Class 1 from this series was used in GCT Episode 265.<\/p>\n
2
\n00:00:04,960 –> 00:00:09,880
\nsecond in a series of classes by
\na brother, Alfred Norris. <\/p>\n
3
\n00:00:10,720 –> 00:00:15,160
\nThe subject?
\nApostles, their Acts and their. <\/p>\n
4
\n00:00:15,160 –> 00:00:18,760
\nWords Good morning, brothers and
\nsisters. <\/p>\n
5
\n00:00:19,440 –> 00:00:23,000
\nThe Travis that Stephen had
\nshown in his disputations with <\/p>\n
6
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\nthe Jews of the Singer of the
\nLibertines, and the Serenians, <\/p>\n
7
\n00:00:26,880 –> 00:00:28,960
\nand the Sedicians and the
\nAlexandrians. <\/p>\n
8
\n00:00:30,000 –> 00:00:32,439
\nDid not forsake him when he was
\nplaced on trial. <\/p>\n
9
\n00:00:33,560 –> 00:00:36,240
\nThey might almost have expected,
\nin fact, the result that the <\/p>\n
10
\n00:00:36,240 –> 00:00:38,120
\ntrial did bring forth.
\nIn that matter. <\/p>\n
11
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\nFor for Stephen to have
\nwithstood the challenging and <\/p>\n
12
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\nthe questions of a group led by
\nSaul of Tarsus, the disciple of <\/p>\n
13
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\nGamaliel, was a clear indication
\nthat they had not much <\/p>\n
14
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\nopportunity of defeating him in
\nreasoned discussion. <\/p>\n
15
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\nThey were not able to withstand
\nthe wisdom and the Spirit with <\/p>\n
16
\n00:00:57,880 –> 00:01:02,920
\nwhich he spoke, we are told.
\nThey did with Stephen what they <\/p>\n
17
\n00:01:02,920 –> 00:01:06,520
\ndid with his Lord.
\nWhen his words were too strong <\/p>\n
18
\n00:01:06,520 –> 00:01:10,440
\nfor them and his might too
\ngreat, they resorted to bribery <\/p>\n
19
\n00:01:10,440 –> 00:01:15,320
\nand corruption, and they suborn
\nfalse witnesses who were to say <\/p>\n
20
\n00:01:15,480 –> 00:01:18,200
\nthings about Stephen that were
\nnot true in the hope of winning <\/p>\n
21
\n00:01:18,200 –> 00:01:21,760
\na conviction.
\nThey did it about Jesus. <\/p>\n
22
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\nBut at that time, because it was
\nthe will of God that the trial <\/p>\n
23
\n00:01:25,840 –> 00:01:28,520
\nof Jesus should take a
\nparticular course, even their <\/p>\n
24
\n00:01:28,520 –> 00:01:31,960
\nwitnesses could not agree
\ntogether. 2 By 2 the confusion <\/p>\n
25
\n00:01:31,960 –> 00:01:35,520
\nof Bale of Babel descended upon
\ntheir tongues, and they were <\/p>\n
26
\n00:01:35,520 –> 00:01:38,000
\nfrustrated in their efforts to
\nhave him condemned. <\/p>\n
27
\n00:01:39,120 –> 00:01:42,520
\nSo finally, with Jesus, they
\nresorted to a strategy that was <\/p>\n
28
\n00:01:42,520 –> 00:01:46,080
\nquite unlawful, by inviting him
\nquite simply to condemn himself.<\/p>\n
29
\n00:01:47,080 –> 00:01:50,280
\nThey said, I adjure thee by the
\nliving God that thou tell us art<\/p>\n
30
\n00:01:50,280 –> 00:01:52,080
\nthou the Christ, the Son of the
\nblessed? <\/p>\n
31
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\nThey had no right in law to do
\nthis. <\/p>\n
32
\n00:01:56,680 –> 00:01:59,200
\nAnd if they did it and secured
\nan admission from the Lord, as <\/p>\n
33
\n00:01:59,200 –> 00:02:02,120
\nthey did, for he agreed that
\nthey were right, he did make <\/p>\n
34
\n00:02:02,120 –> 00:02:04,680
\nsuch a claim, Then it would have
\nbeen their duty to find out <\/p>\n
35
\n00:02:04,680 –> 00:02:08,080
\nwhether the claim was true,
\ninstead of which they took it <\/p>\n
36
\n00:02:08,080 –> 00:02:11,360
\nfor granted it was false and
\ncondemned him for having made <\/p>\n
37
\n00:02:11,360 –> 00:02:14,400
\nthe claim, making themselves the
\nblustingness instead of him. <\/p>\n
38
\n00:02:16,080 –> 00:02:17,760
\nIt was much the same with
\nStephen. <\/p>\n
39
\n00:02:17,760 –> 00:02:19,680
\nThey went through the motions of
\nlaw. <\/p>\n
40
\n00:02:21,120 –> 00:02:25,080
\nThey took him before their their
\ncourts to answer certain charges<\/p>\n
41
\n00:02:25,080 –> 00:02:28,640
\nspoken by false witnesses, and
\nall the outward appearances were<\/p>\n
42
\n00:02:28,640 –> 00:02:33,280
\nnot of a legitimate trial.
\nAnd the false witness had said <\/p>\n
43
\n00:02:33,440 –> 00:02:36,640
\nhe speaks blasphemous words
\nagainst Moses and against God. <\/p>\n
44
\n00:02:37,920 –> 00:02:41,160
\nTheir witness was We have heard
\nhim say that Jesus of Nazareth <\/p>\n
45
\n00:02:41,160 –> 00:02:45,920
\nshall destroy this place.
