Acts 7:35-43
It is a matter of history that the British people ejected Winston Churchill, their great war time leader, at the General Election held immediately after the II World War in 1945. From the perspective of 75 years, it seems something like a betrayal of the man who brought them through great peril. In this passage Stephen is recounting the Israelites rejection of their great national hero, Moses, who led his people in times of great peril and from slavery to the uncertainty of a new future which appeared daunting. The passage recalls the story of Aaron being asked to lead the people, in Moses absence, and create a ‘god’ for the people in the form of the ‘golden calf’, (Exodus 32).
Stephen was saying that Israel lacked faith in what God had promised hence the rejection of Moses and so in time God gave His Son that all might know God. Having rejected the prophet, Israel had rejected the Christ. A harsh story (and possibly foolish) when pleading your case before a court that has the power to sentence you to death. Stephen became the first martyr of the church.
It is a matter of history that the British people ejected Winston Churchill, their great war time leader, at the General Election held immediately after the II World War in 1945. From the perspective of 75 years, it seems something like a betrayal of the man who brought them through great peril. In this passage Stephen is recounting the Israelites rejection of their great national hero, Moses, who led his people in times of great peril and from slavery to the uncertainty of a new future which appeared daunting. The passage recalls the story of Aaron being asked to lead the people, in Moses absence, and create a ‘god’ for the people in the form of the ‘golden calf’, (Exodus 32).
Stephen was saying that Israel lacked faith in what God had promised hence the rejection of Moses and so in time God gave His Son that all might know God. Having rejected the prophet, Israel had rejected the Christ. A harsh story (and possibly foolish) when pleading your case before a court that has the power to sentence you to death. Stephen became the first martyr of the church.