Stephen is on trial and boldly preaching the Gospel to the Sanhedrin. His sermon begins in the book of Genesis. His survey of the Old Testament highlights the problem with his accusers’ hearts. Israel is known for its stubbornness and rebellion. It is also known for persecuting and killing the prophets God sent to it.
As Stephen ends His sermon, he does something that gets him killed like the prophets before him. He makes a direct application to his hearers. With boldness, he says: “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. (Acts 7:51–52, NLT)
What stood out to me in the reading this morning was the posture of Jesus. As Stephen looked up, God allowed him to see through the veil into another dimension, and he saw Jesus standing. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56, ESV) This is interesting because Jesus is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament as being seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 8:1, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 12:2). The death of Stephen was precious, and it was something that He stood for.
Wow! Imagine God standing to receive his saints into Glory. What a reception given since He doesn’t stand for anything else! What a thought to remember that though this world persecutes and rejects the Christian, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15, ESV)
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 7-8.