\nI think they might have heard <\/p>\n
46
\n00:02:45,920 –> 00:02:48,960
\nhim say something which included
\nwords like that. <\/p>\n
47
\n00:02:50,200 –> 00:02:53,960
\nBut Stephen wouldn’t have said
\nwhat they said, he said, any <\/p>\n
48
\n00:02:53,960 –> 00:02:56,960
\nmore than Jesus had said the
\nsame things when they said thou <\/p>\n
49
\n00:02:56,960 –> 00:02:59,880
\nthat destroy us the temple, and
\nraises it in three days. <\/p>\n
50
\n00:03:01,360 –> 00:03:05,240
\nJesus had never said, in spite
\nof their accusations, that he <\/p>\n
51
\n00:03:05,240 –> 00:03:07,360
\nwould destroy the temple and
\nraise it in three days. <\/p>\n
52
\n00:03:07,560 –> 00:03:10,920
\nHe had said they would destroy
\nthe temple, and he would raise <\/p>\n
53
\n00:03:10,920 –> 00:03:13,520
\nanother one in three days.
\nHe said it in John chapter 2, at<\/p>\n
54
\n00:03:13,520 –> 00:03:14,840
\nthe first cleansing of the
\ntemple. <\/p>\n
55
\n00:03:15,080 –> 00:03:18,200
\nDestroy this temple, he said.
\nAnd in three days I will raise <\/p>\n
56
\n00:03:18,200 –> 00:03:21,320
\nit up.
\nAnd he went that when they had <\/p>\n
57
\n00:03:21,320 –> 00:03:23,760
\nbrought about the destruction of
\ntheir own temple by their <\/p>\n
58
\n00:03:23,760 –> 00:03:27,560
\nperversity, when God had caused
\nthe veil of the temple to be <\/p>\n
59
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\nrented twain from top to bottom,
\nwhen it was no longer accepted <\/p>\n
60
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\nby God as its proper place of
\nworship, nor were their priests <\/p>\n
61
\n00:03:34,320 –> 00:03:38,280
\naccepted as his priests.
\nThen the time would come when <\/p>\n
62
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\nJesus would erect another
\ntemple, when the time would <\/p>\n
63
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\ncome, when neither in this
\nmountain nor yet in Jerusalem <\/p>\n
64
\n00:03:44,840 –> 00:03:47,280
\nwould men worship the Father.
\nFor God is a spirit. <\/p>\n
65
\n00:03:48,280 –> 00:03:50,840
\nAnd they that worship him must
\nworship him in spirit and in <\/p>\n
66
\n00:03:50,840 –> 00:03:52,640
\ntruth.
\nAnd when they would flock to him<\/p>\n
67
\n00:03:52,960 –> 00:03:56,400
\nsheep from other places, many to
\njoin the one fold of the flock <\/p>\n
68
\n00:03:56,400 –> 00:03:59,480
\nof the Lord Jesus Christ, and
\nworship him wherever the gospel <\/p>\n
69
\n00:03:59,480 –> 00:04:03,360
\nwas preached.
\nJesus had indeed forewarned them<\/p>\n
70
\n00:04:03,760 –> 00:04:06,400
\nthat the time would come when
\nthey would not be left one stone<\/p>\n
71
\n00:04:06,400 –> 00:04:09,640
\nupon another, that should not be
\ncast down when this temple was <\/p>\n
72
\n00:04:09,640 –> 00:04:12,840
\ndestroyed by the Romans.
\nAnd if that was postponed for 40<\/p>\n
73
\n00:04:12,840 –> 00:04:15,320
\nyears, it was nevertheless a
\ntrue thing that should happen. <\/p>\n
74
\n00:04:15,640 –> 00:04:17,519
\nStephen could well have repeated
\nthat. <\/p>\n
75
\n00:04:18,720 –> 00:04:21,240
\nAnd they could well have
\nperverted it in what they said, <\/p>\n
76
\n00:04:21,959 –> 00:04:25,960
\nand with the zeal for the temple
\nthat they all showed, that would<\/p>\n
77
\n00:04:25,960 –> 00:04:29,720
\nhave been a good enough ground
\nto place him on trial, or at <\/p>\n
78
\n00:04:29,720 –> 00:04:35,160
\nleast a good enough excuse.
\nAnd on trial they placed him and<\/p>\n
79
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\nthe high priest said, giving
\nStephen the opportunity to <\/p>\n
80
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\nspeak.
\nAre these things so we will not <\/p>\n
81
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\nfollow him through the detailed
\nknowledge of the history of <\/p>\n
82
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\nIsrael that he revealed?
\nSafe to say that. <\/p>\n
83
\n00:04:47,160 –> 00:04:49,800
\nThe gist of Stevens speech and
\nanswer to their charges was <\/p>\n
84
\n00:04:49,800 –> 00:04:52,880
\nthis.
\nGod was not bound to any <\/p>\n
85
\n00:04:52,880 –> 00:04:57,000
\nparticular place of worship.
\nThere had been numerous <\/p>\n
86
\n00:04:57,000 –> 00:05:00,480
\noccasions in their own history
\nwhen he had shown that when he <\/p>\n
87
\n00:05:00,480 –> 00:05:03,840
\ncalled Abraham when he was yet
\nin order of the Kaldis, and <\/p>\n
88
\n00:05:03,840 –> 00:05:07,960
\nAbraham became God’s man
\nworshipping God when he was with<\/p>\n
89
\n00:05:07,960 –> 00:05:11,040
\nAbraham when he brought in
\nKalam, and Abraham was still <\/p>\n
90
\n00:05:11,040 –> 00:05:14,960
\nGod’s man worshipping God.
\nWhen he accepted Abraham, when <\/p>\n
91
\n00:05:14,960 –> 00:05:17,800
\nhe journeyed to and fro in the
\nland of Canaan, but as a <\/p>\n
92
\n00:05:17,800 –> 00:05:22,200
\nPilgrim, not as a resident, and
\nstill Abraham could worship God,<\/p>\n
93
\n00:05:23,480 –> 00:05:27,200
\nthat he was with Joseph.
\nWhen Joseph was in in jealousy. <\/p>\n
94
\n00:05:27,400 –> 00:05:30,880
\nSo to those who took him into
\nEgypt, and Joseph could worship <\/p>\n
95
\n00:05:30,880 –> 00:05:35,040
\nGod, those dwelling in a foreign
\nland, that he was with the <\/p>\n
96
\n00:05:35,040 –> 00:05:37,680
\npeople when they came out of the
\nland under the leadership of <\/p>\n
97
\n00:05:37,680 –> 00:05:40,520
\nMoses.
