Category: Stephen

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #22

Sunday, January 26, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Psalm 2 outlines the prophetic program: “[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. [4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. [6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” After Calvary of verses 1-3 (cf. Acts 4:23-28), there would be Divine wrath (verses 4,5) followed by Christ’s reign (verses 6-9). Stephen foresaw that coming of Christ in wrath (Acts 7:55,56), but it never transpired. Why?

The Apostle Peter penned about Christ’s delayed coming in wrath: “[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation…. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…. [15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:3,4,9,15,16).

God kept a secret—especially a coming of Christ un-prophesied by, or unknown to, the Old Testament. This was the hidden coming of Christ to open the Dispensation of Grace in Acts chapter 9 to save and commission Saul/Paul. Let us hear Paul on the subject….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #21

Saturday, January 25, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

The pain and misery Saul of Tarsus inflicted during Acts chapters 7–9 parallel the suffering and terror of the Psalmist in today’s Scripture (read especially verses 1-11). Typifying the Antichrist of the ages to come, Saul brutally and fanatically oppressed Israel’s believing remnant.

“And Saul was consenting unto [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles…. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging] men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1,3). “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem…. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:…” (Acts 9:1,2,13).

“And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him” (Acts 22:19,20). “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities” (Acts 26:9-11). “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:…” (Galatians 1:13).

Saul received a “rude awakening….”

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #20

Friday, January 24, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

The Lord Jesus Christ cautioned Israel in Matthew 12:31,32 and Mark 3:28-30 that blasphemy against Him would be forgiven them but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost would never be forgiven them. The culmination of their speaking against the Son of Man was their crucifixion of Him, yet Father forgave them for His Son’s sake (Luke 23:34) and sent the Holy Spirit to minister to Israel during early Acts (chapter 2 onward). Following the three years of unbelief during Christ’s earthly ministry, Israel had a one-year extension of mercy to repent (change the mind) and believe Jesus was Christ (see Luke 13:6-9). The one year covered Acts chapters 1–7.

During those opening chapters of Acts, apostate Israel kept resisting the Holy Spirit working through the Little Flock or Israel’s believing remnant (ministries of the 12 Apostles, Stephen, et cetera). At the end of that one year was Acts chapter 7: “[55] But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly 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. [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.”

As per Psalm 10:12, Psalm 68:1, Psalm 110:1, and others, God’s wrath against His enemies would be poured out when Christ would rise from His right hand. Stephen advised Israel of this as they plotted his murder. Overseeing Stephen’s death, leading Israel’s rebellion against Jesus Christ, and blaspheming the Holy Spirit, was a lost Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus….

Was Stephen a Prophet?

Monday, November 4, 2024

“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:…” (Luke 11:49 KJV).

Once, someone read a Bible study wherein I called Stephen a “prophet.” This person replied, “Stephen was no prophet!” (Such is Bible ignorance.)

Simply put, a “prophet” is a man who speaks for God—God’s messenger or spokesman. Prophets speaking the words of the LORD are common in the Bible. “And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,…” (2 Kings 21:10). “…[A]ccording to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets” (2 Kings 24:2). “The which Jeremiah the prophet spake…” (Jeremiah 25:2). “…[T]he words of the LORD, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 37:2). “The word that the LORD spake… by Jeremiah the prophet” (Jeremiah 50:1). “Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name…” (Daniel 9:6).

“As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets….” (Luke 1:70). “That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake…” (John 12:38). “…[W]hich God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). “…Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,…” (Acts 28:25). “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,…” (Hebrews 1:1). “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20,21). See also Jeremiah 23:37; Jeremiah 26:16; Ezekiel 22:28; Ezekiel 38:17; Hosea 12:10; Matthew 1:22; Matthew 2:15,17; et al.

