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 continued to defend his faith by referring to the history of Israel including how “the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first, and at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh”, and in chapter seven and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said, “then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him” where we read:
Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
The verse begins, “Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, ...” Luke began with the words, “then sent Joseph” which means “at that time Joseph whose name means let him add”, “and called his father Jacob to him” or “and bid, beckoned, summoned and invited his immediate male progenitor or ancestor to himself”. (See Genesis 45) Luke shared how “Joseph” invited his “father Jacob” to come to where he was and live.
The verse continues, “... and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.” Luke added words, “and all his kindred” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of Jacob's family”, “threescore and fifteen souls” or “seventy five people”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said everyone of the seventy-five people within “Jacob's” family was invited to go to “Egypt” where “Joseph” lived.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued to relay the story of Israel being the nation through whom the Messiah Jesus would come. “Joseph” invited his father “Jacob” and all his family to live in the land of “Egypt” where they would be preserved in the time of famine. God cared for His people, and because the Messiah was to come through their lineage, God kept them through Joseph even in a time when there was a lack of food. God was intentional in His purpose to bring about a “Savior and Lord” of the world, so He preserved Israel and sent His Son Jesus through their nation. Let all who read these words be inspired to consider the history of Israel and believe in God's Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” who arrived through their lineage.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen referred to how, “Jacob went down into Egypt”, 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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