November 3, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Acts Chapter 7
1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
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,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
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.
11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
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.
17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he shewed 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?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
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.
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,
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.
33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
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.
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.
36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
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.
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:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
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.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
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?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
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 fashion that he had seen.
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;
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
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?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
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.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
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.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
Introduction:
Chapter 7 of the Acts of the Apostles contains one of the most compelling speeches in the New Testament, the defense speech of Stephen before the Sanhedrin. This speech is more than a mere defense; it is a detailed summary of Jewish salvation history, beginning with Abraham and ending with the prophetic announcement of Jesus as the Righteous One. Stephen emphasizes God’s ongoing grace and the repeated departure of the people of Israel, thereby underscoring Jesus’ role as the Redeemer promised by God. At the end of the speech, Stephen is stoned by his listeners because they find his message unwelcome and offensive. His forgiveness and gaze toward heaven during his martyrdom send a powerful sign of faith and dedication to Christ.
Commentary:
Stephen’s speech is a unique historical and theological testimony that highlights the deeply rooted connection between the history of Israel and the coming of Jesus Christ. By highlighting Abraham’s faith and the liberation of the people through Moses, Stephen makes it clear that God had paved the way for the coming Messiah from the very beginning. The repeated failures and disobedience of the people of Israel, such as idolatry and the rejection of the prophets, serve as warnings and admonitions. Stephen establishes an important connection: just as Israel once rejected the prophets sent by God, people now reject Jesus, the promised Redeemer.
Another central point of the speech is the emphasis that God’s presence is not confined to the temple or any specific place. By declaring that “the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands,” Stephen challenges the traditional views of the Jewish leadership and opens the horizon for a universal relationship with God accessible through Jesus. The reaction of the listeners shows how much Stephen challenges their deepest convictions. Yet Stephen remains steadfast to the end and forgives his murderers with words reminiscent of those of Jesus on the cross: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” His words and death illustrate the power and essence of the Christian faith—a faith that centers on forgiveness and love even toward enemies.
Summary:
In Acts Chapter 7, Stephen provides a comprehensive portrayal of Jewish history and demonstrates how Israel repeatedly rejected God’s prophets and ultimately the Messiah himself. He paints a picture of God’s steadfast grace and the people’s ongoing rebellion, culminating in the rejection of Jesus. Stephen’s speech underscores Jesus’ role as the Redeemer sent by God and simultaneously breaks with the notion that God is bound to specific places. In his final moments, Stephen grants forgiveness to his murderers and looks to heaven, setting him apart as an example of unwavering faith in Jesus and the power of forgiveness.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 74—Gethsemane
This chapter is based on Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-50; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-12.
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction:
Chapter 74, “Gethsemane,” leads us into the deepest and most moving episode in the life of Jesus: the prayer and inner struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately before His arrest. The Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John depict how Jesus, accompanied by His closest disciples, goes to Gethsemane at night and prepares for the impending suffering. This scene reveals the painful inner conflict that Jesus experiences in His human nature as He willingly takes on the burden of the world’s sins. Here in Gethsemane, His absolute dedication and obedience to the Father’s will become intensely visible. The disciples, exhausted and inattentive, fall asleep while Jesus engages in the most bitter spiritual struggle of His life. Gethsemane becomes the epitome of His sacrifice and His unparalleled love for humanity.
Commentary:
Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is a portrayal of deepest devotion and pain. Here, we encounter a side of Jesus that is both human and divine: He wrestles with the burden of sin that threatens to separate Him from the presence of God. This scene reveals that Jesus, although divine, truly endures the wrath and consequences of human sin in His human nature. The words “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” demonstrate His anguish and simultaneously His willingness to follow God’s will, predestining Him as the sin offering for humanity.
Jesus’ dedication is all the more remarkable in light of the weakness of His disciples. He urges them to stay awake and pray, yet three times He returns to find them asleep. This scene highlights human frailty in the face of spiritual reality and accentuates Jesus’ loneliness and determination. The angels who appear to Him at the end serve as the final divine encouragement before He embarks on the painful path to the cross. Through this episode, it becomes clear that Jesus, fully aware of the magnitude of His sacrifice, resolutely continues the path to the redemption of humanity.
The climax comes when Jesus confronts His betrayers and the armed crowd without using divine power to defend Himself or flee. Instead, He faces His impending fate calmly and steadfastly. His example in Gethsemane is a powerful image of self-sacrifice and obedience to God’s will, regardless of personal pain and suffering.
Summary:
Chapter 74 describes the events in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus experiences the most severe inner struggle of His life before His suffering and crucifixion. In deep prayer, He wrestles with the burden of humanity’s sins and the separation from the Father that sin brings. Despite His anguish, He decides to fulfill the Father’s will and drink the “cup” that lies ahead. The disciples who accompany Him fail to stay awake and fall asleep despite His pleas. After a final prayer, Jesus receives divine strength from an angel that fortifies Him for His journey. When the soldiers and the betrayer Judas arrive, Jesus faces them without resistance and is taken captive. The scene in Gethsemane highlights Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice and dedication, becoming the symbolic center of His suffering for humanity.
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