ACTS
CHAPTER SEVEN
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
.which largely limits the observer to the
content offered by the books of Luke and Acts. Other passages must have a
relationship with the context at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or
reference in the passage at hand. This will serve to avoid going on
unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the
framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located
elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
****** EXCERPT
FROM ACTS CHAPTER 6 ******
OR
SKIP TO THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER 7
(Acts
6:9-15) THEN THERE AROSE SOME FROM WHAT IS CALLED THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE
FREEDMEN [LIT., LIBERTINES] (CYRENIANS, ALEXANDRIANS, AND THOSE FROM
CILICIA AND ASIA), DISPUTING WITH STEPHEN. AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO
RESIST THE WISDOM AND THE SPIRIT BY WHICH HE [WAS SPEAKING]. THEN THEY
[SUBORNED] MEN TO SAY, 'WE HAVE HEARD HIM SPEAK BLASPHEMOUS WORDS
AGAINST MOSES AND GOD.' AND THEY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE, THE ELDERS, AND
THE SCRIBES; AND THEY CAME UPON HIM, SEIZED HIM, AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE
COUNCIL. THEY ALSO SET UP FALSE WITNESSES WHO SAID, 'THIS MAN DOES NOT
CEASE TO SPEAK BLASPHEMOUS WORDS AGAINST THIS HOLY PLACE AND THE LAW;
FOR WE HAVE HEARD HIM [SAYING] THAT THIS JESUS OF NAZARETH WILL DESTROY
THIS PLACE AND CHANGE THE CUSTOMS WHICH MOSES DELIVERED TO US.' AND ALL
[WHO WERE SITTING] IN THE COUNCIL, [HAVING LOOKED INTENTLY] AT HIM, SAW
HIS FACE AS THE FACE OF AN ANGEL
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM ACTS CHAPTER 6 ******
I)
[Acts 7:1-16]:
A)
(Acts 7:1-3) STEPHEN DIRECTLY ADDRESSED THE CHARGES OF BLASPHEMY BEFORE
THE SANHEDRIN. HIS USE OF THE WORDS "BRETHREN" AND "FATHERS"
IMPLIED HIS RESPECT FOR JEWISH LAW AND TRADITIONS AND HENCE HIS
INNOCENCE. WHEREUPON HE DECLARED "THE GOD OF GLORY APPEARED TO OUR
FATHER ABRAHAM WHEN HE WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA, BEFORE HE DWELT IN HARAN, AND
SAID TO HIM, 'GET OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME
TO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU'. STEPEHEN'S TESTIMONY OF ABRAHAM DID NOT
CONTRADICT SCRIPTURE AS SOME CONTEND, RATHER IT CORROBORATED IT AND
FURTHER SUPPORTS HIS BEING INNOCENT OF THE CHARGES
****** EXCERPT
FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 12 ******
(Gen
11:27-12:1) THE LORD GOD REPEATEDLY APPEARED AND SPOKE TO ABRAM FROM THE
TIME HE WAS IN UR THROUGH WHEN HE WAS IN HARAN. HE GRACIOUSLY KEPT ON
SAYING TO ABRAM TO GO FROM UR, HIS RELATIVES AND HIS FATHER'S HOUSEHOLD
TO A LAND THE LORD WILL SHOW HIM IMPLYING PROSPERITY AND OWNERSHIP OF
THAT LAND
[Compare
Gen 12:6-7]:
[Compare
Acts 7:2]:
[Compare
Gen 12:5]:
[Compare
Gen 15:7]:
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 12 ******
B)
(Acts 7:4-5) STEPHEN CONTINUED TO TESTIFY TO THE SANHEDRIN ABOUT
ABRAHAM: "THEN HAVING COME FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS,
HE DWELT IN HARAN, AND FROM THENCE, AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER, HE
DID REMOVE HIM TO THIS LAND WHEREIN [YOU] NOW DWELL, AND HE GAVE HIM NO
INHERITANCE IN IT, NOT EVEN A FOOTSTEP, AND DID PROMISE TO GIVE IT TO
