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 how, “Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And 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”. However, later a Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph who made the people of Israel as slaves in Egypt for four hundred years in which time, “Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months. And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Moses asked, “why do you wrong one to another?” where we read:
And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, you are brethren; why do you wrong one to another?
The verse begins, “And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again,” Luke began with the words, “and the next day” which means “and the day following the day Moses killed the Egyptian” “he showed himself unto them” or “Moses revealed his own self to the two Israelites” “as they strove” which means “while and during the time the two Israelites were fighting”, “and would have set them at one again” or “and desired to reconcile, drove together and urged the two Israelites to tranquility, calmness, harmony and concord”. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the way “Moses” desired to bring “peace and tranquility” to the two Israelites who were fighting.
The verse continues, “saying, Sirs, you are brethren; why do you wrong one to another?” Luke added the word, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” “Sirs, you are brethren” or “men, you exist as brothers and fellow countrymen” “why do you wrong” which means “for what reason are you acting unjustly, wickedly and sinfully” “one to another” or “toward each other”? Luke shared how “Stephen” said “Moses” spoke of how these two Israelites were “brothers”, and he questioned them as to the reason they were “acting unjustly and wickedly” toward each other.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Stephen” continued to relay the history of the people of Israel to the “Sanhedrin”. He recalled the way “Moses” stepped into a fight between two of his fellow Israelites, and he desired to bring “peace” between them. We shall see the results of this in our next verse, but for now, let us understand that “Moses'” intercession between his fellow countrymen was another step in God's plan of the redemption of mankind through His Son Jesus. God loves people, and He was fulfilling His desire to save every person who yields to Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Those who submit to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who think about “Moses'” intercession see it as an example of God interceding for people through His Son Jesus so they may live with Him forever.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen told how the neighbor asks Moses, “who made you a ruler and a judge over us?”, 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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