Jewish rulers were extremely infuriated with Stephen for preaching to them in the name of Jesus.

Acts 7:54

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“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” Acts 7:54

Stephen was a “waiter of tables” [Acts 6:2-5], filled with the Holy Spirit and a tongue of fire. What is it that he said to them? “They” were the Jewish rulers whom Stephen was speaking to in the name of Jesus Christ. The things they heard are described in the posts on Acts 7:1-53.

What the Jewish leaders heard Stephen speak, that hurt them so much, was 1] that the promise God made to Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. 2] that they were the same as their forefathers who threw Joseph into the pitch because they threw the Christ, Jesus into the “pit”. 3] that they were the same as their ancestors who rebelled against Moses because they rebelled against the Lord Jesus. 4] that they were the same as their ancestors who built the Golden Calf because they rejected Jesus Christ to build their own laws. 5] that they were still like their forefathers who served God through manmade buildings, instead of serving the Christ, Jesus who has made us the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit. 6] that they always resist the Holy Spirit who is the One who draws people to the Truth, to Jesus Christ.

On top of that, Stephen said to them, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” Acts 7:51 They were offended and extremely infuriated with Stephen.

Jesus said this about the Jewish leaders, “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.” Luke 11:47-48

They gnashed their teeth at Stephen, like they did at our Lord Jesus, meaning they were outraged beyond words.

Today’s culture, which is global, does not want to hear that they are sinners in need of forgiveness for their unbelief. They shut the Holy Spirit out of their spirit and soul as they live for the beast that infiltrates their spirit to give them what to speak, do, feel, and think. They become infuriated to be told that they are stubborn, not cleansed in their attitudes, and hostile to the presence of the Holy Spirit. They despise the name of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. They are those who serve the beast who is, “…enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’” Revelation 12:17

As followers of Jesus Christ, sanctification is a process that cleanses our spirit and attitudes from being greatly offended and being extremely infuriated to the point of acting out aggressively towards others. This cleansing is Holiness working in us and can only happen by being receptive to the Holy Spirit, who is given by Jesus Christ. The Jewish rulers were definitely stubborn against the Holy Spirit as they harbored malicious, hostile, and murderous feelings towards others, especially those who spoke in the name of Jesus.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11