HIM FOR A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS SEED AFTER HIM - HE HAVING NO CHILD "
WHICH TESTIMONY BEING FULLY CORROBORATED BY SCRIPTURE IN TURN AFFIRMED
STEPHEN'S INNOCENCE OF BLASPHEMY
****** EXCERPT
FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 12 ******
(Gen
12:1-7) AS ABRAM CAME TO SHECHEM IN THE LAND OF CANAAN AS FAR AS THE
TEREBINTH TREE OF MOREH, THE LORD AGAIN APPEARED TO ABRAM AND REMINDED
HIM OF HIS PROMISE TO GIVE ABRAM'S SEED OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND - AN
EVERLASTING POSSESSION. FURTHERMORE, THE LAND WOULD BE RECEIVED BY ONE
WHOM WOULD BE THE PROMISED SEED THROUGH WHOM ONE WOULD RECEIVE ETERNAL
LIFE. WHEREUPON ABRAM BUILT AN ALTAR TO THE LORD IN ORDER TO WORSHIP HIM
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 12 ******
C)
(Acts 7:6-7) STEPHEN THEN TESTIFIED "GOD SPOKE IN THIS WAY: THAT
HIS [ABRAM'S] DESCENDANTS WOULD DWELL IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY
WOULD BRING THEM INTO BONDAGE AND OPPRESS THEM FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. 'AND
THE NATION TO WHOM THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I WILL JUDGE,' SAID GOD, 'AND
AFTER THAT THEY SHALL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE
1)
[Compare Gen 15:13]:
2)
[Compare Ex 12:40-41 translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text]:
3)
[But compare Ex 12:40-41 translated from the Septuagint Greek and the
Samaritan Pentateuch texts]:
4)
[Compare Gal 3:16-17]:
****** EXCERPT
FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 15 ******
(Gen
15:13) THE LORD TOLD ABRAM THAT HIS DESCENDANTS WILL BE STRANGERS IN A
LAND THAT IS NOT THEIRS, AND WILL SERVE AND BE AFFLICTED BY THE PEOPLE
OF THE LAND FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
The
Time From Abraham's Call By The LORD To Leave His Country For The
Promised Land Until Abraham's Descendants' Sojourn into Egypt From
Canaan Was 215 Years. This Period Was Part Of The 430 Years Of Abram's
Descendants' Sojourn In Canaan And Egypt Referred To In Exodus 12:40-41
- Most Accurately Accounted For In The Septuagint & Samaritan
Pentateuch Versions. Furthermore, 400 of the 430 Years Were The Years Of
Affliction Of Abraham's Descendants Beginning In Canaan At Ishmael's
Scoffing At Isaac And Ishmael's Consequent Banishment From Abram's
Family. The Period Of 400 Years Ended With Moses And The Exodus Of
Israel From Egypt Followed Closely By God's Giving Of The Law To Moses
And Israel
[Compare
Gen 15:13]:
[Compare
Gen 12:1-4]:
[Compare
Gen 21:1-7]:
[Compare
Gen 21:4-14]:
[Compare
Gal 4:29]:
The
Time From Abraham's Descendants' Entrance Into Egypt To Their Exodus Is
215 Years, Not 430 Years, As Some Contend
[Compare
Ex 12:40-41 translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text]:
[Compare
Ex 12:40-41 translated from the Septuagint Greek and the Samaritan
Pentateuch texts]:
[Compare
Gal 3:16-17]:
[Compare
Gen 15:13-16]:
[Compare
extra-biblical sources]:
[Compare
Gen 46:1-34]:
[Compare
Gen 43:32]:
(Gen
15:13-16) THE LORD TOLD ABRAM THAT HIS DESCENDANTS WILL BE STRANGERS IN
A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIRS, AND WILL SERVE AND BE AFFLICTED BY THE PEOPLE
OF THE LAND FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. BUT THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND WILL BE
JUDGED AND ABRAM'S DESCENDANTS WILL COME OUT WITH GREAT POSSESSIONS.