\nWhen, having rejected Moses once<\/p>\n
98
\n00:05:40,520 –> 00:05:44,320
\nin Egypt, who made the judgment
\na divider, words very similar to<\/p>\n
99
\n00:05:44,320 –> 00:05:47,720
\nthose that Jesus used about
\nhimself, Moses made the <\/p>\n
100
\n00:05:47,720 –> 00:05:50,000
\nTabernacle of testimony in the
\nwilderness. <\/p>\n
101
\n00:05:50,160 –> 00:05:53,680
\nOur fathers had that, he said.
\nBut that wasn’t in Jerusalem. <\/p>\n
102
\n00:05:54,160 –> 00:05:56,680
\nYou couldn’t tell from one day
\nor another where it would be. <\/p>\n
103
\n00:05:56,920 –> 00:05:59,880
\nIt wandered all over the place
\nwhen camp was pitched, and when <\/p>\n
104
\n00:05:59,880 –> 00:06:03,800
\ncamp was struck, they were
\nentitled to demolish it and put <\/p>\n
105
\n00:06:03,800 –> 00:06:06,040
\nit together again.
\nAnd it was God’s place of <\/p>\n
106
\n00:06:06,040 –> 00:06:09,360
\nworship wherever they put it.
\nOf course it was a destined <\/p>\n
107
\n00:06:09,360 –> 00:06:11,360
\nplace.
\nThey shouldn’t worship outside <\/p>\n
108
\n00:06:11,360 –> 00:06:14,800
\nit or in other places, but still
\nit didn’t matter where it was, <\/p>\n
109
\n00:06:14,800 –> 00:06:19,240
\nand it could be in many places,
\neven in the land itself. <\/p>\n
110
\n00:06:19,240 –> 00:06:22,200
\nSteve could have said, and by
\nvirtue of his words did say. <\/p>\n
111
\n00:06:22,200 –> 00:06:25,080
\nIn effect, the place of worship
\nof God had not always been <\/p>\n
112
\n00:06:25,080 –> 00:06:28,440
\nJerusalem.
\nIt was mostly Shiloh in the <\/p>\n
113
\n00:06:28,440 –> 00:06:30,560
\nearliest days with high places
\naround. <\/p>\n
114
\n00:06:31,360 –> 00:06:34,160
\nOnly when Shiloh was decimated
\nby the Philistines, after the <\/p>\n
115
\n00:06:34,160 –> 00:06:37,880
\npeople rebelled and the
\nTabernacle was divided into two <\/p>\n
116
\n00:06:37,880 –> 00:06:41,400
\nparts, with the building in
\nGibeon and the Ark in Kiryati, <\/p>\n
117
\n00:06:41,400 –> 00:06:45,800
\nArim, and then in Jerusalem, did
\nGod begin to make known that <\/p>\n
118
\n00:06:45,800 –> 00:06:47,480
\nthere was another place he had
\nin mind. <\/p>\n
119
\n00:06:48,480 –> 00:06:51,960
\nAnd only in David’s days was
\nJerusalem designated when its <\/p>\n
120
\n00:06:51,960 –> 00:06:54,080
\ncitadel was taken away from the
\nGentiles. <\/p>\n
121
\n00:06:54,560 –> 00:06:56,720
\nBut only in Solomon’s days was
\nthe temple built. <\/p>\n
122
\n00:06:56,880 –> 00:06:59,280
\nYou had to wait a long time,
\nStephen seemed to tell them, <\/p>\n
123
\n00:06:59,280 –> 00:07:02,360
\nBefore Jerusalem became the
\ncapital and before the Temple <\/p>\n
124
\n00:07:02,360 –> 00:07:05,560
\nthere became the authorized and
\nthe only authorized place of <\/p>\n
125
\n00:07:05,560 –> 00:07:08,040
\nworship.
\nAnd you’ve had a long history <\/p>\n
126
\n00:07:08,040 –> 00:07:11,160
\nsince then.
\nAnd in fact your temple has <\/p>\n
127
\n00:07:11,320 –> 00:07:13,480
\nundergone many vicissitudes
\nsince then. <\/p>\n
128
\n00:07:13,640 –> 00:07:16,840
\nIt didn’t last very long.
\nIt must have been founded <\/p>\n
129
\n00:07:16,840 –> 00:07:19,920
\nsomething after 1000 BC and it
\nwas thoroughly destroyed. <\/p>\n
130
\n00:07:20,600 –> 00:07:24,240
\nA little after 600 BC, it could
\nonly have lasted about 350 <\/p>\n
131
\n00:07:24,240 –> 00:07:26,760
\nyears.
\nThe one you’re worshipping now <\/p>\n
132
\n00:07:26,760 –> 00:07:30,240
\nis in quite, quite new.
\nIt was brought into being by <\/p>\n
133
\n00:07:30,240 –> 00:07:33,920
\nHaggai and Zechariah in the days
\nof the returned people going <\/p>\n
134
\n00:07:33,920 –> 00:07:36,760
\nback to the land after
\nNebuchadnezzar’s days, it was <\/p>\n
135
\n00:07:36,760 –> 00:07:39,000
\nvery heavily increased and
\naugmented. <\/p>\n
136
\n00:07:39,200 –> 00:07:41,880
\nSo it’s almost to become a new
\nplace by Herod the Great. <\/p>\n
137
\n00:07:41,960 –> 00:07:44,280
\nBut Herod the Great was not very
\nlong ago. <\/p>\n
138
\n00:07:44,280 –> 00:07:47,720
\nWas he 40 and six years?
\nYou said yourself to the Lord <\/p>\n
139
\n00:07:47,720 –> 00:07:50,680
\nJesus Christ. 40 and six years
\nhas this temple been in <\/p>\n
140
\n00:07:50,680 –> 00:07:52,680
\nbuilding.
