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 fashioning 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”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Sanhedrin, “were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth” where we read:
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
The verse begins, “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, ...” Luke began with the words, “when they heard these things” which means “and at the time and moment the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin were endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding the words of Stephen”, “they were cut to the heart” or “the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin were divided, sawn through mentally and rent with vexation”. Luke shared how the “Sanhedrin” was “rent with vexation” at the words of “Stephen”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” Luke continued with the words, “and they gnashed on him” which means “and the religious leaders bit and chewed upon Stephen” “with their teeth” or “through the use of their physical teeth”. Luke shared how the religious members of the “Sanhedrin” began to “grind their teeth” in anguish over the words of “Stephen”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we discover the response of the “Sanhedrin” to “Stephen's” words. Not only were they “troubled greatly” or convicted within their “hearts”, but they were so angry that they ground their teeth at him. We can only imagine how infuriated these “religious leaders” were as “Stephen” blamed them for “betraying and murdering” Jesus. Regardless of their ire, “Stephen” was correct, and they were guilty even as everyone who is a sinner is at blame. This was the reason Jesus came. He died upon the cross to pay the price for the sins of the world, and anyone who yields their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words be “cut to the heart”, and rather than “grind their teeth” at Jesus, let them surrender their lives to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen, “saw the glory of God, and Jesus 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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