Stephen died forgiving his murderers.

1. The false witnesses accused Stephen of blaspheming against the temple. But the Jews had earlier turned from the Tabernacle Of God to the Temple of Moloch and to the star of Remphan . Acts 7 www.rossvillechurch.com 781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741 October 12, 2011

2. It is clear who committed blasphemy; Those who turned from God to follow idols. Let us be the children of God who will never turn back.

3. Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilder-ness, as He had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

4. 45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus (Joshua) into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built Him an house.

5. 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest? 50 Hath not My Hand made all these things? Way back in Samuel's day , the Jews had thought to have God in a box -- The Ark of the Covenant .

6. God will not and can not be constrained to one time or one place or one person . Psalms 139 7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy Presence? 8 If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall Thy Hand lead me, and Thy Right Hand shall hold me.

7. 51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One ; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers : 53 Who have received the Law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it . The Jews had betrayed and murdered their Messiah . They were proud of their possession of the Law, but didn't keep it .

8. The Jew's hatred of Jesus was not surprising, nor anything new. They had always mistreated their true prophets . Heb 11 They had always resisted God's Holy Spirit . They had always willfully disobeyed the Law of Moses. And Stephen called them on all these things.

9. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. When the Truth cuts you to the heart, what should you do?

10. 55 But he , being full of the Holy Ghost , looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the Right Hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the Right Hand of God. We always choose either to be full of ourselves, Or to be full of the Holy Ghost.

11. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 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 .

12. 59 And they stoned Stephen, (while he was) calling upon God , and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 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 (died) . Radical Forgiveness Certainly we can forgive one another .