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” leading the people of Israel through the wilderness and the people of Israel making a “calf” idol to worship. He spoke of “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. 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. Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? said the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said the people of Israel, “received the law by the disposition of angels” where we read:
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
The verse begins, “Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, ...” Luke began with the words, “who have received the law” which means “the people of Israel lay hold of, claimed, procured, seized and apprehended the rule producing a state approved of God” “by the disposition of angels” or “through and by way of the arrangement and ordinance belonging to messengers and envoys sent from God”. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the way the “people of Israel” “received” God's “law” through His messengers and envoys.
The verse continues, “... and have not kept it.” Luke added the words, “and have not” which means “and in no way have” “kept it” or “guarded over, watched and protected the law of God”. Luke shared how “Stephen” told the “Sanhedrin” that even though the people of Israel “received” the “law of God” through His messengers, they did not “watch over or protect” it.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued his pointed speech toward the religious leaders who belonged to the “Sanhedrin”. He reminded them of how the “law of God” was entrusted to them, but they did not “watch over or protect” it. God provided Israel with His “law” which stated the “rule producing a state approved of” Him, but they did not “keep” His “law”. No one has kept the “law of God”, (See Romans 3:10; 3:23), and this was the reason Jesus came. God knows all people are “sinners”, and their sin keeps them from a personal relationship with God. Jesus died upon the cross to pay the price of death for sins, and when a person yields their life to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with God. (Romans 6:23) Let all who read these words surrender their life to Jesus and allow God to “fulfill” His desire to save them for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how the Sanhedrin, “were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth”, 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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