\nSo by now we might have got to, <\/p>\n
141
\n00:07:52,680 –> 00:07:54,760
\nwhat, 55 years or something of
\nthe kind? <\/p>\n
142
\n00:07:54,760 –> 00:07:58,120
\nThat’s the only life this temple
\nin the form you now see it has <\/p>\n
143
\n00:07:58,120 –> 00:08:00,480
\nhad.
\nGod can change things. <\/p>\n
144
\n00:08:00,480 –> 00:08:05,400
\nIf He wills and He does will,
\nHe’s not bound to any particular<\/p>\n
145
\n00:08:05,400 –> 00:08:07,680
\nplace.
\nHis own nature is not bound to <\/p>\n
146
\n00:08:07,680 –> 00:08:09,880
\nany place at all.
\nAnd would you turn now? <\/p>\n
147
\n00:08:09,920 –> 00:08:13,440
\nSee how Stephen elaborates that
\npoint about the last opportunity<\/p>\n
148
\n00:08:13,440 –> 00:08:17,160
\nhe has of elaborating anything?
\nI’d be glad if you would. <\/p>\n
149
\n00:08:18,480 –> 00:08:19,880
\nI think it.
\nWould be best if you would turn <\/p>\n
150
\n00:08:19,880 –> 00:08:26,680
\nto the prophecy of Isaiah and
\nfind the last chapter in the <\/p>\n
151
\n00:08:26,680 –> 00:08:36,679
\nfirst verses, Isaiah chapter 66.
\nAnd I will have before me both <\/p>\n
152
\n00:08:36,679 –> 00:08:40,559
\nthat passage and the one in the
\nActs and invite you to notice <\/p>\n
153
\n00:08:40,559 –> 00:08:44,680
\nthe way the things developed.
\nSo Isaiah chapter 66. <\/p>\n
154
\n00:08:51,980 –> 00:08:58,100
\nAnd verse one.
\nThus saith the Lord, The heaven <\/p>\n
155
\n00:08:58,100 –> 00:09:00,500
\nis my throne, and the earth is
\nmy footstool. <\/p>\n
156
\n00:09:01,620 –> 00:09:03,220
\nWhere is the house that ye build
\nunto me? <\/p>\n
157
\n00:09:03,220 –> 00:09:04,900
\nAnd where is the place of my
\nrest? <\/p>\n
158
\n00:09:06,060 –> 00:09:08,980
\nFor all these things hath mine
\nhand made, and all those things <\/p>\n
159
\n00:09:08,980 –> 00:09:13,660
\nhave been saith the Lord.
\nNow I’m sure your eyes have been<\/p>\n
160
\n00:09:13,660 –> 00:09:15,620
\ngoing on to the rest of that
\nverse. <\/p>\n
161
\n00:09:17,080 –> 00:09:19,880
\nAnd I’m sure the retentive
\nmemories of Stephen’s judges <\/p>\n
162
\n00:09:19,880 –> 00:09:23,680
\nwere going on to the rest of
\nthat verse too, when Stephen <\/p>\n
163
\n00:09:23,680 –> 00:09:26,680
\nsuddenly broke off from reading
\nthat verse and said something <\/p>\n
164
\n00:09:26,680 –> 00:09:29,240
\nquite different.
\nSo go on reading that verse. <\/p>\n
165
\n00:09:29,240 –> 00:09:30,880
\nWould you in fact start again at
\nthe beginning? <\/p>\n
166
\n00:09:30,880 –> 00:09:32,320
\nAnd I will now read from the
\nActs. <\/p>\n
167
\n00:09:33,720 –> 00:09:36,440
\nHarvey at the most High Dwelleth
\nknocked in temples made with <\/p>\n
168
\n00:09:36,440 –> 00:09:40,360
\nhands and set the prophet.
\nHeaven is my throne and earth is<\/p>\n
169
\n00:09:40,360 –> 00:09:42,600
\nmy footstool.
\nWhat house will you build unto <\/p>\n
170
\n00:09:42,600 –> 00:09:45,600
\nme, Set the Lord?
\nOr what is the place of my rest?<\/p>\n
171
\n00:09:46,120 –> 00:09:50,160
\nHath but my hand made all these
\nthings ye stiff, necked, and <\/p>\n
172
\n00:09:50,160 –> 00:09:54,040
\nuncircumcised in heart and ears.
\nYou don’t always resist the Holy<\/p>\n
173
\n00:09:54,040 –> 00:09:59,480
\nSpirit, as your Father’s did.
\nSo do ye and their minds had <\/p>\n
174
\n00:09:59,480 –> 00:10:03,960
\nbeen hoping to go on with But to
\nthis man will I look even to <\/p>\n
175
\n00:10:03,960 –> 00:10:07,480
\nhinders of a contrite spirit,
\nAnd that trembleth at my word. <\/p>\n
176
\n00:10:07,960 –> 00:10:09,760
\nYou’re not like that, said
\nStephen. <\/p>\n
177
\n00:10:09,960 –> 00:10:12,240
\nSavor those words if you like,
\nbut you’re the very opposite. <\/p>\n
178
\n00:10:12,360 –> 00:10:15,080
\nYou stiff necked and
\nuncircumcised in heart and ears.<\/p>\n
179
\n00:10:15,600 –> 00:10:19,200
\nYou do always resist the Holy
\nSpirit as your father’s did. <\/p>\n
180
\n00:10:19,200 –> 00:10:23,680
\nSo do ye.
\nCan you wonder at their <\/p>\n
181
\n00:10:23,680 –> 00:10:29,320
\nreaction?
\nAnd they were pricked in their <\/p>\n
182
\n00:10:29,320 –> 00:10:32,160
\nheart.
\nOh, no, they weren’t. <\/p>\n
183
\n00:10:33,360 –> 00:10:36,000
\nThere had been on the day of
\nPentecost, some Jews had, and <\/p>\n
184
\n00:10:36,000 –> 00:10:38,280
\n3000 had been baptized.
\nTheir consciences have been <\/p>\n
185
\n00:10:38,280 –> 00:10:40,760
\ntouched, but not now.
