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 fashioning an image of a “calf” 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”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared Stephen asks, “which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?” where we read:
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:
The verse begins, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?” Luke began with the words, “which of the prophets” which means “what one of the men who were moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman that solemnly declared to men what he had received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “have not your fathers persecuted” or “ did not your forefathers, male ancestors or progenitors make to flee, drive away, harass, trouble or mistreat”? Luke shared how “Stephen” asked the religious members of the “Sanhedrin” what “prophet of God” did their “forefathers” not “trouble, harass and mistreat”.
The verse goes on to say, “... 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:” Luke continued with the words, “and they have slain them” which means “and your forefathers killed, extinguished, abolished and inflicted mortal death on the prophets” “which showed before” or “who pre-announced and told in advance” “of the coming of the Just One” which means “about the advent pertaining to the righteous, virtuous, innocent, faultless and guiltless One who is approved and acceptable to God”; “of whom you have been now” or “that you, religious leaders of the Sanhedrin, have become, come into existence and happened as” “the betrayers” which means “the traitors” “and murderers” or “and killers ones who commit homicide”. Luke shared how “Stephen” told the “Sanhedrin” their “forefathers” had killed the ones who prophesied concerning the “Just One” or Messiah, and now they were just like their predecessors.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” became even more pointed in his speech toward the “Sanhedrin”, and he reminded them of how their “forefathers” had “killed” the “prophets” who spoke of the coming Messiah. “Stephen” told the religious leaders they were following in the footsteps of their “forefathers”, and they were responsible for “betraying and murdering” Jesus who is God's Son and Messiah. We can imagine the faces of the “religious leaders” as “Stephen” declare these words, and we shall see how they responded in our next few verses. For now, let everyone who reads these words understand the “betrayal and murder” of Jesus was performed for them because when He died on the cross and rose from the dead, He made access to God for everyone who believes and trusts in Him. Let all who read these words yield themselves to Jesus and never be like those who rejected and refused Him through their “betrayal and murder”.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen says the people of Israel, “received the law by the disposition of angels”, 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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