunday, 29 May 2022
 
who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Acts 7:53
 
Stephen’s words of this verse should be taken in connection with the previous verses to get the full context –
 
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
 
Understanding the context, this verse begins with, “who have received the law.” The word translated as “who” is “Stronger than the simple relative who, and emphasizing their sin by contrast with their privileges: inasmuch as ye were those who received, etc.” (Vincent’s Word Studies).
 
Stephen is clearly pointing his finger at the council and pointing out their hypocrisy. They have been entrusted with the law and they are the guardians of it. As such, they are responsible to ensure others keep it accordingly. It is the law, as he next says, given “by the direction of angels.”
 
Here, Stephen introduces a word into the Bible, diatagé, that is found only here and in Romans 13:2. It signifies an ordinance or disposition. Reading it in Romans 13 will help understand the meaning –
 
“Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:2
 
As for the meaning, it is quite common for scholars to cite Jewish references that claim the Law of Moses was received from God through angels as if they mediated the law to the people of Israel. This is not found in the account of Exodus, nor anywhere else. To simply cite Jewish commentary in this manner is not responsible because it does not match what the Bible says.
 
Rather, and quite simply, the word translated as “angels” means “messengers.” This is the same as the Hebrew where the word translated as “angel” means just the same thing as in the Greek. It can refer to a supernatural angel (see Zechariah 1:9, for example), the Angel of the Lord, meaning the eternal Christ – Jesus (see Numbers 22:22, for example), the coming Messiah (see second use of the word “Messenger” in Malachi 3:1, for example), or even mere human beings who bring messages (such as John the Baptist – see the first use of “messenger” in Malachi 3:1 and in Mark 1:2).
 
In this case now presented by Stephen, it is a clear reference to Moses and Aaron, the “messengers” who were designated to receive the law and transmit it to the people. They acted as the angels, or messengers, of the Lord. Later during the time of the law, it is seen that angels, such as Gabriel and Michael, also spoke out words to certain people though. Further, prophets and seers continued to receive the word, passing it along to the people.
 
The point of what is being said here is that the law was “received by the direction of angels.” The Lord spoke, and His chosen messengers – be it Moses and Aaron, the prophets, or heavenly angels – relayed His word to the people. This same thought is seen in Galatians 3:19 and in Hebrews 2:2. Despite this, Stephen accuses those in the council. They had received this law “and have not kept it.”
 
The council sits in authority over Israel. The words he speaks are not just pointing at the men sitting before him, but they refer to this council over the entire dispensation of the law. He says that in the entire history of Israel, this council had failed to uphold the law and to administer it properly. The Scriptures themselves testify to this fact, and it was no less so now when they had dismissed, rejected, and crucified the very One that those Scriptures testified to.
 
These men were just the recipients of the final expression of what God was doing under the law. As such, they were more accountable than any others for failing as they had. They had turned their responsibilities into a point of shame, and they would turn their nation into a people set for destruction, as warned in the very law they administered.
 
Life application: The dispensation of the law was intended to teach Israel that they, as a people, needed God’s grace and mercy. If nothing else, the sacrificial system that accompanied the law should have taught them this. Though the law is based on works, including the mandatory sacrifices, the fact that sacrifices were given for sins committed under the law are their own mark of grace. And the fact that the entire nation, without exception – including Israel’s high priest – needed to observe the Day of Atonement, told them that they had failed to meet the demands of the law. Hence, they needed the grace and mercy offered on that day.
 
But because of a perceived self-righteousness that came from having the law, they could not see this. They thought (and still think to this day) that the law elevated them as a people to a special status that brought them an inherent righteousness. What does one need the sacrifice of the Messiah for if the law has been given? Without seeing that the law only pointed to Jesus, it became a supposed means to an end.
 
This is the problem with churches that mandate the law (in part or in whole) today. “I give ten percent.” “I don’t eat pork.” “I observe the Feasts of the Lord.” “I observe the Sabbath.” The focus of each of these is on the subject, “I.” That is the problem with such doctrine. It makes the same error as is held by Israel. It is not about us. It is about Jesus. Despite all of the “I haves” or “I ams” that Israel possesses, they are no closer to God than the worst pagan without the grace and mercy of God.
 
Come to God through His full, final, and forever offer of Jesus. Then you can do acceptable good stuff all day long. Get things in the proper order and never rely on “I” to get you to heaven. You will never make it. Come to Jesus, and you are guaranteed to make it.
 
Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our precious Savior. Amen.
 

Acts 7:52

Saturday, 28 May 2022
 
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, Acts 7:52
 
Stephen’s last words were concerning the stiff necks and uncircumcised hearts and ears of those in the council. He also noted that they always resist the Holy Spirit, just as their fathers did. Now he asks them a direct question that somewhat mirrors the words of Jesus, “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?”
 
It is reflective of what Jesus said to the leaders in Matthew 5 (and also in Luke 13) –
 
“Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 5:31-36
 
Jesus’ words were an affirmative statement. Stephen’s words are put in the form of a question, but one that begs the answer, “Your fathers have persecuted them all.” The Scriptures themselves testify to the truth of the matter. But that question was only asked to connect what the fathers had done to what this very council would do. He is showing that there is an unbroken line of hatred by them to the very people who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. This is seen in Stephen’s continued words, saying, “And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One.”
 
