Spirit, Stones, and Sight
May 07, 2023
Acts 7:55-60
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
"Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.
Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
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Spirit, Stones, and Sight
Stephen was a member of the early church in Jerusalem. He had shown himself to have certain qualities that were prescribed when it came time to choose seven men to take care of the widows, to administer a program which was really a ministry of the Church to feed those who were a part of the church who were not able to take care of their own needs tor really be their family.
Full of the Spirit, before the court and being stoned, Stephen had 20:20 vision.
- He could see history as a whole.
- He could see beyond the moment.
- He could see beyond his pain.