ABRAM WILL LIVE TO A GOOD OLD AGE. BUT IN THE FOURTH GENERATION ABRAM'S
DESCENDANTS WILL RETURN TO THE PROMISED LAND. FOR THE LORD INDICATED
THAT THE INIQUITY OF THE AMORITES, A KEY TRIBE IN THE LAND WHOSE EVIL
WAS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD, HAD NOT COME TO THE POINT OF RECEIVING
THE WRATH OF GOD WHICH WOULD EVIDENTLY COME THROUGH ABRAM'S DESCENDANTS
[Complete
Biblical Library CD Commentary on Gen 15:16]:
[Compare
Judges 11:19-22]:
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 15 ******
D)
(Acts 7:8a) AFTER CONFIRMING HIS EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM,
STEPHEN THEN TESTIFIED THAT THE LORD GAVE ABRAHAM THE COVENANT OF
CIRCUMCISION AS A SIGN OF HIS ETERNAL COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND HIS
DESCENDANTS:
****** EXCERPT
FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 17 ******
(GEN
17:9-11) ABRAHAM AND HIS HOUSEHOLD AND HIS DESCENDANTS MUST KEEP A
COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION WITH THE LORD. THIS CIRCUMCISION WAS NOT IN
ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD'S EVERLASTING COVENANT OF ETERNAL LIFE
IN THE PROMISED LAND; BUT AS A SIGN OF ONE BEING UNDER THAT EVERLASTING
COVENANT
[Compare
Ps 32:1-5]:
(GEN
17:11-14) THE CIRCUMCISION COVENANT WAS TO BE A SIGN OF THE EVERLASTING
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT BETWEEN THE LORD AND ABRAM AND EVERY MALE IN HIS
HOUSEHOLD. THEY WERE TO BE CIRCUMCISED FROM 8 DAYS OLD OR BE CUT OFF
FROM ABRAM’S PEOPLE IN THE SENSE OF THE LOSS OF TEMPORAL PROTECTION
AND BLESSINGS
(GEN
17:14) INDIVIDUALS IN ABRAHAM’S HOUSEHOLD WHO ARE NOT CIRCUMCIZED
AS A SIGN OF THEIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE EVERLASTING ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
ARE CUT OFF FROM ABRAHAM’S HOUSEHOLD, I.E., OSTRACIZED FROM
TEMPORAL BLESSINGS OF THE LORD THROUGH ABRAHAM UNTIL THEY ARE
CIRCUMCIZED. BUT THEY DO NOT LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ETERNAL LIFE
THROUGH THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT WHICH IS BY A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN A
COMING MESSIAH SAVIOR THROUGH THE SEED OF ABRAHAM
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 17 ******
E)
(Acts 7:8b-10) STEPHEN SUCCINCTLY SUMMARIZED THE HISTORY OF ABRAHAM'S
FAMILY: "AND SO ABRAHAM BEGOT ISAAC AND CIRCUMCISED HIM ON THE
EIGHTH DAY; AND ISAAC BEGOT JACOB, AND JACOB BEGOT THE TWELVE
PATRIARCHS;" WHEREUPON HE FOCUSED UPON JOSEPH, SON OF JACOB AND ONE
OF THE PATRIARCHS: "AND THE PATRIARCHS, [HAVING BECOME] ENVIOUS,
SOLD JOSEPH INTO EGYPT. BUT GOD WAS WITH HIM AND DELIVERED HIM OUT OF
ALL HIS TROUBLES, AND GAVE HIM FAVOR AND WISDOM IN THE PRESENCE OF
PHARAOH, KING OF EGYPT; AND HE MADE HIM GOVERNOR OVER EGYPT AND ALL HIS
HOUSE."
F)
(Acts 7:8b-10 cont.) ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF JOSEPH IN EGYPT
G)
(Acts 7:11-14) STEPHEN CONTINUED HIS TESTIMONY TO THE SANHEDRIN RULERS,
RECALLING THE FAMINE IN EGYPT AND CANAAN - WHEN THE FATHERS OF ISRAEL -
THE SONS OF JACOB - FOUND NO SUSTENANCE, AND JACOB SENT HIS SONS TO
EGYPT WHERE HE HAD HEARD THERE WAS GRAIN TO PURCHASE. STEPHEN THEN NOTED
THAT THE BROTHERS WOULD THEN BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THEIR BROTHER JOSEPH
A SECOND TIME, AND JOSEPH'S FAMILY WOULD BECOME KNOWN TO THE PHARAOH.