\nNow they were outraged. <\/p>\n
186
\n00:10:41,440 –> 00:10:43,880
\nStephen was not only attacking
\ntheir building as they thought, <\/p>\n
187
\n00:10:43,880 –> 00:10:46,200
\nhe was attacking them.
\nThey didn’t deserve to have a <\/p>\n
188
\n00:10:46,200 –> 00:10:47,600
\ntemple.
\nStephen was saying. <\/p>\n
189
\n00:10:48,280 –> 00:10:52,080
\nThey deserve to be cast out and
\nreplaced by another people. <\/p>\n
190
\n00:10:52,240 –> 00:10:56,680
\nHe seemed to be hinting.
\nAnd so they were cut to the <\/p>\n
191
\n00:10:56,680 –> 00:11:00,320
\nheart, cut to the quick.
\nWe would say, wouldn’t we? <\/p>\n
192
\n00:11:01,160 –> 00:11:04,480
\nWe would take the expression
\nthat we use when you take a pair<\/p>\n
193
\n00:11:04,480 –> 00:11:07,280
\nof scissors and you cut a nail
\nand you go too deep and the <\/p>\n
194
\n00:11:07,280 –> 00:11:09,440
\nsudden pain strikes you and
\nyou’re angry with yourself. <\/p>\n
195
\n00:11:10,240 –> 00:11:11,720
\nAnd Stephen was doing that to
\nthem. <\/p>\n
196
\n00:11:12,480 –> 00:11:14,760
\nThey were cut to the heart, and
\nthey gnashed on him with their <\/p>\n
197
\n00:11:14,760 –> 00:11:16,960
\nteeth, and the men became wild
\nbeasts. <\/p>\n
198
\n00:11:18,520 –> 00:11:21,040
\nAnd they dragged him from their
\nplace of judgement, and took him<\/p>\n
199
\n00:11:21,040 –> 00:11:25,080
\nto the place where, against all
\nRoman law, they committed the <\/p>\n
200
\n00:11:25,080 –> 00:11:28,480
\nACT to be executing him on the
\ntestimony of false witnesses and<\/p>\n
201
\n00:11:28,480 –> 00:11:30,280
\nin response to the anger of
\ntheir hearts. <\/p>\n
202
\n00:11:30,520 –> 00:11:36,080
\nAnd they stoned him, and the
\nyoung men laid their garments. <\/p>\n
203
\n00:11:37,680 –> 00:11:42,400
\nAt the feet of another young
\nman, whose name was Saul, whom <\/p>\n
204
\n00:11:42,400 –> 00:11:47,000
\nStephen had defeated an
\nargument, who now became the <\/p>\n
205
\n00:11:47,000 –> 00:11:52,920
\nleader of Stephen’s
\nexecutioners, and Stephen died <\/p>\n
206
\n00:11:52,920 –> 00:11:57,400
\nunder the rain of stones.
\nThey had seen his face as he <\/p>\n
207
\n00:11:57,400 –> 00:11:59,440
\nmade his final declaration of
\nfaith. <\/p>\n
208
\n00:12:00,000 –> 00:12:03,120
\nThey beheld his faith as though
\nit was the face of an Angel. <\/p>\n
209
\n00:12:04,520 –> 00:12:06,520
\nThey heard his words as they put
\nhim to death. <\/p>\n
210
\n00:12:08,120 –> 00:12:15,440
\nLord Jesus, receive my spirit.
\nLord lay not this sin to their <\/p>\n
211
\n00:12:15,440 –> 00:12:21,720
\ncharge.
\nAnd Saul was watching, and Saul <\/p>\n
212
\n00:12:21,720 –> 00:12:25,840
\nwas listening, and words were
\nspoken there. <\/p>\n
213
\n00:12:25,840 –> 00:12:29,800
\nWhich could this man Saul have
\nheard before? <\/p>\n
214
\n00:12:31,440 –> 00:12:35,240
\nEven if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t
\nforget them as they were spoken <\/p>\n
215
\n00:12:35,240 –> 00:12:38,800
\nthen.
\nLord, lay not this sin to their <\/p>\n
216
\n00:12:38,800 –> 00:12:43,240
\ncharge.
\nLord Jesus received my spirit. <\/p>\n
217
\n00:12:46,320 –> 00:12:51,160
\nSaul was a young man.
\nThat he was a man in the <\/p>\n
218
\n00:12:51,160 –> 00:12:54,120
\nposition of authority that he
\ndid hold suggests that his youth<\/p>\n
219
\n00:12:54,920 –> 00:12:57,120
\nmust have taken to the age of 30
\nor so. <\/p>\n
220
\n00:12:59,120 –> 00:13:01,400
\nAnd if that was the nature of
\nhis youth, which fits in very <\/p>\n
221
\n00:13:01,400 –> 00:13:04,240
\nwell with his describing himself
\nin the later stages of his <\/p>\n
222
\n00:13:04,240 –> 00:13:08,520
\npreaching as an old man some 40
\nyears of experience lying <\/p>\n
223
\n00:13:08,520 –> 00:13:14,800
\nbetween, then he would only have
\nbeen some four or five years at <\/p>\n
224
\n00:13:14,800 –> 00:13:16,760
\nthe most, perhaps only two or
\nthree. <\/p>\n
225
\n00:13:17,440 –> 00:13:23,440
\nJunior to his master, Paul was
\nabout the same age as Jesus of <\/p>\n
226
\n00:13:23,440 –> 00:13:26,280
\nNazareth, a little younger, but
\nnot much. <\/p>\n
227
\n00:13:28,760 –> 00:13:30,880
\nHe had been brought up in
\nJerusalem at the feet of <\/p>\n
228
\n00:13:30,880 –> 00:13:34,720
\nGamaliel.
\nHis formative years as a Rabbi <\/p>\n
229
\n00:13:34,720 –> 00:13:41,480
\nto be were spent in Jerusalem.
