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| 1 And the chief priest said, 'Are then these things so ' |
Are these things so? – The Sanhedrin, with a show of fairness, permitted Stephen to reply in his own defense. R5858:2
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| 2 and he said, 'Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken: The God of the glory did appear to our father Abraham, being in Mesopotamia, before his dwelling in Haran, |
And he said – A defence of the truth, rather than of himself. R2957:2
His lesson was that, as Moses was at first rejected by Israel, so Jesus, "like unto Moses," was first rejected; but as Moses subsequently became their leader, commander and deliverer, Jesus would become the great deliverer of his people at his second advent. R2957:6
Appeared – Greek, optomai, recognized. God give Abraham instruction in such a manner that he recognized his instruction as the God of Glory. "No man hath seen God at any time." (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12) R141:1
Father Abraham – The name (changed from Abram), signifies father of a multitude. R5169:3
The promises of God made to Abraham constitutes the foundation for all the theology of the New Testament. R5169:3
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| 3 and He said to him, Go forth out of thy land, and out of thy kindred, and come to a land that I shall shew thee. |
Get thee out – God called him out of evil surroundings to be the founder of a new nation that would be holy and obedient to God. R5169:5
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| 4 '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 ye now dwell, |
When his father was dead – Abraham remained in Haran, until his father Terah's death. Then he removed to the land of Canaan. R5169:4, 1980:2
At his death Terah's age was two hundred and five years. Abraham was seventy five years old. (Gen. 11:32) R5177:2, 2855:1, 1595:2
Into this land – The covenant was made just after he entered the land (Gen. 12:5-7), immediately following T B46
The covenant was made as soon as Abraham had fully complied with the conditions on which he was to receive it: that was, as soon as he had entered Canaan. B45; HG44:1
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| 5 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. |
None inheritance – Abraham was a pilgrim and a stranger; a sojourner and not an owner to the day of his death. R2849:4
Although owned by others, it was not fenced but free to the users. The patriarch roamed at will through the land of the Canaanites for nearly two centuries. D427
The only portion that he ever owned was the cave of Machphelah, where he buried his wife Sarah; and that cave did not come as a gift from God, but was purchased for money. NS82:1
In it – In the land. A293
To set his foot on – Abraham never owned a foot, but he died in confident hope. R1373:6, 361:6
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises." (Heb. 11:13) R1617:2, 1562:1, 607:1, 361:6
Yet he promised – The promise made to Abraham was an earthly promise and must be fulfilled in the future. A293; C265; R5203:3, 2849:4, 2230:6, 1617:1, 607:1; OV109:T
Abraham believing that when he should be awakened from death in due time the promise would be verified. (Heb. 11:8-10) R4071:3, 220:2
Abraham must have a resurrection in order for God's Word to come true. R5291:2, 3084:3
This promise was not only the covenant as you see, but it was the covenant confirmed of God in Christ. (Gal. 3:16-17) HG44:1
Give it to him – Abraham is to have a grand portion--the land of Palestine. R3945:3
In the morning of the resurrection. R1652:4, 2849:4, 607:1
Then Abraham will realize the reward of his faith. R1652:4
"God having provided some better thing for us." (Heb. 11:40) R3084:3, 361:6; A293, B246
For a possession – An everlasting possession. (Gen.17:8) C265; R4071:3, 1652:4
To his seed – The likeness of his seed to the stars of heaven and to the sands of the sea were two different figures. The natural seed could not inherit all the great promises. R2854:5, 3945:4
The natural seed of Abraham as its earthly representatives. R2176:2, 220:2
Every student of prophecy watches the events bearing upon the promised land and the covenant people. R2176:2
After him – He implied that Abraham will yet receive that land and afterward leave it to his posterity. R5182:5
The thought would seem to be implied that the Ancient Worthies will pass to the spirit nature. R5182:5
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| 6 'And God spake thus, That his seed shall be sojourning in a strange land, and they shall cause it to serve, and shall do it evil four hundred years, |
Sojourn – This pilgrimage and sojourn as strangers, while waiting for possession of the promised land. R2230:6
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| 7 and the nation whom they shall serve I will judge, said God; and after these things they shall come forth and shall do Me service in this place. |
Judge – Greek, krino, to distinguish, decide, try. (Strong) R2426:4
