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 and Joseph”. He spoke about “Moses” leading the people of Israel through the wilderness and the people of Israel making a “calf” idol to worship. He spoke of “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. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David. Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? said the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you. 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”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen, “saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” where we read:
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,
The verse begins, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, ...” Luke began with the words, “but he” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Stephen”, “being full of the Holy Ghost” or “existing and covered in every part and thoroughly permeated with the sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son”, “looked up steadfastly into heaven” which means “fixed his eyes, gazed and set his focus beyond the region above the sidereal heavens which is the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “and saw the glory of God” or “and observed, notice and beheld the judgment, view, praise, honor, splendor and brightness belonging to the Heavenly Father God”. Luke shared how “Stephen” was filled with God's “Holy Spirit” and “gazed” into the “Heavenly region” where he observed the “splendor and brightness” of God the Heavenly Father.
The verse continues, “... and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” Luke added the words, “and Jesus” which means “and Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “standing on the right hand” or “established, put, set and erect in place at the right side or the place of honor or authority” “of God” which means “belonging to the Heavenly Father God”. Luke shared how “Stephen” observed the Son of God, “Jesus”, “standing” at the right side of God's throne of power and authority.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn what “Stephen” observed the “glory of God” and Jesus in Heaven as he lifted his eyes in that direction. “Stephen” was filled with the “Holy Spirit” of God, and he had give the testimony of his life. As he cast his gaze toward the sky, “Stephen” saw where he was going to be, and though his testimony would cost him his earthly life, “Stephen” desired to be with God. God sent His Son Jesus to be the “Savior and Lord” of this world, and anyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God in Heaven. Let all who read these words submit to Jesus and receive God's blessing of eternal life with Him.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen says, “behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God”, 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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