The physician Luke wrote, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel”, and in chapter seven and verse one of the book of Acts Luke shared how the high priest asked Stephen, “are these things so?” where we read:
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
The verse begins, “Then said the high priest, ...” Luke began with the words, “then said” which means “at that time uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked” “the high priest” or “the chief and principal priest” the following question. Luke shared how the “high priest” asked the following question of “Stephen”.
The verse goes on to say, “... Are these things so?” Luke continued with the words, “are these things” which means “are the words about Stephen speaking blasphemously against the temple and the law” “so” or “true, certain and even as has been stated”? Luke shared how the “high priest” asked “Stephen” whether the accusations against him were true.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “high priest” involved himself in the interrogation of “Stephen”. He questioned “Stephen” as to the validity of the charges the “suborned men” brought against him. We shall see how “Stephen” answers him in our next verses, but for now, let us understand “Stephen's” “faith and courage” was being tried. Jesus desires to have a personal relationship with every person, and when they submit their lives to Him as their “Savior and Lord”, they will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life with His Father God and given a boldness to speak His name in the midst of adversity. Let all who read these words put themselves in the place of “Stephen” and decide whether anyone would have something against them to which they would ask, “are these things so?”
Next time we see Luke share how Stephen began to answer the high priest and the people in the synagogue by saying, “Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken”, 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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