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| 8 'And He gave to him a covenant of circumcision, and so he begat Isaac, and did circumcise him on the eighth day, and Isaac [begat] Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs; |
Of circumcision – Symbolizing a cutting off, a separation from the flesh, its aims, hopes and desires. R3022:3
Twelve patriarchs – Corresponds to the twelve apostles. B246
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| 9 and the patriarchs, having been moved with jealousy, sold Joseph to Egypt, and God was with him, |
Moved with envy – Their course was not inspired by God, but by their own envy. R1779:4
Jacob probably did not realize to what extent his partiality was cultivating in his other sons a feeling of enmity and envy. R2880:2
No ground here for charging the crime of Joseph's brethren upon the Almighty. R1271:1
Those who can plan murder, with envy, malice and hatred, will not hesitate to support their evil way by fraud, deception, lying. R2880:6
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| 10 and did deliver him out of all his tribulations, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he did set him governor over Egypt and all his house. |
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| 11 'And there came a dearth upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance, |
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| 12 and Jacob having heard that there was corn in Egypt, sent forth our fathers a first time; |
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| 13 and at the second time was Joseph made known to his brethren, and Joseph's kindred became manifest to Pharaoh, |
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| 14 and Joseph having sent, did call for his father Jacob, and all his kindred with seventy and five souls |
Threescore and fifteen souls – Beings, persons. R205:2
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| 15 and Jacob went down to Egypt, and died, himself and our fathers, |
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| 16 and they were carried over into Sychem, and were laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in money from the sons of Emmor, of Sychem. |
In the sepulchre – Israel hoped for a resurrection from the tomb, but not fully realizing God's power, they were particular in caring for the corpses of their dead. R2601:6
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| 17 'And according as the time of the promise was drawing nigh, which God did swear to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, |
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| 18 till another king rose, who had not known Joseph; |
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| 19 this one, having dealt subtilely with our kindred, did evil to our fathers, causing to expose their babes, that they might not live; |
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| 20 in which time Moses was born, and he was fair to God, and he was brought up three months in the house of his father; |
Exceeding fair – Refined, elegant. Josephus says Moses was so beautiful that those who passed him on the street stood still to gaze at him. R2903:5, 3987:6
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| 21 and he having been exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and did rear him to herself for a son; |
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| 22 and Moses was taught in all wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in words and in works. |
Moses was learned – Educated at the University of Heliopolis, where he had access to 20,000 books. R3988:3, 2903:6
He learned arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, medicine and music. R2904:1
His long experience in the Egyptian court gave him insight into the affairs of government. R5418:3
God's providence prepared this suitable person as the prototype of Messiah. R5251:4, 181:5*
In words and in deeds – Tradition says that he was also an able general in the Egyptian army. R5418:3
Having defeated with great slaughter the Ethiopian army which invaded Egypt in his early manhood. R3988:4
A great and powerful genius, an organizing, constructing mind. R3987:2
He invented boats, engines for building, instruments for war, hydraulics, hieroglyphics, division of lands. R2904:1
A lawmaker, organizer, general, historian, poet, orator, and a saint who walked with God. R3987:2
The laws given through him have been the foundation for the laws of all civilized nations. R737:3; A164
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| 23 'And when forty years were fulfilled to him, it came upon his heart to look after his brethren, the sons of Israel; |
Full forty years old – Typifying the 1845 years of the Jewish dispensation. R2909:6, 181:5*
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| 24 and having seen a certain one suffering injustice, he did defend, and did justice to the oppressed, having smitten the Egyptian; |
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| 25 and he was supposing his brethren to understand that God through his hand doth give salvation; and they did not understand. |
