Lesson 358

(Lesson 358)(08-07-12) Acts 7:54-60, "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 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, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 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. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 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."

This lesson demonstrates how, after Stephen told them he saw the glory of God with Jesus at His right hand, the leaders of the Jews immediately took him out of the city and stoned him. As Stephen lay dying, he asked God to forgive those who had taken his life. Wouldn't it be a glorious thing if we were all so forgiving today?
The young Roman soldier named Saul, at whose feet the disciples threw their clothes, would later become Paul, one of the most noted and respected Apostles. He would deliver the good news of Jesus risen to the Gentiles.~