The title, the Just One, is not directly proclaimed by the prophets, but the intent behind it is seen in the words of the prophets. A close thought to it is found in Isaiah 11 –
 
“But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,And faithfulness the belt of His waist.” Isaiah 11:4, 5
 
The title was understood well enough that it is used here. Likewise, 1 John 2:1 uses a similar title saying, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” The word John uses is the same Greek word meaning both just and righteous. The title is also similar to that already stated by Peter in Acts 3:14.
 
As for the continued words of Stephen, what he says still refers to the fathers, meaning those leaders who had come before. At the time when the prophets were proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, these leaders of Israel were busy killing those same prophets. The prophets called the people to turn from their wicked ways while also proclaiming that the Messiah was coming. Because of their words of correction concerning holiness and living according to God’s standards, the fathers had persecuted and killed those prophets of God. And, following in their unrighteous footsteps, Stephen says of those before him, “of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers.”
 
There is no article before “betrayers” in the Greek. Because of the way he says it, the statement bears an emphasis, “you betrayers and murderers have become.” The council both conspired against God’s Messiah, and they were directly involved in His killing. One example of the conspiracy is found in Matthew 27:3, 4 –
 
“Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’And they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!’”
 
As for acknowledging guilt in the murder, that is also found in Matthew 27. In verse 27:20 it acknowledges that the chief priests and elders were present at this time. Then in verses 27:24, 25 it says –
 
“When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’25 And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.’”
 
The weight of Stephen’s words may not be pleasant to the ears of the council, but they are words of truth that cannot be denied from the written eyewitness record of what occurred.
 
Life application: To this day, those who call the people to turn from wickedness are persecuted and even killed for their stand. The message of Jesus is not one of tolerance, even if it is one of acceptance. Jesus will accept any who come to Him, but the expectation is that in coming to Him there will be lives lived out in holiness. There will be judgment upon all – both saved and unsaved – for unholy living. The difference is that those who never come to Him are destined for an eternal swim in the Lake of Fire. Those who do come to Him will be judged for loss of rewards.
 
It is best to come to Jesus and then put Him first in our lives. Let us endeavor to learn the word, apply it to our lives, and live out our days in right conduct and holy living. May it be so to the glory of God who has saved us.
 
Lord God, thank You for the salvation that is found in the giving of Your precious Son for us. Help us to live out our lives in holiness rather than in pursuit of the things of the flesh. It is a tempting world, a world filled with trials and stresses, and a world that calls out for us to join it in earthly pursuits. But, Lord, help us as we keep our eyes on Jesus, striving for that which lies ahead of us. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Acts 7:51

Friday, 27 May 2022
 
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Acts 7:51
 
Stephen has carefully and methodically laid out his analysis of the worship of Israel and their attitude toward the Lord throughout their history. With his words now finished concerning the Lord in relation to the temple, his complete disappointment in the ability of the leaders to perceive what is good and right concerning the Lord comes forth.
 
Citing Scripture, he has shown that the Lord is not confined to a building of stone that has been fashioned by men’s hands. Because of their inability to perceive this basic truth, he next calls out to them, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!”
 
He uses two words that are only found here in Scripture:
 
sklérotrachélos – This comes from two separate words, skléros, meaning hard, stiff, stubborn, and so on. It describes people that simply won’t budge. And trachélos, meaning the neck or throat. Together, they obviously signify stiff-necked. It speaks of a people who are contrary and obstinate.
 
aperitmétos – This comes from the negative particle a being united to peritemnó, or to circumcise.
 
The second word, uncircumcised, is then defined by the words “in heart and ears.” Being uncircumcised would signify that the people were both outside of the covenant of Abraham and outside of the Law of Moses. Stephen is using this as an example of being in that state, not legally but morally. They were circumcised in the flesh, but that did not mean they were right with the Lord. This concept is found in both testaments of Scripture going back as far as Moses –
 
“Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.” Deuteronomy 10:16
 
“And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:6
 
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,And take away the foreskins of your hearts,You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,Lest My fury come forth like fire,And burn so that no one can quench it,Because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:4
 
“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2: 28, 29
 
To be uncircumcised in the heart is to lack reasoning towards God, resulting in being disobedient towards Him. It would be a person who lives for the flesh and not for the spiritual things laid out by the Lord. To be uncircumcised in the ear is to fail to hear (both hearing and then applying) the word of the Lord to one’s life. The word “hearken” gives a good sense of this. One can hear and not do. Or one can fail to hear at all and be incapable of doing. One who hearkens will both hear and do.
 
In this state, Stephen continues by saying, “You always resist the Holy Spirit.” Again, he uses a word that is only found this one time in Scripture, antipiptó. It is an especially strong word signifying “to fall against.” As such, it means active resistance. HELPS Word Studies says it is “like someone trying to crush an adversary in battle.”
 
