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 forming an idol of a “calf” 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?”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said, “you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost” where we read:
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost:
as your fathers did, so do you.
The verse begins, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost:” Luke began with the words, “you stiff-necked” which means “you stubborn, headstrong and obstinate” “and uncircumcised in heart and ears” or “and ones with covered hearts and ears whose souls and senses are closed to divine admonition”, “you do always resist” which means “you at all times resist, oppose and strive against” “the Holy Ghost” which refers to “the pure, sacred, 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”. Luke shared how “Stephen” declared the “Sanhedrin” or “religious leaders” to be “stubborn” and having “souls” which were closed to the divine admonition of the “Holy Spirit”.
The verse continues, “as your fathers did, so do you.” Luke added the words, “as your fathers did” which means “in the likeness, manner and fashion of the religious leaders' forefathers, male ancestors and progenitors”, “so do you” or “even so and indeed perform, produce and make ready the religious leaders”. Luke shared how “Stephen” told the “Sanhedrin” they were performing the same acts and deeds as their forefathers.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” raised his speech to the “Sanhedrin” to another level. Rather than just recount the history of Israel, he now spoke directly to the attitude, acts and deeds of the “Sanhedrin”. “Stephen” basically told them they were guilty of killing Jesus even as their “forefathers” killed the prophets of old. Every person is guilty of “sin”, and Jesus came to die on the cross to remove those sins so they may have access to God the Heavenly Father. God is a “Holy God”, and His “Holy Spirit” brings conviction upon every person who hears the “gospel” of Jesus Christ. If they refuse the prompting of the “Holy Spirit”, they become like these “religious leaders” who refused and rejected Jesus who is God's Son and Messiah. Let all who read these words yield to the “Holy Spirit”, submit themselves to Jesus, and be forgiven of their sins to be granted everlasting life with His Father God.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen asks, “which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?”, 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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