The Book of Esther Played Out in Acts

In Acts 4, Peter continues the accusation that Jesus began. He accused the Sanhedrin and the High Priest of killing the “Blessed One.” The Apostles’ message of comfort for all who would listen changed once they appeared before the Sanhedrin & that leadership began their attempt to stop the message. Peter turned to accusation because he had made his choice – Christ, the King. It was either Christ or the establishment. The apostles and other of Christ’s followers, like Stephen, clearly thought Christ would be victorious over the establishment of that day. The establishment thought they would survive somehow within the Roman system or escape it in the future somehow. Christ and His apostles focused on God and his judgment of who should succeed and prosper into future generations; the establishment relied upon political power, negotiation, gamesmanship, waiting the Romans out, as they had waited out the other empires that had taken Israel captive. In that waiting, however, the establishment ignored Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the other visions Daniel saw. See the post, “Daniel – The Key Timing Prophecy.” Continue reading “The Book of Esther Played Out in Acts”

June 27, 2017June 4, 2017

Stephen’s Defense – Acts 7

I. High Priest: “Are these things so?” “These things” were the accusations of blasphemy against Moses (no such biblical prohibition against blasphemy toward a deceased person), blasphemy against God, blasphemy against “this holy place,” & blasphemy against the law. Specifically, the men contending with Stephen said he said that Jesus would destroy this place & change the customs delivered by Moses. While reading Stephen’s brilliant defense in chap. 7, listen for any blasphemy of the type of which he’s accused. His 53-verse speech is a historical survey of the Jewish people. Along with evidence of blasphemy, listen for references to the temple & to what he focuses on in Israel’s history.

Continue reading “Stephen’s Defense – Acts 7”

May 30, 2017May 29, 2017

Acts chapters 6 & 7

The Prophet Stephen, aka Martyr

Stephen, above all others in the New Testament Church, even the apostles, understood the timing issue. See Acts chapters 6 and 7.

What was the faithful Israelite’s attitude at the time of the coming of Christ? He believed the law of Moses, the prophets, the histories, and the Psalms of David. He had a view of Israel as the premier nation, the nation God had chosen for a special purpose. I like to imagine that the 12 were that type; with all their failings, they were hoping for God’s promises of a kingdom to come true and to be a part of it.

Stephen was not one of the 12. We don’t know, but he might have been a follower in the crowds around Jesus, or he might have been someone who while visiting during the Feast of Pentecost, was such an Israelite like the Apostles. He caught the vision of the Kingdom, but Stephen was amazing. He Continue reading “Acts chapters 6 & 7”