Then the high priest said, " Are these things so? " 1. The charge was made in Acts 6:14. "Jesus said He would destroy the Temple and change the customs which Moses delivered to us." 1. The "temple" Jesus spoke about was His body. It was a statement that He would be killed. (John 2:19) 2. Change t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, " BRETHREN AND FATHERS, LISTEN: THE GOD OF GLORY APPEARED TO OUR FATHER ABRAHAM WHEN HE WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA, BEFORE HE DWELT IN HARAN, 1. In his response Stephen begins with: 1. Regard for the council and the people listening - Brethren and fathers 2. Requesting attention - listen 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID TO HIM, _‘GET OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME TO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU._ ' 1. Genesis 12:1 is quoted here. 2. How would you have responded to such a request? Where am I going? How long will I be gone? Will it be warm or cold? 3. This command was not for a shor... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE CAME OUT OF THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS AND DWELT IN HARAN. AND FROM THERE, WHEN HIS FATHER WAS DEAD, HE MOVED HIM TO THIS LAND IN WHICH YOU NOW DWELL. 1. Haran was a "half-way" place. Abraham stayed in Haran for 25 years. 2. Abraham was 75 when he left for Haran. (Genesis 12:4) 3. Haran is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND _GOD_ GAVE HIM NO INHERITANCE IN IT, NOT EVEN _ENOUGH_ TO SET HIS FOOT ON. BUT EVEN WHEN _ABRAHAM_ HAD NO CHILD, HE PROMISED TO GIVE IT TO HIM FOR A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM. 1. Abraham wandered most of his life. He had no permanent possession. The only land he ever owned wa... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD SPOKE IN THIS WAY: THAT HIS DESCENDANTS WOULD DWELL IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BRING THEM INTO BONDAGE AND OPPRESS _THEM_ FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. 1. God chose His words carefully. The descendants of Abraham would dwell on other people's land for 400 years. It would be a long time be... [ Continue Reading ]
7'_ 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. Egypt welcomed them, then felt intimidated, and finally put them in bondage. 2. God will judge all nations (good and bad). God will judge all peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE GAVE HIM THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION; AND SO _ABRAHAM_ BEGOT ISAAC AND CIRCUMCISED HIM ON THE EIGHTH DAY; AND ISAAC _BEGOT_ JACOB, AND JACOB _BEGOT_ THE TWELVE PATRIARCHS. 1. After the promise came the covenant. A covenant is an agreement between a higher power (God) and a lesser power (ma... [ Continue Reading ]
" AND THE PATRIARCHS, BECOMING ENVIOUS, SOLD JOSEPH INTO EGYPT. BUT GOD WAS WITH HIM 1. Patriarch describes the system of worship from Adam to Moses. The patriarch (father) of each family was the spiritual leader. In general, this word is a reference to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These three represe... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 1. A study of the "khsed" of God is important. God is our "big brother", our "bodyguard", our "protector." The Hebrew word "khse... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW A FAMINE AND GREAT TROUBLE CAME OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT AND CANAAN, AND OUR FATHERS FOUND NO SUSTENANCE. 1. And then came a famine. Not only in Egypt but over Canaan as well. Nothing was growing. 2. We become alarmed when there is no rain for 20 or 30 days. In the life of Elijah it did not... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN JACOB HEARD THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT, HE SENT OUT OUR FATHERS FIRST. 1. News spread rapidly that there was grain available in Egypt. 2. Jacob's sons went to Egypt and bought sacks of grain.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SECOND _TIME_ JOSEPH WAS MADE KNOWN TO HIS BROTHERS, AND JOSEPH ' S FAMILY BECAME KNOWN TO THE PHARAOH. 1. Finally, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. 2. He explained his presence in Egypt. God sent Joseph ahead to preserve your lives.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JOSEPH SENT AND CALLED HIS FATHER JACOB AND ALL HIS RELATIVES TO _HIM,_ SEVENTY-FIVE PEOPLE. 1. All the family of Jacob - sons and a daughter, their spouses, all their children, and all the relatives. 2. The number is a problem. Here it says 75 people. 1. Genesis 46:26-34 souls came with Jac... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JACOB WENT DOWN TO EGYPT; AND HE DIED, HE AND OUR FATHERS. 1. Jacob died in Egypt. 2. So did all the sons of Jacob.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY 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. 1. Jacob was carried out of Egypt and buried in the cave at Macpelah, the family burial place of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. 2. Joseph and his brothers... [ Continue Reading ]
