ACTS LESSON 16
We will begin this lesson in Acts 7:44 "Our fathers had the
tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking
unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he
had seen."
We see in this an explanation that Moses did not build the
tabernacle to suit himself, but actually got exact instructions from
God while he was on the mount just how to build it. God really gave
Moses a look (vision) of the tabernacle in heaven, which this was to
be patterned by.
Acts 7:45 "Which also our fathers that came after brought in with
Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before
the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;" Acts 7:46 "Who
found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God
of Jacob."
We see that God was with the Hebrews. When the Ark of the covenant
was with them, the enemy fled before it. God was fighting their
battles for them. This moveable ark was brought into the promised land
and King David desired to build a permanent temple for the Ark and a
Place to worship. David was a warrior and God would not let him build
it. His son Solomon (a man of peace) built the permanent structure of
the place to worship and meet God.
Acts 7:47 "But Solomon built him an house." Acts 7:48 "Howbeit
the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the
prophet," Acts 7:49 "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?"
This is speaking of the omnipresence of God. He can be everywhere
all at the same time. In fact, the entire earth could not hold Him. No
mere building can hold all of God. We learn in the Revelation teaching
that the Spirit of God is in all churches who bear His name.
Acts 7:50 "Hath not my hand made all these things?"
We see, again here, that God created everything. In Genesis, we
know that God spoke the whole universe into existence. We learn in
John chapter 1, that the Word (Creator God) was the very same one that
came to earth and dwelt among us. Notice in verse 50 above, "my hand"
Jesus (the Word) (Creator God) is the Right hand of God. He not only
sits at the right hand of the Father, He is in fact the Right Hand.
Acts 7:51 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye
do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye."
You see, Stephen was speaking to men who were circumcised in the
flesh. These were men who had been circumcised in the flesh on the
eighth day in keeping with the Abrahamic covenant. The problem was
that they knew God in formality and had never received Him into their
heart. They had ears, but could not hear, and they had eyes, but they
could not see. Stephen tells them that they were like their fathers.
They were very technical about the law, but they closed themselves off
and did not know the Lawgiver. They had a religion of the flesh and
not the spirit. We see the extreme boldness of Stephen in the next
verse.
Acts 7:52 "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:" Acts 7:53
"Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not
kept [it]."
To these religious rulers, this was about the worst accusation
that Stephen could make. They prided themselves in keeping the law. We
know that many of the prophets had been killed for the truth in the
Bible. Isaiah, we are told by historians, was sawed in half, Daniel
faced the lions in the den, Elijah fought the prophets of Baal. These
great prophets got very little help from the rulers in the temple.
Many times the prophets even spoke out against the religious rulers
and were persecuted by the rulers of the temple. Stephen tells them,
you never did truly understand the law and You have certainly not
kept it.
Acts 7:54 "When they heard these things, they were cut to the
heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth."
This just simply means that they bit him. They were so angry with
him, that instead of flogging him, they bit him. Down deep in their
heart, they knew that what Stephen had said was true.
Acts 7:55 "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,"
We see here, that Stephen not only felt the Presence of the Holy
Ghost, but was empowered from on high and completely filled with the
Holy Ghost. Stephen was so filled that all scales were removed from
his eyes, and he looked into heaven, and saw the throne of God, and
the glory of God on that throne. There is much controversy about
Stephen seeing Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus
ordinarily is seated at the right hand of God, because His work is
finished, but I believe He was standing to greet Stephen and welcome
him to heaven. Stephen had no fear of what they could do to him here
on the earth. He knew his home was in heaven.
Acts 7:56 "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son
of man standing on the right hand of God."
This proclamation of Stephen would have been impossible to hold
back. To see inside heaven and all the glory there would be almost
beyond comprehension. The thrill would be so great, that any kind of
death would be welcomed to be able to go there.
Acts 7:57 "Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped
their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,"
To them, this was blasphemy, and they ran toward him to capture
and kill him. I really believe, however, that they stopped their ears,
because they were not ready to hear that they had killed the Lord. You
see, if Stephen is telling them the truth, they know they are doomed
to hell. They have to know that it is the truth, because Stephen's
countenance was so bright as we read earlier.
Acts 7:58 "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."
This Saul is the Pharisee who was ordering the persecution of the
Christians. This is also the Saul who Jews would rename Paul. You see
Saul really was one of these religious leaders who ordered the stoning
to death of Stephen. Notice they took him out of the city wall before
they killed him. It was not lawful (their laws) to kill a man within
the city wall.
Acts 7:59 "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and
saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
This is further proof that a Christian's spirit leaves his body
and goes to heaven when he dies. Stephen's spirit went to heaven
immediately.
Acts 7:60 "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."
We see here, an humble servant of God. Stephen had become
Christlike, because he asked forgiveness for these men who did this
horrible thing to him. Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know
not what they do", Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast
lots. Stephen said, "Lay not this sin to their charge." There was no
question that Stephen was a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Immediately Stephen died to this world.
As we said, this Saul will soon be called Paul and would, also,
become a servant of God, a follower of Jesus Christ. Saul thought he
was doing God a favour, when, in fact, he was killing one of God's
anointed.
Acts 16 Questions
1. What directions had Moses been given to build the tabernacle?
2. Who led the Israelites into the land of the Gentiles?
3. Who was the king who wanted to build a permanent house of worship?
4. Why did God not allow him to build the temple?
5. Who built the temple?
6. What name is God called by in verse 48?
7. Where is His throne?
8. What is His footstool?
9. What does omnipresence mean?
10. What did we learn in Revelation about the Spirit of God?
11. In verse 50, who made all things?
12. Who is the Right Hand of God?
13. What two terrible names did Stephen call these religious men?
14. What had they resisted?
15. What was wrong with their worship?
16. What name is Jesus called in verse 52?
17. Even though they had been given the law, they had ______________.
18. In verse 54, they were cut to the heart and did what to Stephen?
19. What two things did Stephen see in verse 55?
20. What was Jesus doing? Why?
21. Why did they stop their ears?
22. Where did they take Stephen? Why?
23. How did they kill Him?
24. Where did they put Stephen's clothes?
25. What was Stephen doing and saying as he died?
26. What statement did he make that was similar to Jesus' statement?
27. What does verse 61 tell us?
Notes
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