The physician Luke wrote about, “And 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 in chapter six and verse twelve of the book of Acts Luke shared how the “suborned men”, “stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council” where we read:
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,
The verse begins, “And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they stirred up the people” which means “and the suborned men moved together, excited and threw into commotion the other human beings both male and female in the synagogues”, “and the elders” or “and the advanced in life, seniors and members of the great council or Sanhedren”, “and the scribes” which means “and the clerks, public servants, secretaries and recorders in the Bible who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings who served as interpreters and teachers”. Luke shared how the privately instigated, bribed or induced male human beings who were engage to unlawfully and secretly perform some misdeed or commit a crime excited other people within the synagogue as well as the “Sanhedrin” and the “men who were teachers and interpreters of the law”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,” Luke continued with words, “and came upon him” which means “and approached Stephen”, “and caught him” or “and seized or laid hold of Stephen by force”, “and brought him to the council” which means “and carried Stephen to the assembly, Sanhedrin or great council at Jerusalem”. Luke shared how the religious leaders “seized” “Stephen” and carried him to the “Sanhedrin” and “great council” of religious leaders.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” was not only “lied about”, but was also arrested by the religious leaders to be carried into judgment. “Stephen” was spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and performing “wonders and miracles” among the people, and this cost him because people did not like what he was saying and doing. When a person surrenders to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, it does not exempt them from experiencing difficulties and troubles. We shall see how this “arrest” of “Stephen” will eventually lead to his death. God saw Stephen, and eternal life was promised to him. He promises everlasting life to anyone who will yield their life to His Son Jesus. Let all who read these words carefully examine this “seizing” of “Stephen” and submit to Jesus who alone is able to sustain them in every situation.
Next time Luke shares how “suborned men”, “set up false witnesses”, 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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