BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 8:5

Friday, 10 June 2022
 
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. Acts 8:5
 
The previous verse said, “Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” That is now built upon by Luke, beginning with, “Then Philip.” 
 
This is not Philip of the apostles who is recorded in the gospels, such as in Luke 6:14. Rather, this may be the same man named Philip found in Acts 6:5 who is named among the seven chosen as deacons. If it is the same Philip, he will be seen again in Acts 21:8 where he is called Philip the evangelist. As for him, it says he “went down to the city of Samaria.”
 
The verb is an aorist participle and should read, “having gone down.” In having gone down, then the actions continue on at some point. As far as the city, Samaria is a region, and so it is probably the principal city of the region at the time. If so, Cambridge says that it was called Sebaste at this time. Sebaste carries the same meaning as Augusta, and it was named in honor of Augustus Caesar. It was probably at this location that it next says, “and preached.”
 
The verb is imperfect. He didn’t just preach, but he was preaching. He continued on in his proclamation with conviction and stating it as authoritative. This can be seen in the use of the word translated as “preach.” It is a different word than the previous verse. There, it was the word euaggelizó, to evangelize or “carry the good news.” Here it is kérussó, to proclaim, herald, or preach. Luke finishes by stating that he was preaching “Christ to them.”
 
More correctly, the words state that he was preaching the Christ to them. The definite article sets off his proclamation as specifically being about Jesus who is the Christ. Prior to the coming of Jesus, people may have preached Christ, such as, “Messiah is coming! Scripture says He will be born in Bethlehem,” and so on. However, Philip’s words are specific about “the Christ.” One can see him standing in front of a crowd and saying, “The Messiah has come! He has accomplished all things necessary for salvation and He has fulfilled the law and the prophets!” His words would set Jesus apart from any other preaching that had been proclaimed before.
 
Life application: Evangelizing is similar to the preaching noted here, and they can overlap. The main thing to remember is that anyone can evangelize. If you just take the time to remember the basics of the good news concerning Jesus, there should be no reason why you can’t convey to the people you meet that there is hope in Him. Keep it simple and let them know the good news (the only good news!) that can save them.
 
Having tracts to hand out is a plus because they can carry a reminder of what you spoke about. As with what you speak about, keep tracts simple. They can have longer messages about hope and the like, but the gospel presentation should be basic. There is a universal need that all have which is deliverance from sin. Jesus is the One who can fill that need. As long as the simple gospel is conveyed, there does not need to be an overload of theology to distract the person’s attention.
 
Above all, what is proclaimed should be with conviction and with the assurance that Christ Jesus is the answer to man’s dilemma, and more – that He is the only answer to it. With that, you will have properly done your duty to share the good news that God has presented to the world!
 
Lord God, help us to be bold in our proclamation of the good news concerning the Lord Jesus. May we never water down the truth of this message. Sin is the problem, Jesus is the answer, and in Him there is freedom from the guilt that separates man from God. Thank You for Jesus. May we be faithful to proclaim what You have done through Him. Amen.

Acts 8:4

Thursday, 9 June 2022
 
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Acts 8:4
 
In the previous verse, Saul was seen to make havoc on the church, dragging people off and putting them in prison. With that, Luke next records, “Therefore.”
 
It is because of the persecution of the church, notably by Saul, that the events now about to happen will actually come about, and which concerns “those who were scattered.”
 
In their desire to not be dragged away and put in prison, the believers in Jerusalem got up and left. This is what was already stated in verse 8:1, and which is being repeated now after the reason for their scattering has been explicitly stated –
 
“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
 
It is true that this must have been a time of both fear and stress on the believers. Being uprooted suddenly and then rushing off to another place is a difficult change on most people, but we are being told these things for a specific reason, which is that those who were scattered “went everywhere preaching the word.”
 
The word translated as “everywhere” is dierchomai. It comes from dia (through) and erchomai (to come or go). It’s not that they went everywhere and preached, but that they preached everywhere they went. Wherever they passed through, on the way to the next place, they would boldly tell the people about what they knew.
 
As can be seen, the information now fills in what was first stated in verse 8:1. Now, and for the next several chapters, many details will continue to be filled in, and then in verse 11:19, this narrative will be called to mind again –
 
“Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” Acts 11:19-21
 
This will be stated after the conversion of some from the mixed-race of the Samaritans, after the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch, after Saul’s conversion, and after the conversion of an Italian centurion living in Caesarea. Thus, the words of Jesus in Acts 1:8 will be on their way to total fulfillment with each step being meticulously recorded by Luke –
 
“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.”
 
