The physician Luke wrote how, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”, and after being interrogated by the people in the synagogue, “all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?”, and Stephen defended his faith by referring to, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph”. He spoke about “Moses” seeing God in a burning bush and how God sent him, “into Egypt. This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen referred to Moses saying, “a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me” where we read:
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear.
The verse begins, “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me;” Luke began with the words, “this is that Moses” which means “the selfsame Moses is the Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “which said unto the children of Israel” or “who uttered, declared and proclaimed to the offspring and descendants belonging to Israel which means he shall be a prince”, “a prophet” which refers to “one who is moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declared to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “shall the Lord” or “will the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title to God the Messiah” “your God” which means “the Sanhedrin's and the people of Israel's”, Heavenly Father God” “raise up unto you” or “cause to appear, bring forward and stand forth toward you, Sanhedrin and the people of Israel” “of your brethren” which means “belonging to your, the Sanhedrin and people of Israel's, brothers, kinship, people and countrymen”, “like unto me” or “who is similar and in likeness to me, Moses”. (See Deuteronomy 18:15-19) Luke shared how “Stephen” declared that “Moses” told the people of Israel their “God” would cause another “prophet” who was like him to arise among them.
The verse goes on to say, “him shall you hear.” Luke continued with the words, “him” which means “the prophet who is raised up” “shall you hear” or “will you, the Sanhedrin and the people of Israel, be endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding”. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the prophesy of “Moses” concerning the people of Israel listening to the “prophet” who would be “raised up” among them.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” referred to “Moses” declaring that a “prophet” would rise up among the people of Israel who would be similar to him. This “prophet” was to be “listened to” by the people of Israel, and Jesus was the fulfillment of his words. Jesus was similar to “Moses” because His life was preserved as a small child, He had an excellent education, people questioned His Lordship over them, people misunderstood His coming to deliver them, they refused to receive Him the first time He came, but they shall receive Him the second time He comes. God was intentional in His plan to redeem mankind through His Son Jesus, and when a person submits themselves to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words hearken to and believe in Jesus who alone provides eternal salvation for mankind.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen says, “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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