WHEREUPON JOSEPH CALLED FOR HIS FATHER, JACOB, TO COME WITH HIS KINDRED
TO EGYPT, STIPULATING 75 SOULS. STEPHEN DID NOT ERR WHEN HE TESTIFIED TO
THIS NUMBER, AS SOME CONTEND
1)
[Compare Ex 1:1-5 Masoretic Hebrew Text]:
2)
[Compare Ex 1:1-5 Septuagint Greek Text]:
3)
[Compare Gen 46:1-27 Masoretic Hebrew Text]:
4)
[Compare Gen 46:8-27 Septuagint Greek Text]:
H)
(Acts 7:15-16) SO JACOB WENT DOWN TO EGYPT; AND HE DIED, HE AND THE
FATHERS - THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL. AND THE FATHERS WHO ALSO DIED IN
EGYPT, WERE CARRIED BACK TO SHECHEM AND LAID IN THE TOMB THAT ABRAHAM
BOUGHT FOR A SUM OF MONEY FROM THE SONS OF HAMOR, THE FATHER OF SHECHEM;
AND 180 YEARS LATER JACOB REPURCHASED THAT BURIAL SITE FROM
II)
[Acts 7:17-60]:
A)
(Acts 7:17-19) AS THE TIME OF GOD'S PROMISE OF ISRAEL'S 400 YEARS OF
AFFLICTION IN A FOREIGN LAND WAS DRAWING NEAR TO ITS END, THE POPULATION
OF ISRAEL HAD MULTIPLIED TO A GREAT NUMBER. THIS WAS IN THE TIME OF
ANOTHER KING OF EGYPT WHO HAD NOT KNOWN JOSEPH. THIS KING DEALT
TREACHEROUSLY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WITH EVER INCREASING OPPRESSION
AND INFANTICIDE
1)
[Compare Acts 7:6-7]:
2)
[Compare Gen 15:13-14]:
3)
[Compare Ex 1:7-12]:
4)
[Compare Dt 1:10]:
5)
[Compare Gen 15:13-16]:
6)
[Compare Ex 12:37-39]:
7)
[Compare Num 1:45-46]:
8)
Critics Of Scripture's Stipulation Of The Population Of Israel At The
Time Of The Exodus Maintain That The Number Is Unrealistically High. But
The Report Of The Longevity Of People In Ancient Times - Implying Much
More Time For Child Bearing, And The Repeated Prediction Of Israel
Becoming A Great Nation (Implying Great Population) Corroborates What
The Book Of Exodus Stipulated
a)
[Compare Gen 6:1-3]:
b)
[Compare Gen 12:1-2]:
c)
[Compare Gen 17:1-2]:
d)
[Compare Gen 28:13-15]:
e)
SKEPTICS INSIST TOO MANY FOR GOSHEN
f)
ANSWER: ISRAEL DID EXPAND BEYOND GOSHEN
g)
SKEPTICS INSIST TOO MANY TO CROSS THE RED SEA
h)
ANSWER: ISRAELITES CROSSED OVER THE RED SEA AT THE GULF OF AQABA
Video
i)
[Compare Ex 13:1-22]:
[Compare
Ex 14:2-3]:
ii)
[Ex 14:1-31]:
[Compare
Ex 12:17; 13:18]:
[Compare
Isa 19:19]:
[Compare
Ex 19:18]:
[Compare
Ex 24:4]:
i)
SKEPTICS INSIST TOO MANY TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE WILDERNESS OR OCCUPY
CANAAN
j)
ANSWER: THE KINGS' HIGHWAY IS ON A BROAD PLAIN AND CANAAN IS LARGE
ENOUGH - BOTH COULD ACCOMMODATE THE MILLIONS OF ISRAELITES
i)
[Compare Ex 17:1]:
k)
SKEPTICS INSIST TOO MANY TO MANAGE BY ISRAEL'S PLAN OF GOVERNING
l)
ANSWER: ISRAEL WELL ORGANIZED
i)
[Compare Ex 18:21]:
9)
[Compare Ex 1:8-22]:
a)
[Compare Ps 78:12-13]:
B)
(Acts 7:20-29) AT THE TIME OF ISRAEL'S GREAT PERSECUTION IN EGYPT BY A
KING WHO HAD NOT KNOWN JOSEPH, MOSES WAS BORN. HE WAS BROUGHT UP IN HIS
FATHER'S HOUSE FOR THREE MONTHS; AND THEN, FINDING HIM EXPOSED OUT ON
THE NILE BY MOSES' MOTHER'S DESIGN AND THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD; THE
DAUGHTER OF PHAROAH FOUND HIM, TOOK HIM UP AND REARED HIM AS HER SON.
