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” being raised in Egypt and defending his fellow countryman. After “Moses' act” of killing an Egyptian was known, “Then fled Moses at this saying” and after forty years, God revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. God sent Moses back to Egypt as a deliverer, and 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.” Moses lead the people of Israel, but while he was away to receive the “law” from God, his brother “Aaron” at the request of the people, “made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said, “which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles” where we read:
Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles,
whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
The verse begins, “Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, ...” Luke began with the words, “which also our fathers” which means “who even so and indeed the people of Israel's forefathers and male ancestors and progenitors” “that came after” or “who arose and appeared after the people of Israel traveled through the wilderness” “brought in with Jesus” which means “carried in beside and alongside Joshua” “into the possession of the Gentiles” or “into the holding and occupancy pertaining to the multitude of individuals, company, troop and individuals of the same nature or genus”. (See Joshua 3) Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the way the people of Israel “carried” the “tabernacle” which was used in the wilderness with Joshua into the “Gentile” land.
The verse goes on to say, “... whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;” Luke continued with the words, “whom God drove out” which means “that God the Heavenly Father thrust out and expelled” “before the face of our fathers” or “in advance and prior to the countenance belonging to the people of Israel's forefathers, male ancestors and progenitors”, “unto the days of David” which means “until the time period belonging to Kind David whose name means beloved and was the second king of Israel”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said God the Heavenly Father expelled the “Gentile” nations until the time when King David ruled in Israel.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued to progress in his historical account of the nation of Israel. He reminded the “Sanhedrin” about the people of Israel entering the “land of the Gentiles” where God “thrust out” their foes one by one even until the time when David became their King. “King David” was in the direct lineage of Jesus Christ, and as “Stephen” recounted these things before the religious leaders, he was closing in on the revelation of Jesus being their Messiah. God loves people, and He planned well in advance for His Son Jesus to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world. Anyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will carefully examine these words from “Stephen” and yield themselves to Jesus so they may live eternally with God.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen says David, “found favor before God”, 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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