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| 1 Said and the high-priest: If then these things thus are? |
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 He and said: Men brethren and fathers, hear you. The God of the glory appeared to the father of us Abraham being in the Mesopotamia, before to dwell him 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 to him: Go out from the land of thee, and from the kindred of thee, and come into a land, which to thee I may show. |
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 going out from land of Chaldeans, he dwelt in Charran; and thence, after the to have died the father of him, he caused to remove him into the land this, in which you 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 not he gave to him inheritance in her, not even a foot-breadth; and he promised to him to give for a possession her, and to the seed of him after him, not being to him a 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 Spoke and thus the God: That shall be the seed of him a stranger in a land foreign, and they will enslave it and they will oppress years four-hundred; |
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 which they may be enslaved, will judge I, said the God; and after these things they shall come out, and shall render service to me in the place this. |
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 thus he begot the Isaac, and circumcised him the day the eighth; and the Isaac the Jacob, and the 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 envying the Joseph sold into Egypt; and was the God 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 of the afflictions of him, and gave to him favor and wisdom in presence of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and placed him ruling over Egypt and whole the house of himself. |
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| 11 Came and a famine on whole the land of Egypt and Canaan, and affliction great; and not found provisions of fathers of us. |
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| 12 Having heard and Jacob being grain in Egypt, he sent the fathers of us first. |
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| 13 And in the second was made known Joseph to the brothers of himself, and shown became to the Pharaoh the family of the Joseph. |
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| 14 Having sent and Joseph called for the father of himself Jacob, and all the kindred, in souls seventy-five. |
Threescore and fifteen souls – Beings, persons. R205:2
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| 15 Went down and Jacob into Egypt, and died he and the fathers of us. |
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| 16 And they were carried into Sychem, and were placed in the tomb, which bought Abraham for a price of silver from the sons of Emmor of the 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 When but drew near the time of the promise, which swore the God to the Abraham, grew the people and were multiplied in Egypt; |
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| 18 till for whom stood up a king another, who not knew the Joseph. |
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| 19 This having dealt deceitfully the family of us, ill-treated the fathers of us, of the to cause to be exposed the babes of them; in order that not they might be preserved. |
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| 20 In which season was born Moses, and was beautiful to the God; who was nursed months three in the house of the 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 Having exposed and him, took up him the daughter of Pharaoh, and nursed him herself for a son. |
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| 22 And was taught Moses in all wisdom of Egyptians; was and powerful in words and in works of himself. |
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 When but was completed to him forty years of time, it came up in the heart of him to visit the brethren of himself, 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 seeing one being wronged, he defended, and did justice to him being oppressed, having smitten the Egyptian. |
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| 25 He thought and to understand the brethren of himself, that the God by hands of him gives to them salvation; they but not understood. |
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 In the but next day he appeared to those contending, and urged them to peace, saying: Men, brethren are you; why wrong you each other? |
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| 27 He but wronging the neighbor, thrust away him, saying: Who thee has appointed 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 Not to kill me thou wishest, in which manner thou didst kill yesterday the Egyptian? |
As thou didst – Greek, hon tropon; in like manner. R341:1*
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| 29 Fled and Moses at the word this, and became a sojourner in land of Midian, where he begot sons two. |
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| 30 And being completed years forty, appeared to him in the desert of the mountain Sinai a messenger of 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 The but Moses having seen admired the sight; coming near and of him to observe, came a voice of Lord to him: |
The sight – Greek, horama. Signifies a vision, not reality. R4142:4*
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| 32 I the God of the fathers of thee, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Terrified and being Moses not dared to look. |
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| 33 Said and to him the Lord: Loose the sandals of the feet of thee; the for place in which thou standest, ground holy is. |
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| 34 Having seen I saw the evil treatment of the people of me of that in Egypt, and the groaning of them I have heard, and am come down to deliver them; and now come, I will send thee into Egypt. |
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| 35 This the Moses whom they denied, saying: Who thee appointed a ruler and a judge? this the God a ruler and a redeemer sent by hand of a messenger of that having appeared to him in the bush. |
Ruler and a deliverer – A type of Christ. R181:5*
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| 36 This led out them, having done prodigies and signs in the Egypt, and in red sea, and in the desert, years forty. |
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, he saying to the sons of Israel: A prophet for you will raise up Lord the God from of the brethren of you, like me; him you shall 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 being, in the congregation in the desert, with the messenger that speaking to him in the mountain Sinai and of the fathers of us, who received oracles living 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 not were willing obedient to become the fathers of us, but thrust away, and turned back in the hearts of them into Egypt, |
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| 40 saying to the Aaron: Make for us gods, who shall go before us; the for Moses this who led out us from land Egypt, not we know what has 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 the days those, and offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of the hands of them. |
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| 42 Turned and the God, and gave up them to serve the host of the heaven; as it is written in book of the prophets: Not victims and sacrifices did you offer to me forty in the desert, house of Israel? |
Written in the book – In the prophecies and types of the Law. R5078:6
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| 43 And you took up the tabernacle of the Moloch and star of the god of you Remphan, the images, which you made to worship them; and I will cause to remove you 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 with the fathers of us in the desert, as directed he speaking to the Moses, to make her according to the form which he had seen; |
Tabernacle of witness – We are now in the Tabernacle condition. CR420:3
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| 45 which also brought having received by succession the fathers of us with Jesus in to the possession of the nations, which drove out the God from face of the fathers of us, till the days of David; |
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| 46 who found favor in presence of the God, and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. |
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| 47 Solomon but built for him a 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 not the Most High in hand made things dwells, as the prophet says: |
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 to me a throne, the and earth a footstool of the feet of me. What house will you build for me? says Lord; or what place of the dwelling of me?
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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 Not the hand of me made these things all? |
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| 51 O stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in the heart and the ears; you always the spirit the holy fight against, like the fathers of you also you. |
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 not persecuted the fathers of you? and they killed those having foretold concerning the coming of the righteous, of whom now you 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 injunctions of messengers, and not you kept. |
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 Having heard and these things, they were enraged through the hearts of them, and gnashed the teeth of 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 Being but full of spirit holy, having gazed intently into the heaven, he saw glory of God, and Jesus having stood at right of the 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: Lo, I see the heavens having been opened, and the son of the man at right having stood of the 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 Having cried and with a voice loud, they shut up the ears of them, and they ran with one mind on 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 outside the city, they stoned. And the witnesses laid down the mantles of them at the feet of a young man being 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 stoned the Stephen, calling upon and saying:L O Lord Jesus, do thou receive the breath of me. |
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 Having placed and the knees he cried out with a voice loud: O Lord, not thou mayest place to them the sin this. 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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