Good morning. Stephen continues for a long time telling the story of Moses. This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. (remember that the people asked John the Baptist if he were The Prophet). He continues on to David and Solomon and the building of the temple. Throughout all of the history of Israel that Stephen just talked about, the people did not fully follow God for very long. You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Come on Stephen – enough of this warm and fuzzy talk. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it. (in other words he’s talking about good Friday and Easter). When they heard this, they gave him a kiss on the cheek. Actually they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. And being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Remember that I said when it talks about people being filled with the Spirit, they usually say something right after. Next time we will see what their ultimate reaction was. Father thank You that after what seemed like the gloom and doom of Good Friday, there is the glorious Resurrection on Easter! Help us to proclaim that resurrection wherever we go.

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