Part 2 - ‘The Outbreak Against Stephen’

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Three Pivotal Points in The Book of Acts.

Consider the details concerning the stoning of Stephen, a man “full of faith” and “full of the Holy Ghost” with “the face of an Angel,” obviously as God’s spokesman. Apparently, Stephen’s face shone much like Moses did when he come down from Mt. Sinai with the tablets of the Law. Read these Scriptures carefully, particularly noting the bolded words:

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6:8)
“And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” (Acts 6:10)
“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15)

Stephen recites the tragic history of Israel’s rebellion against The Lord in willful unbelief, then continuing here.
“Ye (Israel) stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 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: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 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. (Acts 7:51-60)

Stephen stood before Israel’s religious council, accusing them of resisting the witness of the outpoured Spirit that had been so vividly on display in their midst from the day of Pentecost til then.

Their response was that of further resistance and rejection, going so far as to gather a ‘stoning committee’ to silence Stephen’s Spirit-filled witness against them. The events which follow are of special significance:

“When they (Israel’s counsel) heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him (Stephen) with their teeth.
But he (Stephen), being Full of The Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and JESUS STANDING (No Longer Sitting) 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” (Acts 7:54-56).

Don’t read over this account too lightly, for a tremendous change has taken place. Note that at Pentecost, Peter warns them that Christ had Sat down in heaven at the Father’s right hand until that time came for Him to return in wrath to judge and destroy His enemies. But… in Acts 7 Stephen sees Christ Standing --- no longer seated, now “standing on the right hand of God.” – ready to return and ‘pour out His wrath.’

There is only one scriptural explanation for the change in Jesus’ posture: the time for the outpouring of His wrath had arrived. Our Lord was standing to do what Psalm 110:1 warned He would do: “make His foes His footstool.” In the words of Isaiah 3:13: “The Lord Standeth Up to Plead, and Standeth To JUDGE the People.”

So, what happened at that critical juncture? Did the wrath of God fall on Israel and the world? No!

Why wasn’t the wrath poured out? Why hasn’t Christ returned to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom?

The answer is found in Paul’s unique calling, ministry and explanation of the ‘timeline of certain events to come,’ as we will see in Part 3 of this series.