Life application: As difficult as it must have been for the believers to be uprooted by the persecution they faced, and as difficult as it must have been for Paul to later contemplate his actions towards the believers he persecuted, the word of the Lord was actually being fulfilled through these things.
 
As the Lord said that the word would be spread even to the end of the earth, we can know that the things that seem difficult or even terrible that happen now are a part of the larger plan to make this happen. Nothing is happening that is outside of the knowledge of God, and He has the ability to use all that happens to meet His greater plan.
 
Let us trust this and do our best to remember it when our own times of upheaval and trial come. He is working all things out for a good end for those who are His. The word says that it is so –
 
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30
 
Surely, we know that You are in control of all things Lord God. In our own times of trial and distress, we may lose sight of that. So, Lord, send us reminders along the way to help us keep our focus. We are wholly dependent on You in this, O God. May our hearts be prepared for the challenges ahead until the day when You bring us home to glory. Amen.
 

Acts 8:3

Wednesday, 8 June 2022
 
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Acts 8:3
 
It was just noted that Stephen was carried to his burial. But that did not stop the persecution of the church. In fact, Luke’s next words show that it continued, highlighting the very person who guarded the clothes of those who stoned Stephen, saying, “As for Saul.”
 
The name Saul is from the Hebrew Shaul. That comes from the verb shaal, meaning to inquire or ask for. Thus, it means “Asked For.” What may be implied is “Asked for (of Yah).” For example, the people of Israel had asked for a king, and the Lord gave them Saul, the first king to reign over Israel. Or it could be that a parent asks for a child and the Lord responds by granting one. The word, however, is identical in spelling to the word sheol, or the place of the dead. In this, one can imagine the grave calling out for the souls of humanity, asking for them to come and join it. Of Saul, Luke notes that “he made havoc of the church.”
 
The tense is imperfect. It says, “making havoc.” It shows that there was a continuous stream of him relentlessly going after the people. Also, here is a word found just this one time in Scripture and translated as “made havoc.” It signifies outrage or to maltreat. Of this word, Vincent’s Word Studies says –
 
“In Septuagint, Psalm 79:13, it is used of the laying waste of a vineyard by the wild boar. ... Canon Farrar observes: ‘The part which he played at this time in the horrid work of persecution has, I fear, been always underrated. It is only when we collect the separate passages - they are no less than eight in number - in which allusion is made to this sad period, it is only when we weigh the terrible significance of the expressions used that we feel the load of remorse which must have lain upon him, and the taunts to which he was liable from malignant enemies’ (‘Life and Work of St. Paul’). Note the imperfect, of continued action.”
 
It has already been noted that the church was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. However, the next verse will explain that this was a result of Saul’s actions. As such, it can be concluded that as soon as Stephen was stoned, he immediately started going after the believers. As mere speculation, it could be that those in the council said, “We need to crush this teaching right now, when we have the initiative.” With that, Saul responded with zeal. This would be in accord with his own words of Acts 26 –
 
“This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Acts 26:10, 11
 
With this in mind, Luke says that Saul was “entering every house.” It would explain why it says “devout men” rather than “brethren” who were there to bury Stephen. The persecution began right away, and the believers were hiding in their homes or taking the roads back to their own hometowns. For those who were apprehended, Luke next notes that Saul was “dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”
 
The verbs continue to show an active and ongoing action by Saul. He came after the people and he kept coming after them, tirelessly chasing them down and having them incarcerated. The word “dragging” indicates that they were in a rage as they arrested the people, so much so that they grabbed body parts – the hair, the arms, the legs – and simply dragged them out to be bound up and taken away.
 
Noting both men and women was to show that there was no tolerance at all for anyone who held to the name of Jesus. Even if the men were primarily responsible for the households, the women were a part of the households and were thus subject to the same charges of apostasy as the men.
 
Life application: Saul was really the first persecutor of the church. But it didn’t end with his conversion. Rather, it has gone on steadily since those early days. One of the greatest persecutors of those who have faithfully held to Scripture is, not unsurprisingly, the Roman Catholic Church. While they have been caught up in a system of traditions, unbiblical rites and rituals, and in the adoration of the dead and of idols, faithful people have stood against this. And in their actions, they have been rounded up, sent through terrible tortures, and many were martyred.
 
Likewise, Christians have been killed in vast numbers by Muslims, Hindus, and people of other religions, or by those who deny any God exists – such as communists. This has been the norm, not the exception for much of the church age. The persecution of Christians has been on the increase in places like Canada, the US, Australia, Germany, and the UK in recent years. Legal battles have been played out in courts, but tolerance for the gospel has decreased in the minds of so many that it is only a matter of time before even worse comes upon believers.
 