\nIt is at least possible, and the<\/p>\n
230
\n00:13:41,480 –> 00:13:45,600
\nbest very likely, that he lived
\nin Jerusalem, while the Lord was<\/p>\n
231
\n00:13:45,600 –> 00:13:51,000
\npreaching in Judea and in
\nGalilee, and in Samaria and in <\/p>\n
232
\n00:13:51,000 –> 00:13:55,400
\nDecapolis.
\nIt is certain that if he were in<\/p>\n
233
\n00:13:55,400 –> 00:13:58,240
\nthat position, he must have
\nheard about the activities of <\/p>\n
234
\n00:13:58,240 –> 00:14:03,320
\nthe Lord, must have known about
\nthe conspiracies against him, <\/p>\n
235
\n00:14:04,520 –> 00:14:07,960
\nand must the view of his present
\nattitude have joined in them in <\/p>\n
236
\n00:14:07,960 –> 00:14:11,920
\nspirit, have been one of those
\nhostile to the Lord’s teaching. <\/p>\n
237
\n00:14:13,120 –> 00:14:15,720
\nMight, even though perhaps he
\nhadn’t yet attained that <\/p>\n
238
\n00:14:15,720 –> 00:14:19,280
\nseniority, have been amongst
\nthose who were consenting to his<\/p>\n
239
\n00:14:19,280 –> 00:14:21,760
\ndeath when the Lord was placed
\non trial. <\/p>\n
240
\n00:14:22,160 –> 00:14:23,880
\nIn the High priests judgement
\nhall. <\/p>\n
241
\n00:14:25,960 –> 00:14:27,640
\nBut at least he must have known
\nabout him. <\/p>\n
242
\n00:14:30,240 –> 00:14:35,920
\nAnd there was a certain young
\nman, a rich young man who came <\/p>\n
243
\n00:14:35,920 –> 00:14:39,480
\nto Jesus and said, good master,
\nwhat good thing must I do that I<\/p>\n
244
\n00:14:39,480 –> 00:14:42,640
\nmay inherit eternal life?
\nWe considered him yesterday and <\/p>\n
245
\n00:14:42,640 –> 00:14:46,440
\nput him on the shelf.
\nFor a while now, we take him <\/p>\n
246
\n00:14:46,440 –> 00:14:48,480
\ndown and examine him a little
\nmore closely. <\/p>\n
247
\n00:14:49,640 –> 00:14:52,560
\nHe was young.
\nWell, he would still not be old <\/p>\n
248
\n00:14:52,640 –> 00:14:53,920
\nthree or four years later, would
\nhe? <\/p>\n
249
\n00:14:55,600 –> 00:15:00,040
\nHe was rich.
\nPaul had enjoyed all things, and<\/p>\n
250
\n00:15:00,040 –> 00:15:02,760
\nhad counted that done that he
\nmight win Christ when he lost <\/p>\n
251
\n00:15:02,760 –> 00:15:04,640
\nthem, and he had known how to
\nabound. <\/p>\n
252
\n00:15:04,720 –> 00:15:10,120
\nHe must have been rich too.
\nHe was a ruler, Pauline <\/p>\n
253
\n00:15:10,120 –> 00:15:12,000
\nconsenting to his desk to
\ndestroy that. <\/p>\n
254
\n00:15:12,000 –> 00:15:15,120
\nHe too was amongst the ruling
\ncategory, perhaps the Sanhedrin <\/p>\n
255
\n00:15:15,120 –> 00:15:19,000
\nmember.
\nHe counted himself a righteous <\/p>\n
256
\n00:15:19,000 –> 00:15:20,840
\nman.
\nAll these things that I kept <\/p>\n
257
\n00:15:20,840 –> 00:15:24,440
\nfrom my youth up.
\nPaul, defending himself, later <\/p>\n
258
\n00:15:24,440 –> 00:15:29,000
\nsaid my manner of life from my
\nyouth up the same praise. <\/p>\n
259
\n00:15:29,840 –> 00:15:32,840
\nKnow all the people he was
\namongst. <\/p>\n
260
\n00:15:32,840 –> 00:15:36,480
\nThe company of those who he
\nlater described as being <\/p>\n
261
\n00:15:36,480 –> 00:15:39,680
\nignorant of God’s righteousness
\nand going about to establish his<\/p>\n
262
\n00:15:39,680 –> 00:15:42,840
\nown righteousness did not submit
\nhimself to the righteousness of <\/p>\n
263
\n00:15:42,840 –> 00:15:48,560
\nGod and went away sorrowful.
\nWe don’t know that the one who <\/p>\n
264
\n00:15:48,560 –> 00:15:50,680
\nwent away sorrowful went also
\naway angry. <\/p>\n
265
\n00:15:50,680 –> 00:15:55,320
\nBut he might have done.
\nWe don’t know at what point Saul<\/p>\n
266
\n00:15:55,320 –> 00:15:58,840
\nof Tasas, of whom we rehear
\nForsook so far, the traditions <\/p>\n
267
\n00:15:58,840 –> 00:16:02,200
\nof the Gamaliel who taught him.
\nAs to become a persecutor of the<\/p>\n
268
\n00:16:02,200 –> 00:16:03,000
\nfaith.
\nBut he did. <\/p>\n
269
\n00:16:03,000 –> 00:16:07,240
\nGamaliel wasn’t like that.
\nAlthough Paul so revered the <\/p>\n
270
\n00:16:07,240 –> 00:16:10,560
\nmemory of this man in his
\nunregenerate days, that man had <\/p>\n
271
\n00:16:10,560 –> 00:16:14,160
\ncounselled against persecution.
\nI said Let these men. <\/p>\n
272
\n00:16:14,160 –> 00:16:16,200
\nGo.
\nDon’t do them any harm. <\/p>\n
273
\n00:16:16,360 –> 00:16:18,960
\nIf this is the will of God, you
\nwon’t be able to stop it, and <\/p>\n
274
\n00:16:18,960 –> 00:16:20,720
\nyou might be found fighting
\nagainst God. <\/p>\n
275
\n00:16:20,880 –> 00:16:23,440
\nThis man, Saul, fought against
\nGod quite cheerfully and <\/p>\n
276
\n00:16:23,440 –> 00:16:25,760
\ndeliberately.
