The physician Luke wrote, “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 he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelled in Charran, and said unto him, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and come into the land which I shall show you”, and in chapter seven and verse four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen continued to answer the high priest and the people in the synagogue by referring to how Abraham came, “out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelled in Charran” where we read:
Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelled in Charran: and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.
The verse begins, “Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran:” Luke began with the words, “then came he out of the land” which means “at that time arose and appeared Abraham from the country, territory and region” “of the Chaldaeans” or “belonging to the ones known as clod breakers who were natives of the region of the lower Euphrates”, “and dwelled in Charran” which means “and lived, settled and resided in Charran or Heran which means a mountaineer which was a city in Mesopotamia of great antiquity and made famous by the defeat of Crassus”. Luke shared how “Stephen” told the “Sanhedrin” about “Abraham” leaving the country of the “Chaldaeans” and living in “Haran” or “Charran”.
The verse continues, “and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.” Luke added the words, “and from there” which means “and apart from the country of Haran”, “when his father was dead” or “at the time and moment Abraham's immediate male progenitor and ancestor was without breath, lifeless and inanimate”, “he removed him into this land” which means “he, God, transferred and caused Abraham to be removed into the territory, region and country of Israel”. Luke shared how God moved “Abraham” to the land of Israel from “Haran” after his father died.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued to review the history of Israel before the “high priest” and “Sanhedrin”. He shared how “Abraham” arrived in the land of Israel, and although there was some delay of time while “Abraham” stayed in “Haran” until his “father died”, He eventually arrived in the land of Israel. God's plan of salvation was slowly being revealed. God loves people, and His plan of salvation for mankind was leading to the revelation of His Messiah Son Jesus. Those who yield to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life, and anyone who examines this intentional purpose of God through the lineage of Abraham will discover He is willing and able to have a loving personal relationship with them.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen continues his speech by saying God, “gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on”, 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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