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01 Acts 07 01-53 THE MESSAGE OF STEPHEN’ 94 Acts 07 51-53 Stephen our hero
📖 Acts 07:01-53
94 – 10Nov2023 – *Stephen our hero* - _Acts 07:01-53_ - THE MESSAGE OF STEPHEN - Bible reading: _Mark 08:25_
_Acts 7:51-53 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. (52) Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, (53) *who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it*."_
Stephen says that the people of Israel had received the law by the direction of angels and have not kep it. We read that the Lord met with them at Mount Sinai and gave them His law. _Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said: "*The LORD came from Sinai*, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; *From His right hand Came a fiery law for them*._
Paul writes that the law was appointed through angels. _Galatians 3:19 What purpose then does *the law* serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and *it was appointed through angels* by the hand of a mediator._
The writer to the Hebrews also tells us that the law given through angels was steadfast. Those who were the recipients of the law were expected not to transgress the law. _Hebrews 2:2-4 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, (3) how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, (4) God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?_
We, the church of Jesus, have received His salvation. Therefore, the expectation of us is much higher compared to those who have received law through angels. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation when every transgression and disobedience to the law received a just reward?
The angels had a very special role in the things of God. _I Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into._
Peter confirms what the writer to the Hebrews had written, of the great salvation. The prophets had prophesied of the grace that was to come. Grace came through Christ. All of this was given by the prophets to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then raised ministers and apostles of Christ for His church.
As Peter writes this for us, we can see that he is crossing over centuries and moving across from the period of the law to the period of God’s grace. This entire span of movement was overseen by angels and angels longed to look into the unfolding plans and purposes of God.
Stephen brings his final blow upon his audience, by showing them that they have not kept the law and the plans of God, which are overseen by angels. _Ezekiel 20:21 "Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them'; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness._
With this final statement, Stephen concluded his message and we see that the Jews were outraged. Stephen’s message was just right. It was now for the audience to repent and return to God but they turned their anger on Stephen and had him stoned to death.
The Jews were enraged but the response of the church to the judgements of God is neither outrage nor repentance. We are indifferent in our response. We decide that we will give more serious consideration to the challenges that God places before us at a more convenient time. Right now, we have several pressing pursuits of life that need our attention.
The Lord is merciful to us because of His great love for us and He does not want anyone to perish.
Friends, we thus conclude this long study of Stephen’s message. I trust the Lord has spoken to you.
I consider Stephen as my hero. He was articulate, wise, systematic, logical, passionate, bold and in deep love with his Master. I long to be like Stephen. Stephen carried this one message in his life that he did not seek to save his life but he was willing to lose his life for Christ and the gospel.
_Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it._
```“Stephen, you have saved your life.”```
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