" BUT WHEN THE TIME OF THE PROMISE DREW NEAR WHICH GOD HAD SWORN TO ABRAHAM, THE PEOPLE GREW AND MULTIPLIED IN EGYPT 1. The small group of 70 or so that entered Egypt - grew rapidly. In fact, their sheer numbers became a threat to the rulers of Egypt. 2. The time of the promise means when God saw... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL ANOTHER KING AROSE WHO DID NOT KNOW JOSEPH. 1. Memories fade rapidly. The heroics of Joseph in saving the nation of Egypt from starvation are now just a paragraph in a history book. 2. His family is no longer esteemed and respected. Rather this family that was 70 is now perhaps 2 to 3 million... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN DEALT TREACHEROUSLY WITH OUR PEOPLE, AND OPPRESSED OUR FOREFATHERS, MAKING THEM EXPOSE THEIR BABIES, SO THAT THEY MIGHT NOT LIVE. 1. A new king does not see the Israelites as a wonderful savior of a previous generation. 2. He only sees a huge group that could actually outnumber the Egypti... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THIS TIME MOSES WAS BORN, AND WAS WELL PLEASING TO GOD; AND HE WAS BROUGHT UP IN HIS FATHER ' S HOUSE FOR THREE MONTHS. 1. How ironic that while the king was killing all Hebrew males born, he was feeding and protecting the very one that was to lead the children of Israel to freedom. 2. Moses li... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN HE WAS SET OUT, PHARAOH ' S DAUGHTER TOOK HIM AWAY AND BROUGHT HIM UP AS HER OWN SON. 1. The daughter of Pharaoh found him and "adopted" him to be raised as her son. 2. Personal note - We have a son we adopted as an infant. We often told him the story of Moses being adopted by Pharaoh's d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES WAS LEARNED IN ALL THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS, AND WAS MIGHTY IN WORDS AND DEEDS. 1. For 40 years, Moses grew up, trained, taught, and groomed in the palace. He had the education that no other Hebrew had. 2. All the wisdom, knowledge and philosophy of Egypt was available to Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
" NOW WHEN HE WAS FORTY YEARS OLD, IT CAME INTO HIS HEART TO VISIT HIS BRETHREN, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 1. He went to visit his brethren. Here we have an interesting word. 1. To visit does not mean, as we use the word today, to go to a home and pass the time with conversation. It means to see for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SEEING ONE OF _THEM_ SUFFER WRONG, HE DEFENDED AND AVENGED HIM WHO WAS OPPRESSED, AND STRUCK DOWN THE EGYPTIAN. 1. He witnessed the abuse that others were suffering under bondage. 2. Moses struck the Egyptian. At this time all who witnessed it were happy. An oppressor had died.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SUPPOSED THAT HIS BRETHREN WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD WOULD DELIVER THEM BY HIS HAND, BUT THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND. 1. He thought they would understand. God was preparing him to deliver them from bondage.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE NEXT DAY HE APPEARED TO TWO OF THEM AS THEY WERE FIGHTING, AND _TRIED TO_ RECONCILE THEM, SAYING, ‘MEN, YOU ARE BRETHREN; WHY DO YOU WRONG ONE ANOTHER? ' 1. Now the fight is between two Hebrew men. Moses tries to break up the fight. 2. Why are you doing wrong to each other? It is bad enoug... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WHO DID HIS NEIGHBOR WRONG PUSHED HIM AWAY, SAYING, _‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE OVER US?_ 1. Our natural response to those who step in - Who died and made you boss? 2. Are you our king? Are you the judge and jury?... [ Continue Reading ]
28_ DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME AS YOU DID THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY?_ ' 1. Now the news was out. Yesterday you killed an Egyptian. Are you going to kill me today? 2. Moses knew that his stay in Egypt was over.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN, AT THIS SAYING, MOSES FLED AND BECAME A DWELLER IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, WHERE HE HAD TWO SONS. 1. Moses spent 40 years in the house of Pharaoh. 2. He spent the next 40 years trying to find water in a desert for a herd of sheep. 3. In the land of Midian, he married and had two sons.... [ Continue Reading ]
" AND WHEN FORTY YEARS HAD PASSED, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE IN A BUSH, IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT SINAI. 1. Think about the life of Moses. 1. 40 years in Pharaoh's house - trained to be the next king of Egypt. He needed this knowledge to know how to approach the king... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MOSES SAW _IT,_ HE MARVELED AT THE SIGHT; AND AS HE DREW NEAR TO OBSERVE, THE VOICE OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM, 1. We must not forget that the "burning bush" was burning with flames, but it was not being consumed in the fire. 2. It was not the fire, but the fact that it did not burn up that got... [ Continue Reading ]