\nSomething had happened to make <\/p>\n
277
\n00:16:25,760 –> 00:16:29,160
\nhim estranged from the teaching
\nof Gamaliel, and if it was that,<\/p>\n
278
\n00:16:29,160 –> 00:16:32,480
\nbeing rejected by the law when a
\nrich young man came to him. <\/p>\n
279
\n00:16:33,600 –> 00:16:36,720
\nExacerbated by the manner in
\nwhich Stephen had hopelessly <\/p>\n
280
\n00:16:36,720 –> 00:16:39,200
\ndefeated him in argument that
\nmight account for his <\/p>\n
281
\n00:16:39,200 –> 00:16:43,400
\nbitterness.
\nThe Lord had loved that rich <\/p>\n
282
\n00:16:43,400 –> 00:16:46,640
\nyoung man.
\nWe are about to consider <\/p>\n
283
\n00:16:46,640 –> 00:16:50,040
\nsomething of the career of one
\nwho wrote about himself when it <\/p>\n
284
\n00:16:50,040 –> 00:16:53,000
\npleased God who called me from
\nmy mother’s womb. <\/p>\n
285
\n00:16:53,840 –> 00:16:57,880
\nHe was a marked young man.
\nThis Paul was before he was <\/p>\n
286
\n00:16:57,880 –> 00:17:02,040
\nborn, like Jeremiah when he was
\nborn, God watched him through <\/p>\n
287
\n00:17:02,040 –> 00:17:05,560
\nhis career and guided him to the
\npoint when something would <\/p>\n
288
\n00:17:05,560 –> 00:17:08,720
\nhappen to him that would make
\nhim a disciple of the Lord. <\/p>\n
289
\n00:17:10,119 –> 00:17:11,240
\nConjecture.
\nYes, of course. <\/p>\n
290
\n00:17:11,240 –> 00:17:14,400
\nIt’s conjecture.
\nBut sanctified conjecture I <\/p>\n
291
\n00:17:14,400 –> 00:17:17,040
\nthink, fitting in with the
\ncharacters of the people <\/p>\n
292
\n00:17:17,040 –> 00:17:21,599
\nconcerned, giving us a a
\npleasant detective research in <\/p>\n
293
\n00:17:21,599 –> 00:17:25,079
\nthe words of the scriptures,
\nleading us to an appreciation of<\/p>\n
294
\n00:17:25,079 –> 00:17:26,839
\nthis man whom we are now to
\nconsider. <\/p>\n
295
\n00:17:27,079 –> 00:17:29,720
\nWhich is perhaps heightened
\nrather than diminished by it. <\/p>\n
296
\n00:17:30,480 –> 00:17:32,680
\nA little excitement to which the
\nword of God leads us. <\/p>\n
297
\n00:17:35,000 –> 00:17:37,320
\nBut now Saul is conniving at a
\nmurder. <\/p>\n
298
\n00:17:38,800 –> 00:17:41,920
\nNow he is witnessing an
\nexecution he has provoked. <\/p>\n
299
\n00:17:42,840 –> 00:17:49,160
\nConsenting to a lynch law.
\nAnd Stephen has said, Lord Jesus<\/p>\n
300
\n00:17:49,160 –> 00:17:54,480
\nreceived my spirit, Lord, lay
\nnot this sin to their charge. <\/p>\n
301
\n00:17:55,920 –> 00:18:00,240
\nAnd if Saul was that rich young
\nman, if Saul was, whether that <\/p>\n
302
\n00:18:00,240 –> 00:18:03,200
\nrich young man or not, in
\nJerusalem at the time, which he <\/p>\n
303
\n00:18:03,200 –> 00:18:05,920
\nso easily could have been, he
\nhad heard words like that <\/p>\n
304
\n00:18:05,920 –> 00:18:10,880
\nbefore, For from his cross, or
\nwhile being knelt to the cross, <\/p>\n
305
\n00:18:11,080 –> 00:18:15,440
\nthe Lord had said.
\nFather, forgive them, for they <\/p>\n
306
\n00:18:15,440 –> 00:18:19,040
\nknow not what they do.
\nAnd what is the difference <\/p>\n
307
\n00:18:19,040 –> 00:18:21,160
\nbetween that?
\nAnd Lord lay not this sin to <\/p>\n
308
\n00:18:21,160 –> 00:18:24,960
\ntheir charge.
\nStephen was engaged in an act of<\/p>\n
309
\n00:18:24,960 –> 00:18:28,000
\nmemory, reminding the people of
\nwords that many of them might <\/p>\n
310
\n00:18:28,000 –> 00:18:30,640
\nhave heard before, saying what
\nJesus said when they were <\/p>\n
311
\n00:18:30,640 –> 00:18:33,680
\nkilling him.
\nIt would be the hardest to <\/p>\n
312
\n00:18:33,680 –> 00:18:37,560
\nforget that if you heard it
\nbefore, it wouldn’t be easy in <\/p>\n
313
\n00:18:37,560 –> 00:18:39,920
\nany case.
\nAnd then? <\/p>\n
314
\n00:18:40,560 –> 00:18:44,400
\nAs the Lord was about to expire,
\nhe said, Father, into thy hands <\/p>\n
315
\n00:18:44,400 –> 00:18:48,320
\nI commend my spirit.
\nAnd now Stephen is saying to <\/p>\n
316
\n00:18:48,320 –> 00:18:51,160
\nhim, Lord Jesus receive my
\nspirit. <\/p>\n
317
\n00:18:53,280 –> 00:18:57,360
\nWe who hear both those sets of
\nwords look back upon the dying <\/p>\n
318
\n00:18:57,360 –> 00:18:59,320
\nof the Lord Jesus Christ.
