Podcast 143, Acts, “Pt 7 B, Ch 7”

Podcast 143, Acts, “Pt 7 B, Ch 7”Again, Stephen makes a comparison between Moses delivering the Children of Israel from Egypt and Christ delivering the Children of Israel from sin.” It was the children of Israel that caused Moses to flee into the desert for 40 years. It was Christ who went into the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted of the Devil. It was Christ who was crucified by the Jews because he openly declared that he was the God of the Old Testament, that he was the fulfillment of prophecy. Rather than shy away from his mission, Stephen boldly accuses the mob of crucifying Christ and of falsely accusing him of blasphemy. He is condemning the mob and they know it. Acts 7:35-36This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.Just as Moses delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, Christ came to deliver the Jews from apostasy. Just as their forefathers rejected Christ and killed the prophets, they rejected Christ and killed him. Notice the boldness of Stephen’s words. Acts 7:37-39This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.Stephen condemns the Israelites for idol worship.Acts 7:40-44Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.Stephen makes it clear that nothing has changed. Acts 7:45-50Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?Stephen also makes it clear that it was Jesus whom the Children of Israel rejected and it was Jesus whom the Jews crucified. Acts 7:51-53Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.Who can read the story of Stephen without seeing someone with the heart of a lion. On the other hand, notice the response of the mob.Acts 7:54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.They are like mad dogs. Stephen, on the other hand, ignores the snarling mob. He looks up into heaven. Acts 7:55-56But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.Because they don’t have the Holy Ghost they clap their hands over their ears shutting out all truth and then charge at him like angry bulls. Acts 7:57-58Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.Stephen, on the other hand, the only one who was calm, does not take his eyes off heaven. Even as they are casting stones, Stephen calls upon God.Acts 7:59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.Then in his final Act, Stephen in a Christlike Prayer, echoes the words of Christ himself while dying on the cross. Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.The soft phrase, “He fell asleep” shows that amidst the chaos and horror, Stephen was as calm as a baby closing its eyes in sleep. Meanwhile the angry mob is still gnashing their teeth. The story of Stephen the martyr is the story of Christianity. Christ said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Is it any wonder that at his martyrdom he saw Christ. John wrote.1 John 3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.Was not Stephen like him?  But there is something else that we are taught in the story of the Stoning of Stephen. We are taught of the power of the Holy Ghost. In the absence of Christ, without the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Christianity could not have survived the persecution. Let’s review the words of Stephen.Acts 7:49-56Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.The Holy Ghost appeared to witness the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Ghost descended upon the multitude at the day of Pentecost.Acts 2:2-4And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.Christ said,John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.Without the gift of the Holy Ghost, Christianity is but a word. Without the gift of the Holy Ghost a Christian is but a name. But lest we think he must come with “cloven tongues like as of fire” let us remember the profound words of Elijah.1 Kings 19:11-12And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.It was that still small voice that the mob lacked. Without it, upon hearing Stephen testify of the Savior, rather than hearken to the truth they ‘gnashed on him with their teeth.’ Whereas, Steven, upon his death, “being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”