We live in a world where people become angry because God’s word is true. A great example can be found in the book of Acts chapter 7 where Stephen the first deacon named within the church addressed the Sanhedrin Council comprised of 70 elders and the High Priest.
They believed God was confined to a tabernacle or physical building made by the hands of man. Stephen would explain as best he could about the Tabernacle of God as being spiritual. The Sanhedrin Council did not like what they heard. When Stephen got to the apex of his address he said to them vss. 48 thru 51; “the Highest does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And the earth is My footstool.
What the house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?’ “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” The Sanhedrin Council was about to reach a boiling point! Verse. 52 and 53 Stephen says; “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, (meaning Jesus) of whom you now have become betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
The Sanhedrin Council was irate! Vss. 54 thru 57 says; “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus stood at the right hand of God, and said “Look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord. Vss. 59 and 60 says; “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt andcried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Jesus was standing up; watching over Stephen!
