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| 1 Then said the high priest, Are 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 glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, |
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 said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show 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 came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into 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 none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had 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 on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them 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 to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. |
Judge – Greek, krino, to distinguish, decide, try. (Strong) R2426:4
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| 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat 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, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but 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 delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. |
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| 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. |
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| 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. |
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| 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. |
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| 14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
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Threescore and fifteen souls – Beings, persons. R205:2
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| 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, |
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| 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father 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 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, |
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| 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. |
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| 19 The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. |
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| 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: |
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 when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. |
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| 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. |
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 he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. |
Full forty years old – Typifying the 1845 years of the Jewish dispensation. R2909:6, 181:5*
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| 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: |
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| 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. |
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 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? |
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| 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made 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 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? |
As thou didst – Greek, hon tropon; in like manner. R341:1*
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| 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. |
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| 30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in 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 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, |
The sight – Greek, horama. Signifies a vision, not reality. R4142:4*
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| 32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. |
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| 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. |
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| 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. |
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| 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. |
Ruler and a deliverer – A type of Christ. R181:5*
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| 36 He brought them out, after that he had showed 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 that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto 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, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto 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 would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, |
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| 40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of 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 offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. |
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| 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? |
Written in the book – In the prophecies and types of the Law. R5078:6
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| 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, patterns which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away 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 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the pattern 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 that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; |
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| 46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. |
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| 47 But 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 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, |
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 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build 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 stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do 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 have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: |
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 have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept 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 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. |
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 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and 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 said, Behold, I see the heavens 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 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, |
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 cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was 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 stoned Stephen, calling upon God, 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 he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, 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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