Stephen
Put to Death for his Witness
which brings the
pricking of the heart, the kicking against the goads
within one of
His soon to become witnesses.
When
they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed* on him as it were with their teeth. But he, being full of
the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory
of God, and Christ Jesus standing on the right hand of God (in
the ready to bring God's wrath upon all flesh),
and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man
standing on the right hand of God. To this 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 (another
taken outside the camp**),
and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young
man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, who 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. (*Job
16:9; Psalm35:16, 112:10; Lamination 2:16; Matthew 8:12, 13:42,
13:50, 22:13, 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28; **Hebrews 13:11-13)
Saul was
consenting to his death. And at that time there was a great
persecution against the church (assemblage)
which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout
the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except for 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 (assemblage),
entering into every house, and hauling men and women committed them
to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad and went every
where preaching the word.
Form
here I will look at portions of Saul's witness beginning with his
conversion experience and his change of names to Paul, as the called
out one, the little man. For the nation of Israel and the nations or
Gentiles and kings (in accord with Gen. 12:3c, "the
families of the earth be blessed"*).
He becomes the porter of the gate of revelation of Christ, the very
foundation of the world and the bring about this Gospel of the
kingdom. He brings to Life the revelation of Christ's ontological
essence restored within man's heart, His divine place which man and
God lost when man was separated from God by sin in death to Him.
*If God would have said ; “the families of the world be blessed”
this would have limited His scope to Israel only because they had
become scattered into all the then knows nations of the world. But He
used the term “earth” signifying that from which all
mankind was made a house or body of a tent, a covering for mans
spirit and breath, in accord to Gen. 2:6-7.
The
Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
the Persecutor of
Christ Jesus in those who where His.
Acts
9:1-19
Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and
desired (asked)
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
back to Jerusalem. As he journeyed, he came near Damascus: (he
was outside the camp)
and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he
fell to the earth, hearing a voice saying to him, Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me?
And he said, Who are You, Lord? The Lord said, I
am Jesus Whom you are persecuting:
it
is
hard
for you to continue to kick against the pricks. (Saul's
conscience is resisting the knowledge of Christ)
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will You have me to
do? The Lord said
to him, Arise,
and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.
The men who were journeying with him stood speechless, hearing a
voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his
eyes were opened, he saw no man: (this
is tipical of all who are bond by Religion, their sight and
perception remains veiled)
so they who were with him led him by the hand, and brought him
into Damascus. And he was there three days without sight, and neither
did he eat nor drink.
There
was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him the
Lord said in a vision, Ananias.
And he said, Behold, I am
here,
Lord. And the Lord said
to him, Arise,
and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquirer in the
house of Judas for
one
called
Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he is in prayer,
and
has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting
his
hand
on him, that he might receive his sight.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how
much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem: And hear that he
has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Your
name. But to this the Lord said to him, Go
your way: for he is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For
I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.
So Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his
hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, Who has appeared to
you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive sight
(in
this Saul's perception of all things spiritual was restored to him,
as in the beginning and seen in Genesis
2:7
and following until death happened and sin entered man distorting
mans vision and perception*),
and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from
his eyes as it had been scales (the
same that veils the eyes and ears of mans understanding of those who
like Saul are caught in sins and Religion's grip):
and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And
when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain
days with the disciples who were at Damascus. (Acts 22:3-5, 6-16,
26:4-5, 9-11, 12-18, Galatians 1:10-17, 1Timothy 1:12-17) *perception
is the acute mental vision which has its root deep within our soul
for discernment, a sharpness of sight and acuteness of understanding
which the ontological essence of Christ restores within His people.
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