_Then said the high priest, Are these things so?_ THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS QUESTION This functionary was probably Theophilus, son-in-law of Caiaphas. The ex-officio president of the council called for the defence against the charge of blasphemy (Acts 6:13). The question, equivalent to guilty or not... [ Continue Reading ]
_When his father was dead He removed him into this land._ THE DIFFICULTY AS TO THE DATE OF ABRAHAM’S MIGRATION Terah died at Haran at the age of two hundred and five (Genesis 11:32.). From Genesis 11:26 it has been inferred that Terah was not more than seventy at the birth of Abraham; and as Abraha... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him._ THE PATRIARCHS AND THEIR YOUNGER BROTHER This picture of patriarchal life is not a flattering one, and was “written for our learning.” Jacob, by no means a model son, was not a model parent, and was blind to the e... [ Continue Reading ]
_But when the time of the promise drew nigh._ THE FIDELITY OF GOD TO HIS PROMISES What a faithful God! He does not forget His promise, but fulfils it even long after the death of the man. Mark this, thou disheartened teacher: thou mayest not see the use of this thy work, and thou mayest in the mea... [ Continue Reading ]
_In which time Moses was born._ MOSES, A MAN OF GOD AND A MAN OF THE PEOPLE I. From the people, according to flesh and blood. II. Above the people, according to spirit and character. III. For the people, in word and in deed. IV. Against the people, where the law of God was concerned. (_K. Gerok... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren._ THE PATRIOTISM OF MOSES I. Long nursed--“forty years.” 1. Inspired by his mother. The precious time during which he was entrusted by the princess to the care of his nurse, Jochebed, would, we may be sure, be wel... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when the forty years were expired there appeared to him an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush._ THE BURNING BUSH A sign and a type-- I. Of Israel. As in Egypt, it resembled a degenerate and wild thorn hedge, burning, but not consumed, in the glow of the brick-kiln, and in the hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is that Moses which said … a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me._ MOSES, A TYPE OF CHRIST How emphatic is the expression! “This is that Moses!” You have a similar expression where the object was to set a special mark on a guilty individual. “This... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is he … who received the lively oracles to give unto us._ LIVING ORACLE Whatever sense “lively” (A.V.) may once have had, it can only now mislead: it is limited to certain special characteristics of life; “living” (R.V.) implies life in itself, life as a principle, life with all its manifold... [ Continue Reading ]
_To whom our fathers would not obey._ THE SIN OF ISRAEL I. Its manifold nature. 1. Disobedience (Acts 7:39). There is hardly a phase of Jewish history in which this sin does not appear. It was manifested in the murmurings against Moses, in the wholesale transgression of the law, and in the reject... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Solomon built Him an house._ THE TEMPLES OF GOD Scripture divides the Divine dispensations into the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian. We read of three creations, or three classes of heaven and earth. The first is physical creation: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the ea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears._ STEPHEN’S CHANGE OF TONE I. Justified. 1. This was not the first Christian sermon that the Jews or the Sanhedrin had heard. Otherwise, possibly, such vehement and unsparing denunciations had been out of place. They had already heard of Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they heard these things they were cut to the heart._ THE PROCEDURE AGAINST STEPHEN I. The narrative. Full of faith and power, he did great wonders and miracles among the people. He is, therefore, singled out for special attack, not in relation to the reality of his miraculous pretensions, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_He being full of the Holy Ghost._ THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE PROTO-MARTYR Note how explicitly the character, attainments, and triumph of Stephen are ascribed to the Holy Spirit. In the first notice of him he is called “a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost.” So here in his death. Bearing this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they cried with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him._ THE FIRST GOSPEL MARTYR I. The matter for which he died. II. The Divine assistance which he experienced. III. The composure with which he passed away. (_J. A. Krummacher, D. D._) THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR I. The ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul._ STEPHEN AND SAUL I. Stephen. The picture of a dying saint. 1. He enjoys the Divine presence and power (Acts 7:55), “Full of the Holy Ghost.” The power of God was present when His faithful servant was passing t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they stoned Stephen._ THE CLEARING SHOWER OF LIFE When mists have hung low over the hills, and the day has been dark with intermittent showers, great clouds hurry across the sky, and the rain comes pouring down, then we look out and say, “This is the clearing-up shower.” And as the clouds par... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice._ THE BEST TESTAMENT OF A CHRISTIAN To commend-- 1. His soul to heaven. 2. His body to the earth. 3. His friends to the Divine protection. 4. His enemies to the Divine compassion. (_Starke._) THE POWER OF CHRIST IN BELIEVERS I. He strengthens... [ Continue Reading ]