AND MOSES WAS INSTRUCTED IN ALL THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS AND WAS
MIGHTY IN WORDS AND DEEDS. WHEN HE WAS FORTY, IT CAME UPON HIS HEART TO
LOOK AFTER HIS BRETHREN, THE SONS OF ISRAEL. OUT OF VENGEANCE, HE KILLED
AN EGYPTIAN WHO WAS PERSECUTING AN ISRAELITE. MOSES THOUGHT THAT HIS
BRETHREN UNDERSTOOD HIS MOTIVE OF GIVING THEM DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT'S
OPPRESSION, BUT THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT. AND SO THE NEXT DAY, WHEN
MOSES INTERVENED BETWEEN TWO FIGHTING ISRAELITES THEY DENIED THAT HE WAS
APPOINTED RULER OVER THEM, AND CONFRONTED HIM WITH HIS KILLING OF THE
EGYPTIAN AS IF MOSES WOULD KILL THEM TOO. KNOWING THAT HIS MURDEROUS
ACTION WAS SO WELL KNOWN, MOSES FLED EGYPT AND BECAME A DWELLER IN THE
LAND OF MIDIAN, WHERE HE HAD TWO SONS
1)
[Complete Biblical Library Commentary]:
2)
[Compare Ex 2:1-12]:
3)
[Compare Ex 2:11-25]:
C)
(Acts 7:30-36) STEPHEN RECALLED THAT AFTER MOSES HAD SPENT 40 YEARS IN
MIDIAN - IN THE WILDERNESS OF MT. SINAI, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - GOD -
APPEARED TO HIM IN A BURNING BUSH ON THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS NOT CONSUMED
BY THE FIRE. AS MOSES DREW NEAR TO THE BUSH, THE VOICE OF THE LORD CAME
TO HIM SAYING, "I AM THE GOD OF THY FATHERS; THE GOD OF ABRAHAM,
AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB." THIS TERRIFIED MOSES
AND CAUSED HIM TO LOOK AWAY. WHEREUPON STEPHEN RECALLED THAT THE LORD
SAID TO MOSES, "LOOSE THE SANDAL OF THY FEET, FOR THE PLACE IN
WHICH YOU HAVE STOOD IS HOLY GROUND. I HAVE SURELY SEEN THE AFFLICTION
OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT, AND THEIR GROANING I DID HEAR, AND CAME DOWN TO
DELIVER THEM; AND NOW I COME AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT." STEPHEN
COMMENTED, "THIS MOSES, WHOM THEY [THE ISRAELITES] REJECTED WHEN
THEY SAID, 'WHO APPOINTED YOU RULER AND JUDGE' THIS ONE GOD SENT AS A
RULER AND A REDEEMER BY MEANS OF THE ANGEL WHO APPEARED TO HIM IN THE
BUSH. THIS ONE LED THEM OUT, HAVING DONE WONDERS AND SIGNS IN THE LAND
OF EGYPT, AND IN THE RED SEA AND IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY YEARS" =
1)
[Compare Acts 6:8-14]:
2)
[Compare Ex 3:1-22 with Stephen's account in Acts chapter 7:30-35]:
a)
[Gen 2:1-4]:
b)
[Compare Gen 50:24]:
c)
[Compare Gen 15:13]:
d)
[Compare Ex 5:22-23]:
e)
[Compare Ex 2:11-14]:
3)
[Compare Ex 4:1-31]:
a)
[1 Kgs 17:17-24]:
b)
[Complete Biblical Library Commentary]:
c)
[Ref 1 Chr 23:12-13]:
d)
[Ref Ex 4:20]:
e)
[Ref. Ex 18:1-6]:
4)
[Compare Ex 5:1-23]:
a)
[Compare Ex 1:9-11]:
5)
[Compare Ex 6:1-30]:
a)
[Compare God's previous discussion with Moses on "Yahweh" His
Personal Name: Ex 3:13-15]:
i)
[Gen 2:1-4]:
b)
[Review Ex 6:10-13]:
6)
[Ex 7:1-25]:
a)
[Compare Ex 12:37-38]:
b)
[Summary Statement Of The Plagues]
7)
[Ex 8:1-32]:
8)
[Ex 9:1-35]:
a)
All The Livestock Of Egypt Were Not Destroyed Twice Over As Some Contend
