The LORD our Passover

Continuing with the indexing of May 12

Now picking it back up with Stephens testimony at verse 50: “Has

not My hand made all these things? You stiff necked and

uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy

Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of Whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels (they considered the LORD an angel, Who spoke to Moses), and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 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, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and “the Son of man” standing on the right hand of God.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 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. And they stoned Stephen, Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 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.

Saul was consenting to his 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 Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

I said this to say this, what really set these Hebrew Priest's off is found back in verse 17 through 46 but I want you the read it on your own and pay care to lesson closely to all that Stephen says.

Now by way of what some may call purely coincidence Saul of Tarsus was outside of the city of Jerusalem and also Damascus on the road to the later when he was called in a very unusual way by GOD. But this was not what keep him from honoring his heritage, what he tells us in 1Corinthians 4 just may be the reason, looking at verses 1 through 13 and then again verses 14 through 20 we find this;

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards (A steward (G3623) is the master of the house (entrusted by the true Master) and is accountable to the Master of this house. A true “Christian” is one who is accountable solely to God and is therefore a steward of His house because he holds responsibility for this Gospel message.) of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yes, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. And these things, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you did not receive? now if you did receive it (the “it” here is revelation of Christ which was held as a mystery or secret), why do you glory, as if you had not received it? Now you are full, now you are rich, you have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacles to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are (counted) fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are despised. Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off scouring of all things to this day. (This may be the lot of all those like Saul who turned their backs to the families heritage in Judaism to face God In Christ head on. As required of any good soldier when enlisted. Looking to John 9:22-23 “These words spoke his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He (Jesus) was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.”) I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through this Gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be you followers (imitators) of me (and some passages add, as I am of Christ). For this cause have I sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be In Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power (the Grace of Christ within, which imbues His strength through our knowledge of Him as His stewards). For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (the strength of conviction, an inner knowing or knowledge of Him). What will you? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness (meekness, is not weakness but rather is the power of conviction and absolute knowledge under restraint and control of His kingdom rule)?”