Ac 7:47 But Solomon built him an house. 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things? 51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
They brought Stephen before the council and asked him to defend himself of his accusers. He began to rehearse in their ears how God called Abraham and established him and made a promise to bless him and his seed. He brought it all the way up to their time and how they and their forefathers were guilty of rejecting the prophets and now Jesus, the Savior.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
WOW, that is so deep. They were so mad with him that they literally lit into him with their teeth. Can you imagine that? I've heard folk say the truth hurts, but this is ridiculous. At the same token, I have been in situation where I believe people were that mad with the truth. Does this suggest that if we are not making people uncomfortable and angry, maybe we are not really saying anything to provoke them to take action? It seems that we are more concerned about not offending anyone than we are telling the truth. The old folk use to say, "tell the truth and shame the devil." Today it's more like don't insult anyone. Be careful what you say and how you say it. Forget that, it's time to be Holy Ghost filled witnesses for Jesus. Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost and therefore he had holy boldness to say what thus saith the Lord. So maybe there is a difference from being full of the Holy Ghost and just having the Holy Ghost. Anyways, the bible says he was full of the Holy Ghost and he was not afraid to say what he had to say.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Now when it says he saw Jesus standing on "the right hand of God", that represents power. This was a common phrase used to describe power. He didn't see Father God sitting on his throne and the Son of God standing on the right side of the throne. This literally meant that he saw Jesus with complete and total power. This is why they got so mad and attacked and stoned him after this statement.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Did you see that? He was calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. He literally called God Jesus. Jesus is God! Keep the fire burning!
