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blessing and glory

Acts 7:54&55
"54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 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,"

We have been studying the Apostle Paul and his wonderful contributions to our FAITH. Chief among them is the book of Romans. Where Paul teaches about the meaning of the law, the Gospel, sin, punishment, grace, faith, justice, Christ, God, good works, love, hope, and the cross. Paul's writings enrich our knowledge and experience of our Lord and Savior. Even his writings from prison are inspirational and encouraging. Paul is an amazing case study!

Paul is all the more amazing because he did NOT start this way. He started out as Saul, a devout, well-educated and zealous Jew. Along with the other leaders of the Jewish community, they were out to crush the growing Christian church. Here, in the seventh chapter of Acts, they have arrested a Jesus-follower named Stephen for speaking against the temple, Moses, and the Law. Most of the chapter is Stephen's defense. His arguments don't advance his own innocence as much as convict the Jews of their shortcomings. This enraged them and brought their anger to such an excessive level that they STONE Stephen to death.

Stephen is giving the blessing of seeing Jesus as he is dying. "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,"
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