Jun 26, 2017
Stephen recounts the building of the “tent of witness” or the tabernacle. This tent was brought by Joshua into the land promised to Abraham. David wanted to establish a dwelling place for God, but it would be Solomon who oversaw the erection of the temple in Jerusalem. However, Stephen points out, God does not dwell...
Jun 26, 2017
Stephen continues his summary of the history of Israel with Moses’ killing of an Egyptian and his subsequent flight to Midian, where he is married and has two sons. After another 40 years, Moses meets God in the burning bush and is commissioned to lead God’s people out of Israel. Moses, a type of Christ, is rejected...
Jun 26, 2017
Once accused and charged, Stephen has the opportunity to defend himself, and this he does beginning with an inclusion and polite, “Brothers and fathers, hear me.” He then summarizes the history of the nation of Israel beginning with Abraham, his calling, the selling of Joseph into slavery in Egypt, his rise to a...
Jun 26, 2017
The deacon Stephen was a powerful preacher and was doing signs and wonders among the people as well. This attracted the attention of the Hellenized Jews attending synagogues in Jerusalem where Stephen must have been attending. Using false witnesses they accused Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against “Moses...
Jun 9, 2017
The church of that period, and the passage of time is unknown, maybe some months after the resurrection, or maybe even a year or two or more, a problem arose involving the distribution of food. That Church had a mixture of Hebrews, mostly from Judea, and Greek speakers, or Hellenists, from other parts of the Roman...