Should the Lord tarry, the lines will surely be divided up between those who truly love Christ and are willing to stand up for His gospel, and those who either pay lip service to Him or are at odds with Him. Now is the time to prepare yourself for holding fast to the Lord. Stay in the word, keep Jesus in your heart and mind at all times, and determine now to never let this temporary world pull you away from Him!
 
Lord God, may we be found faithful to You until the end. It is a tough world, and many of us have never had to face persecutions or trials of faith. May we be prepared now so that should those times come, we will hold fast to our proclamation that Jesus is the answer to the world’s problems. Help us in this, O God. Amen.
 

Acts 8:2

Tuesday, 7 June 2022
 
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. Acts 8:2
 
The last verse spoke of the consequences of Stephen’s stoning which noted that great persecution arose against the church and those of the church were “all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” With that remembered, it now says, “And devout men.”
 
The word translated as “devout” is one that refers to being God-fearing, pious, and the like. It is used four times and each other instance refers to someone who is devout under the law –
 
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Luke 2:25
 
“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:5
 
“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.” Acts 22:12, 13
 
It is true that any of these may have been a believer or become a believer, but their “devoutness” is in relation to the law. Further, as the previous verse specifically noted that those of the church were all scattered, Luke was surely making a point that it was men pious under the law that are being referred to now. It is a point of tenderness in an otherwise unhappy situation. From there, Luke next says that they “carried Stephen to his burial.”
 
Stephen means “crown.” At this point of the narrative, it is notable that despite being stoned for supposed blasphemy, he is the first recorded person in the new dispensation to receive the martyr’s crown. Thus, his name now meets up with his reward.
 
The word translated as “carry,” sugkomizó, is found only here. It signifies “to bring together.” Vincent’s Word Studies says, “Lit., to carry together; hence, either to assist in burying or, better, to bring the dead to the company (σύν) of the other dead. The word is used of bringing in harvest.”
 
Instead of simply leaving his body outside for beasts to eat, or chucking it into the valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), they removed it to a proper place. The words “to his burial” are inserted, but they surely reflect the appropriate idea. From there, it notes that they “made great lamentation over him.”
 
Again, it is a word found only here in the Bible, kopetos. It is a noun signifying “a beating of the breast or head while mourning.” It is an outward sign of working out an inner turmoil. Regardless as to whether these were believers or not, and the lack of calling them “brethren” points to them probably not being believers, the record is that an act of tenderness toward Stephen was carried out.
 
Life application: If you have traveled around the world or to various countries or states, you have surely met people who have been exceptionally pious towards “God.” This is, as far as their understanding of God goes.
 
Humanity has the ability to do wonderful things in the care of others regardless of race, culture, or any other such distinguishing factor. Quite often, this is done by acknowledging that it is their understanding that God is overseeing their actions and He will be pleased with them.
 
There is nothing wrong with this, and it dispels the Calvinistic thought that there are none who actually seek after God. The words Paul uses in Romans to indicate this come from Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1. In both, the same general idea is presented, that of someone who is an atheist (or at least claiming to be one) –
 
“The fool has said in his heart,‘There is no God.’They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;There is none who does good.” Psalm 53:1
 
These people, of many cultures, religions, and so on, are really seeking out how to be pleasing to the God they know is out there. But the problem isn’t with their attempts at doing good. Rather, the problem is the infection of sin in them. Until the sin can be dealt with, God cannot accept us. It is an impenetrable wall that is built up because of God’s holiness and our fallen state.
 
This is what Christ came to remove. His death was a sacrificial death for sin. With the sin removed, then a propitious relationship can be restored. Good works, without dealing with the sin, cannot be considered “good” to God. And more, they can easily lead to a sense of supposed worth before God. “I have done my best.” “I am not as bad as other people.” And so on. God does not grade on a curve.
 
God’s standard is absolute perfection. Until a person is perfected in Christ, they are not just fallen, but infinitely so. Christ Jesus! He is the answer. Remember the simple gospel and be ready to share it –
 
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4
 
Each of the underlined points is given in relation to sin. He died for our sin. He was buried with our sin. He rose again without sin, meaning: He had no sin of His own (Romans 6:23) and thus He is God (Romans 3:23), and our sin is left behind in His burial. Sin is removed from the equation. With the entrance into the New Covenant through belief in Christ’s work, sin is no longer imputed (2 Corinthians 5:19). Sin has been dealt with, and salvation is thus guaranteed.
 
Be confident in your own salvation, be ready to explain the sin problem to others, and then be ready to share with them the good news that God has now sealed them when they believe as well.
 
Lord God, if sin is the problem, and if Christ has dealt with the sin problem, then sin is no longer a problem. Restoration has come! Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ, our atoning Sacrifice for sin. Hallelujah and Amen.

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.