Today we hear the end of Stephen’s speech to the Council and what the Council does to Stephen:
“Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David, who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling-place for the house of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him.
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. (Acts: 7:60-8:1).
Stephen was truthful with the Council. He recounted salvation history, and God’s constant movements toward Israel, and Israel’s constant rejection of God. Each time God sent someone to bring the Israelites back home, they rebelled and went their own way only to find that their approach always ended in disaster. They made very bad choices. Stephen called them to task on the choices they made. Their response: they silenced him; they killed him. Stephen is an example of courage; he was able to speak truth to power. He followed Christ to the end, even though his discipleship cost him his life. He could have remained quiet, on the sidelines, but he did not.
Let us pray: Gracious Father, may we speak truth to power as Stephen did without regard to the consequences.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski +
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas
“Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David, who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling-place for the house of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him.
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. (Acts: 7:60-8:1).
Stephen was truthful with the Council. He recounted salvation history, and God’s constant movements toward Israel, and Israel’s constant rejection of God. Each time God sent someone to bring the Israelites back home, they rebelled and went their own way only to find that their approach always ended in disaster. They made very bad choices. Stephen called them to task on the choices they made. Their response: they silenced him; they killed him. Stephen is an example of courage; he was able to speak truth to power. He followed Christ to the end, even though his discipleship cost him his life. He could have remained quiet, on the sidelines, but he did not.
Let us pray: Gracious Father, may we speak truth to power as Stephen did without regard to the consequences.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski +
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas
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