These people hadn’t just resisted the Holy Spirit by ignoring Him. Rather, they were actively working against Him. It is He who inspired Scripture, and thus the meaning is that they were actively working against what He had provided in the word by actively trying to crush anything concerning Jesus, who is the Subject of Scripture. But this attitude was nothing new. He says that this is “as your fathers did, so do you.”
 
This is certainly referring to the examples given in verses 7:39-43. He is equating those sitting before him with those who actively rejected Moses, made a golden calf, turned their hearts back to Egypt, offered sacrifices to the idol, and who continued to do such things ever since. The rebellious streak of the fathers was still being openly evidenced in the council of leaders to that very day.
 
Life application: Israel was crushed, destroyed, and exiled because they rejected Jesus. This is what the Bible, even by the words of Jesus Himself, teaches. They purposefully and willfully continued to do so even after the resurrection and the witness of the apostles.
 
As such, they were exiled in accord with the Law of Moses, and the punishments laid out there have been brought upon them for the past two millennia. To this day, they actively work against any notion of Jesus being the Messiah, and they are – for the most part – intolerant of Him within their culture and community.
 
Though they are back in the land, this is not because they are right with the Lord, but it is the Lord’s way of bringing them to a right standing with Him. Jesus lays all of this out in the gospels, such as in Matthew 24.
 
As this is so, it means that His coming for His people in the church is probably not far off. We have a great hope that we will be delivered from this world of wickedness and into our heavenly home. Israel, along with the rest of the unbelieving world, will enter into the tribulation where most will not survive. Now is the time to tell people about the goodness of God in Christ, and to convey to them the gospel. Be sure to get this word out while you can.
 
Lord God, help our hearts to be softened towards those who have not yet come to You through Jesus. Help us to be caring enough to share this good news while we can. Direct our steps to those whom You know will favorably respond to the call when it is given. Time is winding down, Lord. Help us to take full advantage of it while we can. Amen.

Acts 7:50

Thursday, 26 May 2022
 
Has My hand not made all these things?’ Acts 7:50
 
Stephen is in the process of quoting Isaiah 66:1, 2. He will finish his citation with this verse which is only the first clause of Isaiah 66:2. His entire citation says –
 
“Heaven is My throne,And earth is My footstool.What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,Or what is the place of My rest?50 Has My hand not made all these things?” Acts 7:49, 50
 
With this context remembered, he finishes with, “Has My hand not made all these things?” The Hebrew is very close, saying, “For all those things My hand has made.”
 
The previous words spoke of the position of authority and the state of having all of the earth in a state of subjection. The words now bring in the fact that not only is this so, but that the Lord is the Creator of them as well. What is implied in this is that if He is the Creator of them, then He is also the Sustainer of them. This is stated explicitly in the continued words of Isaiah (not cited by Stephen) that say, “And all those things exist.”
 
They came into being because of Him (existence from creation), but they remain now only because He purposes it to be so (continued existence). This concept is mentioned by Paul and by the author of Hebrews –
 
“And he is before all, and all things subsist together by him.” Colossians 1:17 (Darby)
 
“...has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power.” Hebrews 1:2, 3
 
As these things are so, then it must be that a temple fashioned by human hands is both insufficient to contain Him, and that what occurs at that temple is actually for our benefit, not His. He needs nothing as all things are from Him and all things belong to Him. Further, true righteousness and holiness cannot come from such a temple and its rites and rituals. Rather, they are intended to school those to whom they are given that only such a state can come from the work of God.
 
What man does is already tainted with unholiness. The thought of what Stephen is saying through the words of Isaiah is that a right standing before God will come through what God does. That is actually seen in the finishing words of Isaiah 66:2 –
 
“But on this one will I look:On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,And who trembles at My word.”
 
The word of God is a reflection of who He is. It is true that the rites and rituals used in the worship of the temple were set forth by the Lord, but they are only types and shadows of what is more perfect. To demonstrate this, the Lord’s word prophesied the coming of the Messiah who would perfectly fulfill all things that Israel imperfectly lived out. This will be seen as Stephen continues. He has clearly set forth his case, and he will show how Israel failed to recognize the time of their visitation.
 
Life application: In worshipping Jesus, we are worshipping the fullest expression of who God is in a form that we can understand. The Holy Spirit intends for us to see God revealed in Christ. The influence of the prophets was for them to prophesy. The overshadowing of Mary so that she would conceive was given to bring forth the incarnate Word of God. The influence of the Spirit on the apostles was to remind them of the work of the Lord and to testify to it. The sealing of the Spirit now is given as an acceptance of faith (belief in) the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
 
Everything is centered on Christ Jesus. Let us fix our eyes on Him as we await the wondrous day when we are brought into the presence of God and of the Lamb for all eternity. Let us thank God for His favor, His grace, and His mercy towards us in Christ.
 
Lord God, all praise, glory, and honor belong to You. We give You our hearts and our devotion as we await the day when You renew all things and bring us into the pure and undefiled state that will allow us perfect union with You for all eternity. Glory to You in the highest! Amen.