“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
Acts 7:51 (NIV)
Acts 7 seems like a history lesson until we reach vs 51- Stephen’s tone changes dramatically. The accusation is that the Sanhedrin are just like their ancestors, that they killed the Righteous One. Grace and truth reside together in this accusation, for the obvious truth needed to be said, and the grace is the provision of another opportunity the Lord provided these rebels who killed His beloved Son, another opportunity to respond to the truth.
I understand this gracious opportunity as the answer of God to the prayer of His Son on the cross; “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
These men spurn their opportunity, they resist the Holy Spirit speaking to them through the Scriptures and through Stephen’s lips. They give themselves over to anger and murder Stephen.
Just like their ancestors!
This is a turning point in the life of the young church, as they are forced to leave Jerusalem, and it is a further step towards the destruction of the Jewish system centered on the temple.
But there is a young man named Saul who is part of the group helping to kill Stephen, who will break with his ancestors, who will be brought to his knees and turn his head towards the Lord and never be stiff-necked towards God again.
Will I be like my ancestors today?
Or will I draw near to Christ and be like my heavenly Father today?
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