32_ SAYING,_ _‘I_ _AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS-THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB._ ' AND MOSES TREMBLED AND DARED NOT LOOK. 1. God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Surely every Hebrew child knew about these great patriarchs. 2. Moses was terrified... [ Continue Reading ]
33_‘THEN THE LORD SAID TO HIM, _ "_ TAKE YOUR SANDALS OFF YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE WHERE YOU STAND IS HOLY GROUND._ 1. When we come into the presence of God - we are on holy ground. While I am not convinced that we must take our shoes off, we must be aware of where we are and Who is present with us... [ Continue Reading ]
34_ I HAVE SURELY_ _SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN EGYPT; I HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANING AND HAVE COME DOWN TO DELIVER THEM. AND NOW COME, I WILL_ _SEND YOU TO EGYPT._ "'__ 1. God is aware of our pain, oppression, depression, hurts, distress and suffering. 2. God has heard our cry for he... [ Continue Reading ]
" THIS MOSES WHOM THEY REJECTED, SAYING, _‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?_ ' IS THE ONE GOD SENT _TO BE_ A RULER AND A DELIVERER BY THE HAND OF THE ANGEL WHO APPEARED TO HIM IN THE BUSH. 1. The very one the had rejected and sent away as a fugitive, was the very one God appointed to be the delive... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BROUGHT THEM OUT, AFTER HE HAD SHOWN WONDERS AND SIGNS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND IN THE RED SEA, AND IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY YEARS. 1. After the plagues in Egypt, God was able to lead the children of Israel out of bondage. 2. He was able to lead them through the wilderness, to Mount Sinai, and... [ Continue Reading ]
" THIS IS THAT MOSES WHO SAID TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, _‘THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN._ _HIM_ _YOU SHALL HEAR._ '__ 1. Stephen now quotes from Deuteronomy 18:15; Deuteronomy 18:1-22. 2. This passage is quoted and explained in Acts 3:22. 3. Moses w... [ Continue Reading ]
" THIS IS HE WHO WAS IN THE CONGREGATION IN THE WILDERNESS WITH THE ANGEL WHO SPOKE TO HIM ON MOUNT SINAI, AND _WITH_ OUR FATHERS, THE ONE WHO RECEIVED THE LIVING ORACLES TO GIVE TO US, 1. The KJV uses the word "church" here. Church means the called assembly. 2. Moses, in Exodus, clearly says that... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM OUR FATHERS WOULD NOT OBEY, BUT REJECTED. AND IN THEIR HEARTS THEY TURNED BACK TO EGYPT, 1. The nation of Israel did not keep the Law of Moses. 2. They turned their hearts back to Egypt. Not that they wanted to be slaves again. They remembered the idols of Egypt. They turned their back on Jeh... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING TO AARON, _‘MAKE US GODS TO GO BEFORE US;_ _AS FOR THIS MOSES WHO BROUGHT US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BECOME OF HIM._ ' 1. The desire for idols was learned in Egypt. It was not forgotten at Sinai. 2. Here was their thinking: 1. Moses led us out here into the wilder... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY MADE A CALF IN THOSE DAYS, OFFERED SACRIFICES TO THE IDOL, AND REJOICED IN THE WORKS OF THEIR OWN HANDS. 1. It is an interesting thought process. 1. They design an idol figurine. 2. They gather the material and make it with their own hands. 3. Then they bow before it and say, "You creat... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN GOD TURNED AND GAVE THEM UP TO WORSHIP THE HOST OF HEAVEN, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE PROPHETS: _‘DID YOU OFFER ME SLAUGHTERED ANIMALS AND SACRIFICES_ _DURING FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?_ 1. Often the best way to teach someone is to allow them to learn from their... [ Continue Reading ]
_YOU ALSO TOOK UP THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH, AND THE STAR OF YOUR GOD REMPHAN, IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP; AND_ _I WILL CARRY YOU AWAY BEYOND BABYLON._ '__ 1. Moloch - A king god of the Ammonites. Solomon built a temple to Moloch on the Mount of Olives. 1. One of the requirements in the worsh... [ Continue Reading ]
" OUR FATHERS HAD THE TABERNACLE OF WITNESS IN THE WILDERNESS, AS HE APPOINTED, INSTRUCTING MOSES TO MAKE IT ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN THAT HE HAD SEEN, 1. In the wilderness the tabernacle was built. 1. God was specific as to the dimensions, materials, method of construction, and how it was to carr... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH OUR FATHERS, HAVING RECEIVED IT IN TURN, ALSO BROUGHT WITH JOSHUA INTO THE LAND POSSESSED BY THE GENTILES, WHOM GOD DROVE OUT BEFORE THE FACE OF OUR FATHERS UNTIL THE DAYS OF DAVID, 1. The KJV says Jesus. Joshua is the Hebrew word for savior. Jesus is the Greek word for savior. There are pass... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO FOUND FAVOR BEFORE GOD AND ASKED TO FIND A DWELLING FOR THE GOD OF JACOB. 1. The reference to the days of David goes back to the original topic, the tabernacle. David desired to build a permanent structure to house the Ark of the Covenant. God said that David's son, Solomon, would build the tem... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOLOMON BUILT HIM A HOUSE. 1. As God promised David, his son would build God's house. 2. 480 years after the children of Israel left Egypt, the Temple was built. (1 Kings 6:1)... [ Continue Reading ]