- Only The Livestock Left In The Open Field. Those In Shelter Survived
9)
[Ex 10:1-29]:
a)
[Compare Gen 6:5]:
10)
[Ex 11:1-10]:
a)
[Compare Ex 3:21-22]:
b)
[Cf. Ex 10:28-29]:
c)
[Compare Ex 10:1-2]:
i)
[Compare Gen 6:5]:
11)
[Ex 12:1-51]:
a)
[Compare Ex 12:11; 14; 24-27]:
b)
[Compare Gen 22:6-18]:
c)
[Ref. Ex 12:1a, 3a]:
d)
[Ref. Ex 12:12-13]:
e)
[Compare Gal 3:16-17]:
12)
[Compare Ex 13:1-22; 14:1-31]:
a)
Moses Through The Work Of The LORD Did Wonders And Signs As The
Israelites Moved Across The Red Sea
13)
[Compare Ex 13:17-22; 15:22-27; 16:1-36; 17:1-16; Ex 19:1-40:38; Nu
10:11-25:18
a)
Moses Through The Work Of God Did Wonders And Signs As The Israelites
Moved Through The Wilderness For Forty Years
i)
[Ex 13:17-22]:
ii)
[Ex 15:22-27]:
[Compare
Nu 33:8 Septuagint]:
[Compare
Nu 33:8 Masoretic]:
[Compare
Nu 33:8]:
iii)
[Ex 16:1-36]:
[Compare
Ps 78:1-25]:
iv)
[Ex 17:1-16]:
[Compare
Nu 20:1-12]:
v)
[Ex 19:1-40:38]:
[Compare
Ex 19:1]:
[Compare
Nu 10:11-13]:
vi)
[Nu 10:11-25:18]:
D)
(Acts 7:37-41) STEPHEN EMPHATICALLY DECLARED WHAT MOSES HAD SAID ABOUT A
PROPHET TO COME: "THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET
LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN. HIM YOU SHALL HEAR." STEPHEN HAD AND
SHORTLY WOULD AGAIN ATTEST THAT THIS PROPHET TO COME WAS JESUS CHRIST,
WHOM THE JEWS OF STEPHEN'S TIME STEPHEN DECLARED BETRAYED AND MURDERED.
WHEREUPON STEPHEN BEGAN TO EMPHASIZE THE JEWS' FATHERS' PERSISTENT
REBELLION BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST GENERATION OF JEWS COMING OUT OF
EGYPT: STEPHEN STATED THAT MOSES AND THE FATHERS RECEIVED THE LIVING
ORACLE - THE LAW - AT MT SINAI FROM THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - THE LORD
WHOM THE FATHERS WOULD NOT OBEY. THEY REJECTED BOTH MOSES AND THE LORD
THROUGHOUT THEIR SOJOURN IN THE WILDERNESS. AT THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY,
STEPHEN REMINDED HIS JEWISH ACCUSERS THAT THE FATHERS IN THEIR HEARTS
TURNED BACK TO EGYPT WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR THEM TO GO INTO AND CONQUER
THE PROMISED LAND. APPROXIMATELY 40 YEARS EARLIER, DURING MOSES' FIRST
VISIT WITH THE LORD ON MT SINAI TO RECEIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, STEPHEN
TESTIFIED THAT THE FATHERS WOULDN'T WAIT FOR MOSES TO RETURN. INSTEAD
THEY DEMANDED THAT AARON MAKE THEM GODS TO GO BEFORE THEM, INTENDING TO
LEAVE MOSES AND THE LORD BEHIND. THOSE FATHERS MADE A GOLDEN CALF AND
WANTONLY SACRIFICED TO IT
1)
[Compare Dt 1:1-3; 18:15-19]:
a)
[Compare Dt 34:9-12]:
b)
[Compare Jn 1:21]:
c)
[Compare Acts 3:11-26]:
d)
[Compare Jn 5:45-47]:
e)
[Compare Heb 1:1-6]:
2)
[Compare Ps 95:8-11]:
a)
[Compare Nu 13:1-3, 30-14:45]:
i)
[Compare Dt 4:32-37]:
b)
[Compare Ex Chapters 20-23; 24:1-18; 32:1-35]:
i)
[Compare Lev 1:1-4]:
ii)
[Compare Dt 9:10 NKJV]:
iii)
[Ex 20:3-6]:
iv)
[Compare Ex 30:12]:
v)
[Compare Ex 23:20-21]:
........................................................................................................................
(Acts 7:38-41).