They understood not – Typifying that Christ "Came to his own and his own received him not." (John 1:11) R2909:6
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| 26 'On the succeeding day, also, he shewed himself to them as they are striving, and urged them to peace, saying, Men, brethren are ye, wherefore do ye injustice to one another |
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| 27 and he who is doing injustice to the neighbour, did thrust him away, saying, Who set thee a ruler and a judge over us |
Thrust him away – As a type of Christ who was rejected by his brethren. R181:5*
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| 28 to kill me dost thou wish, as thou didst kill yesterday the Egyptian |
As thou didst – Greek, hon tropon; in like manner. R341:1*
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| 29 'And Moses fled at this word, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons, |
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| 30 and forty years having been fulfilled, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai a messenger of the Lord, in a flame of fire of a bush, |
And when forty years – Typifying the 1845 years of the Christian dispensation. R2909:6
In a flame – Moses did not see an angel but a flame. R140:6
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| 31 and Moses having seen did wonder at the sight; and he drawing near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord unto him, |
The sight – Greek, horama. Signifies a vision, not reality. R4142:4*
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| 32 I [am] the God of thy fathers; the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 'And Moses having become terrified, durst not behold, |
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| 33 and the Lord said to him, Loose the sandal of thy feet, for the place in which thou hast stood is holy ground; |
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| 34 seeing I have seen the affliction of My people that [is] in Egypt, and their groaning I did hear, and came down to deliver them; and now come, I will send thee to Egypt. |
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| 35 'This Moses, whom they did refuse, saying, Who did set thee a ruler and a judge this one God a ruler and a redeemer did send, in the hand of a messenger who appeared to him in the bush; |
Ruler and a deliverer – A type of Christ. R181:5*
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| 36 this one did bring them forth, having done wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years; |
Wilderness forty years – (Joshua 14:7,10) It was forty-five yearsver a year from the exodus to the sending of the spies. The first forty years of this period were passed in the wilderness. B48
So because of a lack of faith in our Lord's first advent they were made to wander to gain further experiences during the past nineteen centuries. R3079:3
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| 37 this is the Moses who did say to the sons of Israel: A prophet to you shall the Lord your God raise up out of your brethren, like to me, him shall ye hear. |
Moses – Was merely the type of Jesus the head and the Church his body, the greater Prophet, and the Law Covenant which Moses mediated was a type of the greater Law Covenant of the Millennial age.
Like unto me – But greater than Moses--Christ. HG582:5
As Moses was rejected at his first offering to the Israelites, so the antitype had been rejected, in the person of Jesus. R2957:6
Him shall ye hear. – It could be no disloyalty to Moses now to accept that greater Prophet. R5858:6
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| 38 'This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the messenger who is speaking to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers who did receive the living oracles to give to us; |
Church – Greek, ekklesia, congregation; here applied to fleshly Israel, an exception to general usage. R93:5
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| 39 to whom our fathers did not wish to become obedient, but did thrust away, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, |
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| 40 saying to Aaron, Make to us gods who shall go on before us, for this Moses, who brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, we have not known what hath happened to him. |
Make us gods – Greek, theos, a mighty one, is used to refer to others than the one supreme being. B274
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| 41 'And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands, |
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| 42 and God did turn, and did give them up to do service to the host of the heaven, according as it hath been written in the scroll of the prophets: Slain beasts and sacrifices did ye offer to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel |
Written in the book – In the prophecies and types of the Law. R5078:6
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| 43 and ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan the figures that ye made to bow before them, and I will remove your dwelling beyond Babylon. |
