To all, there are few heroes in the Bible that equal the apostle Paul. Stephen was a great deacon St. Paul was not only one of the greatest apostles like the twelve whom Jesus said would sit on thrones with him ruling the nation of Israel in the millennium Matt. 19:28 KJV though Judas fell, but Paul also wrote over half of the New Testament. Praise God!
I don't understand how Paul could ask the question; "Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?" I didn't read about Paul until Acts. By the time the book of Acts was written, Jesus had already been crucified. Paul was on the scene when Stephen was stoned to death in Acts 7:58.
V. 9 (last half) - "..... that they may call upon the Name of the Lord, to serve Him with ONE consent." Acts 2:38; Acts 7:59 (and saying, Lord JESUS.....). Stephen called GOD - Jesus; just as Thomas did in Jn.28:20 - my LORD and my GOD; he said this to - Jesus. He was a Jew, just like Jesus; Jews did NOT believe in plural gods. Nor did Jesus rebuke Thomas.
Michael C. touched on it lightly; has anyone REALLY noticed Stephen's speech? It was all by rote!! This man KNEW the O.T. scriptures!! How GLORIOUS! To love the Lord Jesus so much, that from his youth he learned them. And you know it was from his youth - Deut. 6:7; 2 Tim. 3:15 Little is said of Stephen, but - he was as great as Paul.
Stephen was still showing love by praying for his persecutors even though they were stoning him to death. He imitated Jesus when he prayed for those persecuting him.
Ch. 7-8:4 Reading this that Stephen did, fills my heart with joy and fire for the Lord. Stephen, by his understanding and knowledge of the truth through the scriptures, became a bright and shining light, that all the haters of the Lord could not stand. How true it is on every level of life, that goodness and truth; (esp. when it testifies of Jesus); the whole world gathers together to resist it!
Verse 51. To the mainstream Gentile church: YE STIFF NECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EARS, YE ALWAYS DO RESIST THE HOLY GHOST AS YOUR FATHERS DID, SO DO YE !
My brothers and sisters let's not be mislead but be wise and be aware of those lying lips, Psalm 31:18-Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. in the book of Acts we also see it clear Acts 7:51-53 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it. Let's stop rejecting the truth and the righteous one. aslo in book Psalm- Psalm 120:2-Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue. let's not fall in are own traps when we speak to others about the word of God with lying lips, practice what you preach we should always pray and let him teach us! Matthew 23:8-8.But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.c 9And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. these are the things to teach others the true word without lying lips.
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. Look! I can see heaven thrown open, he said, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55, 56
Exodus 33:20¦But he (God) added: You cannot see my face, for no man can see me and live. Yet we saw the face of our dear Savior Jesus Almighty
Repent asking for forgiveness and ask Christ into your heart. But do pray for others according to the Word. Be blessed in Christ Jesus. Amen. Acts 7:60 And 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. 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
As much as we want to resist, we must go like lambs to the slaughter soon. Stephen was a great example of how we are to be when the time comes; and it is coming soon.
Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven which was turned down in Matthew 12:31, forgiven in Luke 23:34 and turned down again in Acts 7:51. Paul was sent to the Gentiles, Rom 11:13, Acts 9:15, 1 Tim 2:7, 2 Tim 1:11. No one asked what must I do to be SAVED in Acts 2. That question is asked and answered in Acts 16:31. Acts 2 is a Jewish message to Jews expecting the return their Messiah.
In the name of Jesus Christ receive the Holy Ghost.................please don't loose your souls it will not hurt you to take the time and talk to Jesus on your knees privately just try it instead of arguments, get real with him from a sincere heart anybody would rather be safe than sorry................. Acts 7:51 Read whole chapter Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
i can relate to Mikes comment about dealing with the flesh and daily feeding our spirit with the word of God it is key in upholding a holy standard of living
They were rebaptized because they hadn 't even heard of the Holy Ghost in verse 2. John 's baptism was the baptism of repentance verse 4, just like Peter 's baptism of repentance in Acts 2:38. When you see that they didn 't have the Pauline epistles and it was a Jewish faith being preached it will help you. The whole chapter 2 is to Jews verse 5,14,22,36. Simon Peter was offering them the Kingdom and if they as a nation would have repented Jesus Christ would have came back Acts 3:19-20. Stephen was preaching to the nation and Jesus Christ went from His seated position Mark 16:19 to standing in Acts 7:55 ready to come back. This did not take Him by surprise but it was a legitimate offer and the gospel of the kingdom of heaven was preached to the Jews first Rom 1:16 and then with the salvation of Paul the apostle to the Gentiles came the Gospel of the Grace of God. Romans 1:17 says it went from FAITH to FAITH. Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, THIS IS THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. The faith afterwards revealed was revealed to Paul read Ephesians 3. Acts 2:38 is a false gospel. Read Acts 15. Peter never preached it again and we are saved today by grace through faith without works Romans 4:5.
