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THE STONING OF STEPHEN
Acts 7:51-60
Key Verse: 7:56
1. Stiff necks and uncircumcised hearts (51-53)
Stephen rebuked the people for being stiff-necked. This meant that they were too proud to humbly bow before God. Their hearts and ears were also uncircumcised. They had no love for God and they did not listen to God\'s word. They resisted the Holy Spirit, killed the prophets and finally crucified the Christ. They had received God\'s word but did not obey it.
2. I see heaven open (54-60)
Stephen\'s rebuke enraged the Sanhedrin but he was not afraid of them. He did not see their gnashing teeth but he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The Sanhedrin dragged him out of the city where they stoned him. Stephen did not hate them. As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed as Jesus had prayed on the cross. (Lk 23:34,46) He prayed to be received by Jesus and for those who were stoning him to be forgiven. A young man named Saul watched as this happened.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a faithful witness to Jesus and let me die with the vision of Jesus before me.
One Word: Faithful to Jesus in life and death");