Moloch – We have today in nominal Christendom a Moloch on a much larger scale--a much worse misrepresentation of the only true God. R3464:6, 2360:1
Star of your god – Greek, theos, a mighty one, is used to refer to others than the one supreme being. B274
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| 44 'The tabernacle of the testimony was among our fathers in the wilderness, according as He did direct, who is speaking to Moses, to make it according to the figure that he had seen; |
Tabernacle of witness – We are now in the Tabernacle condition. CR420:3
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| 45 which also our fathers having in succession received, did bring in with Joshua, into the possession of the nations whom God did drive out from the presence of our fathers, till the days of David, |
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| 46 who found favour before God, and requested to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob; |
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| 47 and Solomon built Him an house. |
Built him an house – It was no disrespect to the Tabernacle for them to believe in the Temple that Solomon built. R5858:3
Seems to be a type of the spiritual Temple. R180:6*
The pictures presented in the Tabernacle belong to the present time; those of the Temple to the future. CR420:3
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| 48 'But the Most High in sanctuaries made with hands doth not dwell, according as the prophet saith: |
Not...made with hands – Showing the difference between the material Temple and the glorious Temple which God was about to build. R1432:5
God had now provided that a still higher Temple should take the place of the building made with hands, the spiritual one, to be composed of the people of God. R5858:3
"Ye are the temple of the living God." (2 Cor. 6:16) "How amiable are thy tabe R1401:6
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| 49 The heaven [is] My throne, and the earth My footstool; what house will ye build to Me saith the Lord, or what [is] the place of My rest |
Is my footstool – "I will make the place of my feet glorious." (Isa. 60:13) "His feet shall stand in D647
Place of my rest – Residence. R286:1
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| 50 hath not My hand made all these things |
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| 51 'Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears! ye do always the Holy Spirit resist; as your fathers also ye; |
Ye stiffnecked – A figure drawn from the stiffness of neck of an unruly yoke of bullocks-- unmanageable, self-willed. R3464:1
Apparently some manifestation of impatience on the part of the Court caused Stephen to hasten to his conclusions abruptly. R2958:1
Verses 51-53 were probably spoken above the clamor of many excited and angry voices. R1432:5
Ye do always resist – Generally the people resisted what of the holy Spirit they came in contact with, as the majority do today. R2070:3
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| 52 which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute and they killed those who declared before about the coming of the Righteous One, of whom now ye betrayers and murderers have become, |
Your fathers persecuted – The shameful handling of those worthy servants of the Lord. (Mark 12:3-5) R1796:1
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| 53 who received the law by arrangement of messengers, and did not keep [it].' |
Disposition of angels – Through the agency of God's messengers. R1432:5
Under the old covenant, Moses received the law from God through angels. In this dispensation Christ controls the angels, they are ministering spirits. R61:1*
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| 54 And hearing these things, they were cut to the hearts, and did gnash the teeth at him; |
Cut to the heart – With the lance of truth, or words of truth. SM440:1; R4329:1, 2502:6, 2109:2
Not in a penitent sense, but with a realization that their cause was coming out second best. R5858:4
Not like those who were "pricked in their heart," ( Acts 2:37). Much will depend upon whn a wicked condition of heart. R2958:2, 2109:2
They gnashed on him – Were angry, vexed, chagrined. "There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 13:49-50) R920:4
Chagrin, disappointment, savage animosity. R4329:1, 920:4; Q732:2; NS317:3
With a wicked condition of heart; the words of Stephen were to them stings, rebukes, arousing their hatred to a pitch of frenzy. R2958:2
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| 55 and being full of the Holy Spirit, having looked stedfastly to the heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, |
Of the holy Ghost – Full of a holy enthusiasm for the Lord and the truth. R1432:6
The victory was with the Lord's servant. R2502:6
Looked up – A prayerful look heavenward for grace to help in this time of need. R1432:6
Into heaven – Toward heaven; just when the storm was about to burst in its fury. R1432:6
