51-53 “And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you’re just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn’t get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you’ve kept up the family tradition—traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God’s Law handed to you by angels—gift-wrapped!—and you squandered it!”
54-56 At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!”
57-58 Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them.
59-60 As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, “Master Jesus, take my life.” Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, “Master, don’t blame them for this sin”—his last words. Then he died.
Stephen, filled with Holy Spirit, powerfully preached Jesus in the midst of God's enemies till to the point that he was stoned to death by the Jews with hostility. Nevertheless, Stephen's face became like an angel and his eyes gazed at the heaven which was opened for his sake and even Jesus stood at God's side, welcoming him to return to God. Sins caused hostility at the enemies' side while the Holy Spirit transformed God's people, like Stephen, to be like their Master Jesus, still praying for the forgiveness of their enemies who persecuted them. The power of the Holy Spirit empowered God's people to exalt Jesus and convert people in opposition, and also filled up God's people with the love of heavenly Father as they face the hostility from people.
My dear Holy Spirit, your church needs your empowering as we faithfully witness the Name of Jesus in this world of hostility. People need Jesus. They need to see the love of heavenly Father through your people's lives as they pray and love in the return of persecution and opposition. Speak to me through your means that I can follow and be strengthened with your power to witness your name.
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