Stephen Stoned

Now when they heard these things they were enraged…

Acts 7:54-60

Stephen’s sermon so enraged the religious leaders that the Scriptures tells us, “they ground (gnashed) their teeth at him (Stephen).” Gnashing one’s teeth is a physical way of expressing great anger at something or someone. In the case of Stephen, his message of the religious leaders’ evil motives and their evil actions caused them extreme anger at the open accusations by Stephen. As these evil men held their hands over their ears while loudly voicing their anger at Stephen and rushing together to push Stephen out of their meeting place, Stephen says, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Several times in the New Testament, we read of Jesus being seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven. The right hand is the seat of authority. The One who sits at the right hand of the Throne of God has all Authority given to Him by God the Father namely, Jesus Christ. To be seated is to be ruling and reigning. But, Stephen said he saw “the Son of Man standing.” A heavenly vision was granted to Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, and to show His pleasure in Stephen, Jesus stood, an act that demonstrated Christ’s love for Stephen and to welcome Stephen into the heavenly gates. This is the only time we learn from Scripture of our Lord expressing pleasure toward a saint and welcoming him into heaven. Jesus taught, in His earthly ministry, that all will be welcomed into Heaven and some will be told, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Christians who personally consider what their first act will be when they reach Heaven, no matter who you may want to see or what you may want to know, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ will be at the entrance to greet each Christian into his eternal home and be blessed forever. Stephen’s vision is given in Scripture to tell us exactly what will take place when we close our eyes to this world and open them in the next. Glory be to God the Father, God the Son and, God the Holy Spirit! Source: S C Ball June 11, 2023