Saw the glory of God – Was granted a vision of heavenly glory for the strengthening of his faith. R2109:2, 2958:3, 932:6*
To the same effect is the testimony of the highly favored Seer of Patmos. (Rev. 1:10-18) R1283:4
Not in reality, but a revelation; "No man hath seen God at any time." (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12) R2958:3
On the right hand – Chief place of power and dominion. R1432:6; A92
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| 56 and he said, 'Lo, I see the heavens having been opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.' |
I see – He saw it just as we see it today, in his mental vision, by the eye of faith. R1432:6
The heavens opened – His mind was carried forward to the glorious Millennial reign of Christ --the new heavens and the new earth. R1432:6
His declaration of the vision he saw capped the climax of their indignation. R2109:3
Furnished the excuse they had been waiting for. R4329:2
This was the signal for the Sanhedrin to raise a cry of blasphemy and rush upon God's messenger. R5858:4
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| 57 And they, having cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and did rush with one accord upon him, |
Stopped their ears – As though to convince one another that to willingly hear anything more would be a participation in the blasphemy. R4329:2
Ran upon him with one accord – They construed the vision to be additional blasphemy. Using this as a pretext, they terminated the trial and executed the sentence of stoning. R2109:3
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| 58 and having cast him forth outside of the city, they were stoning [him] and the witnesses did put down their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul |
Out of the city – No execution was allowed on the inside of their gates. R5858:5
Stoned him – Seemingly in violation of Roman law. R2958:4, 4329:6
Stoning to death for blasphemy was the divinely instituted punishment, according to the law. R4329:6, 2958:4, 2470:3, 2109:4
A young man's feet – Indicating that Saul was a leader in the prosecution, and influential in the Sanhedrin. R2109:4
Saul was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, and surely one who consented to his death. R2958:5
Saul gave his sanction by taking charge of the outer garments of those who stoned Stephen to death. R4329:2,4, 5858:5
Whose name was Saul – Some who today assault us, may yet be amongst those who will penitently acknowledge the error of their ways. R2958:5
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| 59 and they were stoning Stephen, calling and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;' |
They stoned Stephen – The second Christian martyr--Jesus being first. R2951:2, 220:1
Hating and despising his love-lit countenance. E161
The beginning of the general persecution which has continued ever since, and must continue until the last members of the body of Christ shall have proven faithful. R2108:3
This was the punishment for blasphemy according to Jewish Law, and in the absence of Pilate, they carried it out themselves. R4329:6
God – The Lord. (Revised Version) R700:1*
Lord Jesus, receive – Steven meant to express his confidence, his trust, in a future life through a resurrection. R2958:6, 2109:5, 1880:6; E344, HG331:5
My spirit – My spirit of life or breath of life. E344; R5858:5, 2958:5, 700:5
The only life which Stephen could commend to God was the reckoned life received by faith through Jesus. R2788:5
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| 60 and having bowed the knees, he cried with a loud voice, 'Lord, mayest thou not lay to them this sin;' and this having said, he fell asleep. |
Kneeled down – Prayed for his murderers. R4078:4
Lay not this sin – He had no desire that they should be punished, but was not attempting to direct the arm of the Infinite. R4329:4, 5259:2,6
To their charge – He had only love for his enemies. R4329:3
This was Stephen's climax of victory, faithfulness unto death. R5858:5
His prayer was answered, for Saul was shortly raised up to be a most efficient and devoted servant of the truth. R1433:1
He fell asleep – The first Christian martyr stoned to death. SM38:2; E162; HG194:2; NS837:1
In the midst of his prayer, he died. R2959:1
Death is pictured as a sleep. R5166:4, 4329:4, 3027:6, 2959:1, 2617:5, 1881:1; NS429:4
This thought respecting the sleep of the dead prevails throughout the Bible. Mankind are waiting for Messiah's kingdom and the morning of awakening. R5059:6, 4729:3, 2959:1, 2617:5, 2197:6; E345
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., good and bad slept with their fathers. R3027:6
"Sleep in Jesus." (1 Thess. 4:14) R4794:2, 4329:4, 2617:2
This does not mean that the dead go to sleep in either heaven, purgatory or hell. R4588:6
The gracious hopeful word "sleep" implies elements of rest, waking and continued life. R2959:1; E345; HG332:1
"Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." (Dan. 12:2) R4588:6
There is no record that they put a holy candle in his hand, said prayers over his body or buried him in consecrated ground. F203
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