I suppose it is a helpful thing to be full of the Holy Spirit and see the heavens open when you are being stoned to death but in the end no one survives martyrdom without pain. Just saying. Maybe if Stephen had been more diplomatic and not called the high priest and the teachers of the law “stiff necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears” and “betrayers and murders” of the Messiah (7:51-52) they would have been more inclined to listen to his version of Israel’s history. (7:1-54) But he was full of the Holy Spirit and his words were not his own. In the end he followed the way of Christ although his “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) was “do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60) which does not give his tormenters the benefit of ignorance and in that way he might be considered more merciful than the Christ. I hope that doesn’t get me stoned. Just saying.
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