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 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? But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how the neighbor asked Moses, “will you kill me, as you did the Egyptian yesterday?” where we read:
Will you kill me, as you did the Egyptian yesterday?
The verse begins, “Will you kill me, ...” Luke began with the words, “will you” which means “will you, Moses” “kill me” or “abolish, destroy and slay me, the Israelite” like the following example. Luke shared how the Israelite questioned “Moses” as to whether he would “slay” him in the same manner as the following.
The verse continues, “... as you did the Egyptian yesterday?” Luke added the words, “as you did” which means “in the same manner you, Moses, performed and produced against” “the Egyptian yesterday” or “the man from Egypt on the day before”? Luke shared how the Israelite referred to the way “Moses” “killed” the “Egyptian” on the previous day.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” referred to the questioning by the Israelite who was in a fight with his fellow countryman when “Moses” attempted to stop them. This Israelite wondered if “Moses” was going to “slay” him in the same way he did an “Egyptian” on the previous day. We can imagine “Moses” surprise at this man's knowledge of what he did, but “Stephen” was recalling this story as a part of the revelation of God's plan to save people through His Son Jesus. Each step of the history of the “Israelites” would lead to Jesus being born as the Messiah and Christ of the world. Anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who look closely into this story of “Moses” understand the purpose was used by God to bring “salvation” to mankind.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen says, “then fled Moses at this saying”, 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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