" HOWEVER, THE MOST HIGH DOES NOT DWELL IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS, AS THE PROPHET SAYS: 1. The charge against Stephen was his supposed contempt for the Temple. He has now shown that The Temple was built by the command of God. That it followed the pattern that God had established and that God accep... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘HEAVEN_ _IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH_ _IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHAT HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME? SAYS THE LORD, OR WHAT_ _IS THE PLACE OF MY REST?_ 1. The quote from Isaiah 66:1-2 makes it clear that Heaven and Earth are God's domain. He is not limited to a building in Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
_HAS MY HAND NOT_ _MADE ALL THESE THINGS?_ '__ 1. God can dwell in any place of His creation. 2. God made all things. He can dwell anywhere, everywhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
51 "_ YOU_ STIFF-NECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EARS! YOU ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT; AS YOUR FATHERS _DID,_ SO _DO_ YOU. 1. Stephen now becomes bold. He responds with a charge against those who are accusing him. 2. STIFF-NECKED - Have you ever had a stiff neck? The term was used of peop... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH OF THE PROPHETS DID YOUR FATHERS NOT PERSECUTE? AND THEY KILLED THOSE WHO FORETOLD THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE, OF WHOM YOU NOW HAVE BECOME THE BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS, 1. Name a prophet and your forefathers persecuted, resisted, rejected, killed, and despised. 2. When a prophet told the nati... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE LAW BY THE DIRECTION OF ANGELS AND HAVE NOT KEPT _IT._ " 1. The message of a prophet was not just the word of some man. It was received from God. His angels were involved in delivering the message. 2. Even knowing the source of the information, Israel did not keep the command... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART, AND THEY GNASHED AT HIM WITH _THEIR_ TEETH. 1. In Acts 2:37 they were "cut to the heart" and sought how to be forgiven of their sins. 2. Here they were "cut to the heart" and sought to kill Stephen. The same message, different results. The s... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE, BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GAZED INTO HEAVEN AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 1. The audience had resisted the Holy Spirit. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. 2. As they looked for rocks to kill him, he was looking to heaven, the presence of Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, " LOOK! I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD! " 1. Stephen told everyone what he saw. 2. The heavens opened and the Son of Man (Jesus, the Messiah) present. 3. Jesus is standing (not sitting) at the right hand of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, STOPPED THEIR EARS, AND RAN AT HIM WITH ONE ACCORD; 1. This was more than they could stand to hear. 2. They shouted with a loud voice to drown out his speech. 3. They stopped their ears so they would not hear any more from him. 4. They ran at him as a mob.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAST _HIM_ OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED _HIM._ AND THE WITNESSES LAID DOWN THEIR CLOTHES AT THE FEET OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED SAUL. 1. The judgment could take place in the city, but the execution must take place "without the camp." (Leviticus 24:14) 2. The witnesses - Those who brought the char... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY STONED STEPHEN AS HE WAS CALLING ON _GOD_ AND SAYING, " LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT. " 1. As Stephen was praying, they began stoning him. 2. The prayer was addressed to Jesus. 3. He prayed - not for his body, but for the protection of his spirit (soul).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE KNELT DOWN AND CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, " LORD, DO NOT CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN. " AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE FELL ASLEEP. 1. Forgiveness takes three forms 1. Ultimate and complete forgiveness can only come from God. Only God can forgive sins. 2. We can forgive the wrongs of other... [ Continue Reading ]