The physician Luke wrote how, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”, and after being interrogated by the people in the synagogue, “all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?”, and Stephen defended his faith by referring to, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses”. He asked the Sanhedrin, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you 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. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, ...”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Sanhedrin, “cast him out of the city, and stoned him” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And cast him out of the city, and stoned him:” Luke began with the words, “and cast him out” which means “and drove Stephen with a notion of violence and stern language away” “of the city” or “from the dwelling place, habitation and abode of Jerusalem”, “and stoned him” which means “and pelted Stephen with rocks and stones”. Luke shared how the religious members in the “Sanhedrin” expelled “Stephen” from the city of Jerusalem and began to throw rocks and stones at him.
The verse goes on to say, “and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.” Luke continued with the words, “and the witnesses” which means “and the spectators, ones who bore record and those who observed the stoning of Stephen” “laid down their clothes” or “put off and lay aside their garments, cloaks, mantles and tunics” “at the young man's feet” which means “at the physical feet of a youthful male”, “whose name was Saul” or “who was called and saluted by Saul whose name means desired and was the Jewish name for Paul”. Luke shared how the people who bore record of the stoning of “Stephen” placed their garments at the feet of a youthful man whose name was “Saul”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see the repercussions “Stephen” encountered from the “Sanhedrin” after he gave a long testimony concerning the lineage and Messiahship of Jesus. The “religious leaders” not only “shouted aloud” and closed their ears, but they also “ran to Stephen, threw him out of the city and began to stone him to death”. As they were doing so, they placed their garments at the feet of “Saul” who became “Paul” the apostle, and this is our first exposure to him by name in the Bible. “Stephen” saw “heaven opened” and Jesus “standing on the right hand of God”, and he was very near a personal encounter with Jesus in heaven. Though the “Sanhedrin” attempted to silence the testimony of “Stephen” concerning Jesus the Messiah, we are still reading his witness to this day. God's word does not return void, (See Isaiah 55:11) and it will accomplish whatever God desires even when the people who deliver it suffer. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them. When they yield to His Son Jesus, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who are wise will surrender themselves to Him, and allow whatever happens on earth to fall at the feet of Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how the Sanhedrin, “stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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