2020.08.06 - Chief Of Sinners - Loudest Of Saints
Would you have enough faith in His grace to testify against yourself in a murder trial where you are the accused?
Thursday, August 06, 2020
11:54 AM
1. Stephen
a. 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, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 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. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
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. KJV
2. Luke
a. Likely Luke authored Acts - very similar writing styles -
i. Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. KJV
ii. Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: KJV
iii. Luke was -
1. Luke was a physician
2. Luke was with Paul on journey to Jerusalem and Rome and remained faithful to Paul when others forsook him.
3. Paul and Luke were at the very least co laborers in Christ and likely close
4. Luke was Paul' s physician - Paul trusted him with his life
b. There is no reason or support that Luke was actually there when Stephen was martyred - so how did he find out it, who told him the story in such detail? One that WAS there, one that saw and heard it all, one that could have been counted guilty of the death of an innocent man - Saul
3. Paul
a. How certain was he that God had really saved him?
i. 1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: KJV
ii. 1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. KJV
b. He was certain enough that he penned those words. He was certain enough and confident enough in the grace of God that he told his physician, his friend, that he stood there while Stephen the Righteous was stoned to death for the Gospel of the same Jesus that Paul/Saul himself had persecuted and now declared!
c. Paul knew Christ, forgiveness to the point that he share this story that has been one the great moments of faith in our Bible with his physician and friend, free of guilt and condemnation and without wavering in the truth! JUST WOW!
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