It is amazing what god has in store for us but we as being in the flesh tend to ingnor and war aginst the things of the spirit but the spirit is the truth and only trew being in prayer and reading gods word will the spirit live within just as the flesh can not live without phisical food we must also feed the spirit man so he can be strong if not he will weaking and dry up the spirit is life and true life is in jesus. Literally in jesus that 's why we say In the name of jesus its not just words it is power because were in him and he is in us who belive in the name of jesus.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is high time for us to ACT like the apostles, Do the work of God never mind the Prize that God Promise to to you...Just do what is right in the sight of God.....God Bless.....
ROMANS CHAPTER 1:18-25 COMMENTS 4 24 2015 8:04 PM These verses The wrath of God revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness,v18Acts 17:30 Rom 2:5-6. Job 24:13 v19 Acts14:17 John 1:9v20 Ps.19:1 v21Ps.106:13 Gen.5:6 v22Jer.10:14 v23Isa.40:18 v24 Ps.81:12 Acts 7:42 1 Cor.6:18 1 Pet.4:3. A-men.
it was written and the scriptures had to be fulfilled.The sovereign Lord blinde them so that the getiles can can enter the kingdom.But when time comes they will be restored. Roman11:25-26
Man is a creation of God, forgetting this man try to draw lines around God. I mean man try to see and understand God in human ways, and claim and sell his ideas with others. This is really building a house and locking God in it. God prefer to enter in our hearts and make that his dwelling place if we allow him freedom. God is so much ahead of us, who has the wisdom to build his home.
In Acts 7: 51-60 is where Stephen was trying to tell everyone about the Lord and they stoned him to death cause he called them saying 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: As of today to many people are listing to those that have no structure in there own lives but we have to be honest with ourselves first in order to get to God in truth. Acts 2:38-47 is really real it has been real for over 16 years in my life. After receiving the Holy Ghost I no longer smoke, use drugs or alcohol anymore! Hallelujah
In Acts 7: 51-60 is where Stephen was trying to tell everyone about the Lord and they stoned him to death cause he called them saying 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: As of today to many people are listing to those that have no structure in there own lives but we have to be honest with ourselves first in order to get to God in truth. Acts 2:38-47 is really real it has been real for over 16 years in my life. After receiving the Holy Ghost I no longer smoke, use drugs or alcohol anymore! Hallelujah
Sir the Bible says, Known unto God are all His works form the beginning of the world in Acts 15:18. Also, God is sovereign but remember that is not a Bible word. It might be in the modern perversions but not so in God 's word the King James Bible. Man has a free will see Lev 1:4 for an example. God knew the Jews would turn the Kingdom down but that doesn 't deny a legitimate offer. In the same way that He knows that most people are on the broad road and will turn down the offer of salvation but the offer still remains. That is what is happening in Chapter 7. The offer was there and was real and God would have came back had they accepted but it didn 't take Him by surprise. I hope this helps. John Calvin 's teachings can cloud the mind.
In response to Jacob 's comment That Jesus was standing because he would 've come right then had the Jews repented received Stephen 's message. This is commonly taught and of necessity means God had plan A and plan B, that He took up plan B after Stephen 's martyrdom. This is theological hogwash. ALL that ever comes to pass is according to His eternal purpose - God is sovereign. Never forget that, and works all things after the counsel of His will.
Dmill, when Jesus sat down on the right hand of God, we know He sat down on the right hand of himself.Hebrews chapter 1 talks about Jesus sitting down on the right hand of the Father. Revelation 5:13 talks about angels singing to God who sits on the throne and Jesus, the Lamb. Distinct but yet one. When Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,was stoned in Acts 7:55, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing beside God in Heaven. There are many verses where Jesus talks about the Father and Him being one. John 12:49 talks about the Father who sent Jesus told him what to say and what to speak. Matthew 3:17, God tells the crowd that Jesus is His son and He is well pleased. Praise God!
The Holy spirit made me to understand that whatever we are passing through, the moment we take our eyes off the problems and fix our eyes on God heaven divine assistance or connection comes in.see also in john 11 vs 41. Thanks
Exodus 33:20¦But he (God) added: You cannot see my face, for no man can see me and live. Yet we saw the face of our dear Savior Jesus Almighty
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,â€
King James Version (KJV)