In Acts chapter 7, Stephen spoke a 52-verse-long sermon to apostate Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders. Stephen was “full of the Holy Ghost” (verse 55)—as in, “the Spirit gave [him] utterance [speech, ability to preach]” (Acts 2:4). Stephen was here stoned to death, one of the prophets referred to in today’s Scripture (see also Matthew 23:34). “…[T]he Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets [such as Stephen!], and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:…” (1 Thessalonians 2:14,15). Indeed, Stephen was a prophet.

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Note the Horizon! #15

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

For three years, Jesus Christ preached repentance (change in mind) to Israel because God’s earthly kingdom was at hand. Alas, most of the nation was uninterested. Luke chapter 13: “[6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

Israel received a one-year extension to believe, a renewed opportunity for repentance (verse 8)—the first seven chapters of Acts. As they blasphemed against the Son of Man and crucified Him, so they spoke against the Holy Ghost and stoned His prophet Stephen. By Acts chapter 7, wrath could no longer be delayed—as far as the prophetic program was concerned. In Acts chapter 9, the mystery program began: Jesus Christ poured out grace, mercy, and peace on Saul of Tarsus, His chief enemy in the Earth (see 1 Timothy 1:12-16).

Read Peter’s words in 2 Peter chapter 3: “[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…. [15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

As God was gracious, merciful, and peaceful to save Saul/Paul, so Saul/Paul is a pattern of God’s longsuffering, His attitude toward sinful mankind even now….

Note the Horizon! #7

Monday, October 14, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

Going all the way back to when God placed man on the Earth, Adam’s creation, He has always had some Gospel (good news) to share with man (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:16,17; Genesis 3:15; and so on). Father God has spoken about His Son Jesus Christ in some capacity, as Peter preached in Acts 3:20,21: “…Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

Christ would reign in an earthly kingdom—the very earthly kingdom Adam and Eve would have enjoyed but lost because of sin in Genesis chapter 3 (Matthew 25:34, “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”). This was the same earthly kingdom that was passed on to Israel, the one at the heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom preached during Matthew to John and early Acts (see Matthew 3:1,2; Matthew 4:17,23,24; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:5-7; Mark 1:14,15; Luke 10:9; Acts 2:29,30; Acts 3:21; Acts 5:31).

The above earthly kingdom, however, was contingent upon Israel’s rise to kingdom glory in accepting the King, Messiah Jesus—whom they refused and crucified in unbelief because they were too self-righteous to admit their sin problem (see Romans 9:30–10:4). After prolonged national unbelief in early Acts, resulting in Stephen’s murder, Israel loses her special status before God and Paul’s apostleship now begins. “I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:11-13).

With Israel’s fall comes a new Gospel, the Gospel of Grace….

Note the Horizon! #5

Saturday, October 12, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:31,32). Though Israel spoke against the Son of Man (“We have no king but Caesar!;” John 19:15), Christ’s crucifixion was forgiven them (Luke 23:34) and Israel was given a renewed opportunity of repentance during early Acts.

Yet, Israel opposed the Holy Spirit’s ministry through the Little Flock, climaxing with the Prophet Stephen’s sermon (“ye do always resist the Holy Ghost;” Acts 7:51) and his death by stoning (verses 58-60). This blasphemy of the Holy Ghost could not be forgiven. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (verses 55,56). Christ, once seated, was now standing to return and make His enemies/foes His footstool (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:32-36).

Present at Stephen’s murder is a young man, Saul of Tarsus, who also holds the clothes of Stephen’s killers (Acts 7:58). Saul consents to or approves Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1). Years later, now as the Apostle Paul, he recounts for us: “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles” (Acts 22:19-21).

With Israel in obstinate unbelief, God raised up a new Apostle, Saul of Tarsus (the leading self-righteous, Christ-rejecting Jew!)….

An Inescapable Testimony #8

Friday, October 4, 2024

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).

How can we have an inescapable testimony?