E)
(Acts 7:42-53) HAVING PRESENTED TO THE JEWISH RULERS OF HIS TIME THE
SCRIPTURAL FACTS OF THE PERSISTENT APOSTASY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY, STEPHEN DECLARED THAT AS A RESULT OF THEIR
APOSTASY GOD HAD TURNED AWAY FROM HIS PEOPLE AND DELIVERED THEM UP TO
THEIR WORSHIP OF FALSE GODS, AND THEN UNTO CAPTIVITY BEYOND BABYLON.
DESPITE GOD'S PROVISION OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE ACCOMPANYING
ORDINANCES FOR WORSHIP AND FOR LIVING DAY TO DAY ACCORDING TO THEIR
COVENANT WITH THEIR GOD; DESPITE THE LORD'S MANIFESTING HIS PRESENCE IN
THE TABERNACLE EXEMPLIFYING HIS HOLINESS TO THEM; DESPITE BRINGING HIS
CHILDREN INTO POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED LAND VIA THE LEADERSHIP FROM
JOSHUA THROUGH DAVID; AND DESPITE THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE THROUGH
SOLOMON; THE PEOPLE - ESPECIALLY THE RULERS - CONTINUED THEIR APOSTASY.
THEY INSISTED ON LIMITING GOD TO THE TEMPLE AND TO THEIR OWN SELF
AGRANDIZING, UNGODLY VIEW OF THE LAW. THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
MOST HIGH IS NOT LIMITED TO DWELLING IN A MAN MADE TEMPLE. STEPHEN
DECLARED THAT THE JEWISH RULERS OF HIS DAY WERE STIFFNECKED, WITH
UNCIRCUMCISED HEARTS AND EARS, (LIKE THE GENTILES), WHO RESISTED THE
HOLY SPIRIT AS THEIR FATHERS DID. STEPHEN ADDED THAT IT WAS THE FATHERS
WHO KILLED THE PROPHETS; WHICH PROPHETS FORETOLD OF THE COMING OF THE
JUST ONE, JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THE RULERS OF STEPHEN'S DAY BETRAYED AND
MURDERED. THOSE FATHERS WERE THE ONES WHO RECEIVED THE LAW AS ORDAINED
BY ANGELS AND YET DID NOT KEEP IT, NOR DID THE JEWS OF STEPHEN'S DAY
1)
[Compare Amos 5:25-27]:
2)
[Compare Amos 5:25-27 LXX]:
3)
[Compare Jos 13:1]:
4)
[Compare Ps 132:1-5]:
5)
[2 Sam 7:4-16]:
6)
[Compare Isa 66:1-2]:
a)
[Compare 1 Kings 8:27-29]:
b)
[Compare Isa 57:15]:
7)
[Compare Neh 9:1-31 with Stephen's historical account of Israel and the
role of the Holy Spirit]:
8)
[Compare Isa 63:7-19 with Stephen's historical account of Israel and the
role of the Holy Spirit]:
9)
[Dt 33:1-3 Septuagint compared with YLT]:
F)
(Acts 7:54-60) THE RULERS, AFTER HEARING ALL THAT STEPHEN HAD TO SAY -
AN ACCURATE LESSON OF THEIR HISTORY FRAUGHT WITH REBELLION AND APOSTASY
- THEY WERE CUT TO THEIR HEARTS AND GNASHING THEIR TEETH AT HIM. BUT
STEPHEN BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVING LOOKED STEADFASTLY TO
HEAVEN SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF
GOD, AND STEPHEN SAID, "LO, I SEE THE HEAVENS HAVING BEEN OPENED,
AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD." THE RULERS
CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, STOPPED THEIR EARS, AND RUSHED UPON STEPHEN
ALL AT ONCE. THEY CAST HIM OUT OF THE CITY, TOOK OFF THEIR OUTER
GARMENTS, LAID THEM AT THE FEET OF A YOUNG MAN CALLED SAUL, AND BEGAN
STONING HIM TO DEATH. STEPHEN CALLED OUT, "LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY
SPIRIT;" THEN HE KNELT DOWN AND CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, "LORD,
DO NOT CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN." WHEREUPON HE FELL ASLEEP, IN THE
SENSE OF DIED.
1)
[Compare Lk 22:66-71 and Mt 26:59-66]:
2)
[Compare Dan 7:13]:
3)
[Ref. Acts 8:1]:
