September 28 "Steeped in the Scriptures" Acts 7

The high priest has already made up his mind. The question seems rhetorical. "Guilty or Not Guilty?" Spoken with such blatant arrogance. But it is the defense that Stephen speaks that is simply amazing. Here is a man steeped in the Scriptures. He starts with Abraham and doesn't miss a syllable up to the story of the Righteous One. "You have received the law but have not obeyed it," said Stephen. Acts 7:53. It was too much for them. The sitting Council gnashed their teeth at Stephen, covered their ears, yelled at the top of their 71 voices, dragged Stephen out of the city, and stoned the speaker for sharing the story of the Old Testament up to the present moment. Acts 7:57-58. Oh! may we live ready and humble and mighty in the Scriptures! And Stephen's last words: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."