Today’s Scripture describes the Word of God, the Holy Bible, as “quick” (living, lively, able to give life) and “powerful” (active, mighty, capable of work). It can impart life to those who hear it (physically, as in John 5:25; or spiritually, as in John 6:63). It is also “sharper than any twoedged sword,” efficiently slicing up and down, penetrating beyond the physical realm and right into “the soul and spirit” (cutting in two the parts of the inner man, heart/emotions and mind, respectively). Also, it slashes into “the joints and marrow” (most intimate realms of the spiritual body). We wish to concentrate on the final phrase, “and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

In Greek, “discerner” is “kritikos,” the basis for our English words such as “critic,” “critical,” and “criticism.” The Bible judges, evaluates, or discriminates “the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Such “thoughts” are, of course, the ideas someone thinks, devises, or conceives. The “intents” are motives, purposes, or objectives. Holy Scripture is competent to pass judgment on what our heart (soul) thinks and aims to do. Not only is this true of the written Word of God, it can apply to the spoken Word (before Scripture was written).

For example, after hearing the Apostle Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36), unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem were “pricked in their heart” (verse 37). They were convicted: the Holy Spirit, giving Peter utterance, spoke to them and used His words to pierce or inflict pain (sorrow, for example) in their soul. This led to them seeing how they had killed their Messiah Jesus in unbelief. In more violent situations, the Holy Spirit utilized Peter’s sermon in Acts 5:29-32 and Stephen’s sermon in Acts 7:2-53 to “cut to the heart [saw them through with vexation!]” Israel’s apostate religious leaders (Acts 5:33; Acts 7:54).

The Word of God being read or preached still brings out vehement reactions, positive and negative….

Brother’s Keeper? #5

Saturday, September 7, 2024

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9 KJV).

Let us learn the import of Cain’s reply….

Abel was a prophet, a messenger of the LORD God (Luke 11:50,51). Doubtless, he preached to his brother Cain how Cain’s “good works” were not enough to please the LORD. Of course, self-righteous Cain hated to hear that, for he had absolutely no interest in obeying God or believing anything He said. Cain therefore silenced Abel—just as Zacharias, Jesus, and members of the Little Flock throughout Matthew through John and Acts (namely, Stephen) all died at the hands of their works-religionist brethren.

By preaching the Word of God, Abel was looking out for his brother Cain. Cain’s spiritual wellbeing was at stake, and while he had no concern, his brother did. When God asked Cain regarding Abel’s whereabouts (today’s Scripture), Cain lied by stating he did not know—but not only that. Cain was actually callous enough to ask God a question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This was nothing more than a mockery of what family is supposed to be about. Essentially, Cain argued he was not his brother’s guardian or protector. “How am I responsible for knowing my brother’s location? I am not his babysitter!”

In the ages to come, we recognize how false religion will divide families and cause unbelievers to persecute the saints—even turning these their believing brethren over to the Antichrist’s government to face execution! Matthew chapter 10: “[21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. [23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another…. [35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” See also John 15:17-25, James 2:14-26, 1 John 2:9-11, and 1 John 3:10-17.

We can gather even more data….

No Wedding Garment! #2

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) is the third parable the Lord spoke to Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders during His final two days alive. See also Matthew 21:28-32 and Matthew 21:33-46. Let us expound this Parable of the Wedding Feast.

Verses 1-3: “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.” The God of Heaven, Father God, the “king,” seeks to host a wedding and accompanying feast for His Son (Jesus Christ).

Father the King commissions His “servants”—John the Baptist of Matthew chapter 3, the Lord Jesus Himself, the 12 Apostles of Matthew chapter 10, and the 70 preachers of Luke chapter 10—to announce invitations to the Jewish people. Alas, the people summoned during Christ’s earthly ministry were overwhelmingly not interested in attending because of their unbelief. “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (Luke 7:29,30). That is the first call to repentance.

Verses 4-6: “Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.” This is the second call to repentance. In early Acts, the 12 Apostles and the rest of the Little Flock preach as the Holy Spirit empowers them. However, apostate Israel still refuses to believe and continues persecuting these Jewish saints, climaxing in Stephen’s murder in Acts chapter 7….