- Glory Witnessed
The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, – Acts 7:2
Tradition holds that Stephen was a young man when he died in A.D. 36 in Jerusalem. He was a Greek Jew and one of the deacons appointed by the apostles to care for elderly women, widows, and orphans in the early church. He expressed his opposition to the rules of the Sanhedrin, who ordered him condemned to death. In Acts 7, he offers his defense. Nonetheless, he was stoned to death, becoming the first recorded Christian martyr. His execution was assented to by Saul of Tarsus (v. 58).
In his testimony, Stephen recalled the history of Judaism, beginning with the call of Abraham, who would become the patriarch of the Jewish faith. God affirmed His identity when He appeared to Abram (whose name God later changed), revealing His glory, whether in a vision or some other form, authenticating His authority. The Lord dealt similarly with Moses when He used the burning bush to reveal His glory. Later, Moses would experience more of His glory on the mountain where he received the Ten Commandments. For Stephen, God affirmed the young man by allowing him to see the glory of God in heaven. God’s glory bookends the account of Stephen.
Theologian Warren Wiersbe writes, “The glory of God expresses all that He is in His Being and in His nature, character, power, and acts. He is glorified when He is allowed to be seen as He really is. To be where God is, is glory, which is every believer’s reward! To be what God intended will be glory. To do what God purposed will be glory.” Pray that the God of Glory will stir your heart to worship and that the radiance of His glory will shine forth from your life.
Today’s Verse: Acts 7:2
And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Acts 7:51-60
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
