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One of the first deacons was a man named Stephen. He had such a powerful witness that no one could resist the wisdom with which he presented Jesus as the Messiah. That made a group of Jews very angry. They even hired some false witnesses to falsely testify against him, accusing him of speaking against the law and the temple. Stephen began to recount their history. He reminded them that God had spoken through the prophets saying God did not live in buildings. Then he reminded them that their forefathers had always killed God's messengers just as they had killed the One that Moses had predicted would come to them. In a rage, they dragged Stephen out to stone him. Stephen had a vision of Jesus standing to receive him. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, the place of power and authority. He stands to receive His martyrs, His witnesses. Stephen's last words were to the One in the vision. He asked that He not hold the sin they were committing against them. That is what Jesus had requested of the Father on the cross. The first of many martyrs for the cause of Christ fell asleep, the Lord sparing his body the pain of the rocks that were to pummel his body. Stephen had the boldness that the apostles prayed for. He did not back down when threatened, but used it as an opportunity to speak the truth. We need such an example today. Many we meet are living in careless disregard for the God that made them. They ignore His sacrifice as if it were nothing. Someone needs to tell them. We need the boldness that Stephen had to speak the truth in love. Remember that Stephen's words also fell on the ears of Saul, who would later become the apostle to the Gentiles. We need to learn from this chapter that if we will speak boldly, God's word will do the work. We need to stay focused on Jesus. We need to constantly be like Stephen when he “….looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” We need to stay focused on Jesus and our heavenly future! http://www.freegiftforlife.com http://www.freegiftforlife.com/me/DonO

The word says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the father, but Stephen sees Jesus standing at the right hand of the father. I find that interesting.

Stephen was obviously given incredible boldness and confidence through the power of the Holy Spirit and an extra measure of Grace as he begins to endure incredible hostility, through a mob attack and horrific scene of murder...God obviously demonstrates His compassion, and what great comfort it must of been to Stephen as God reveals His glory and Stephen see's the Lord Jesus...ready to usher him into heaven!!!. A beautiful display and reminder of God's promises that He will never leave us or forsake us and that only through trusting and obeying Him can we have a peace that surpasses all understanding!

Did anyone catch that? Jesus was "STANDING" at the right hand of God. Every other time he is sitting. Not only was Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus was standing in honor of welcoming the very first Martyr.

That would have been an awesome sight to see... Just to see the glory of God and Jesus would have been so overwhelming, comforting, and reassuring. He was no longer the humble carpenter from Galilee, but the Prince of Glory. And Jesus was standing, not seated at the right hand of God. I wonder what the meaning of that would be?