\nSee the? <\/p>\n
319
\n00:18:59,320 –> 00:19:02,200
\nHorror of the great darkness
\nwhich has come upon him, know <\/p>\n
320
\n00:19:02,200 –> 00:19:04,680
\nthat he has been rung from his
\nlips. <\/p>\n
321
\n00:19:04,680 –> 00:19:08,160
\nThe words My God, my God, why
\nhast thou forsaken me? <\/p>\n
322
\n00:19:08,640 –> 00:19:11,400
\nAnd see him enduring his
\nsuffering alone, as a criminal <\/p>\n
323
\n00:19:11,400 –> 00:19:14,680
\nwould have had to.
\nAnd yet we see the faithful, <\/p>\n
324
\n00:19:14,960 –> 00:19:18,280
\nthough pinioned hands of the
\nLord, stretching out into the <\/p>\n
325
\n00:19:18,280 –> 00:19:20,480
\nplaces above and saying, in
\neffect, Father, I know you’re <\/p>\n
326
\n00:19:20,480 –> 00:19:23,480
\nthere.
\nYou won’t let me down. <\/p>\n
327
\n00:19:23,480 –> 00:19:26,520
\nI die in faith, Father.
\nInto thy hands I commend my <\/p>\n
328
\n00:19:26,520 –> 00:19:32,320
\nspirit.
\nAnd now we find Stephen, almost <\/p>\n
329
\n00:19:32,320 –> 00:19:36,160
\nas it were, reminding the Lord,
\nLord, you put your trust in your<\/p>\n
330
\n00:19:36,160 –> 00:19:39,760
\nFather, and he hurt you.
\nDo the same for me now, Will <\/p>\n
331
\n00:19:39,760 –> 00:19:45,280
\nyou, Lord Jesus, receive my
\nspirit? <\/p>\n
332
\n00:19:47,880 –> 00:19:53,000
\nAnd he fell asleep.
\nWhat strange words to use. <\/p>\n
333
\n00:19:53,240 –> 00:19:57,520
\nI know it’s a technical term for
\ndying, particularly dying when <\/p>\n
334
\n00:19:57,520 –> 00:20:01,000
\nyou’re going to rise again, as
\nStephen so surely will. <\/p>\n
335
\n00:20:01,560 –> 00:20:04,360
\nBut Luke’s worth putting.
\nIt mingles together the horror <\/p>\n
336
\n00:20:04,360 –> 00:20:08,600
\nof that place of execution.
\nAnd the bloody death that <\/p>\n
337
\n00:20:08,600 –> 00:20:13,600
\nStephen died with the innocence
\nof a child saying it’s prayers <\/p>\n
338
\n00:20:13,600 –> 00:20:17,640
\nand going to sleep.
\nHe’s just said his prayers. <\/p>\n
339
\n00:20:18,880 –> 00:20:22,520
\nLord Jesus received my spirit.
\nLord, no not listen to their <\/p>\n
340
\n00:20:22,520 –> 00:20:24,200
\ncharge.
\nAnd then it’s almost as though <\/p>\n
341
\n00:20:24,400 –> 00:20:27,600
\nhe climbed into his comfortable
\ncotton, puts the coverlet over <\/p>\n
342
\n00:20:27,600 –> 00:20:31,400
\nhim and falls asleep in peace.
\nWhen he had said this, he fell <\/p>\n
343
\n00:20:31,400 –> 00:20:36,080
\nasleep.
\nSo wonderfully does Luke. <\/p>\n
344
\n00:20:36,680 –> 00:20:41,640
\nPicture for us the innocence,
\nthe calmness, the confidence, <\/p>\n
345
\n00:20:42,080 –> 00:20:48,040
\nalmost the joy of this man.
\nAnd Saul was consenting unto his<\/p>\n
346
\n00:20:48,040 –> 00:20:52,680
\ndeath.
\nThose words could not have been <\/p>\n
347
\n00:20:52,680 –> 00:20:54,760
\nexposed from his mind by
\nanything. <\/p>\n
348
\n00:20:56,280 –> 00:20:59,760
\nThey were there, and so was that
\nsight. <\/p>\n
349
\n00:21:02,760 –> 00:21:06,520
\nHowever, the immediate result
\nwas quite other than Saul’s <\/p>\n
350
\n00:21:06,520 –> 00:21:11,800
\nconversion, it resulted in
\nheightened, redoubled activities<\/p>\n
351
\n00:21:12,880 –> 00:21:16,160
\nin a bitter persecution, such as
\nthe communities in Jerusalem and<\/p>\n
352
\n00:21:16,160 –> 00:21:21,440
\nelsewhere had never known they
\nthat were scattered abroad. <\/p>\n
353
\n00:21:22,320 –> 00:21:27,160
\nWe read in chapter 8.
\nAnd Saul was consenting unto his<\/p>\n
354
\n00:21:27,160 –> 00:21:28,840
\ndeath.
\nAnd at that time there was a <\/p>\n
355
\n00:21:28,840 –> 00:21:32,160
\ngreat persecution against the
\nchurch that was at Jerusalem, <\/p>\n
356
\n00:21:32,400 –> 00:21:34,840
\nAnd they were all scattered
\nabroad throughout the regions of<\/p>\n
357
\n00:21:34,840 –> 00:21:38,880
\nJudea and Samaria, except the
\napostles and devout men, carried<\/p>\n
358
\n00:21:38,880 –> 00:21:42,720
\nStephen to his burial and made
\ngreat lamentation over him. <\/p>\n
359
\n00:21:43,000 –> 00:21:46,400
\nAs for Saul, he made havoc of
\nthe church, entering into every <\/p>\n
360
\n00:21:46,400 –> 00:21:49,400
\nhouse, and hailing men and women
\ncommitted them to prison. <\/p>\n
361
\n00:21:49,520 –> 00:21:51,360
\nThey therefore that were
\nscattered abroad. <\/p>\n
362
\n00:21:53,320 –> 00:21:57,080
\nSaul ran amok.
\nHe would have wiped out the <\/p>\n
363
\n00:21:57,080 –> 00:22:00,440
\nchurch if he could.
\nHe himself says that many people<\/p>\n
364
\n00:22:00,440 –> 00:22:02,480
\nwere held to prison and to death
\nby his deeds. <\/p>\n
365
\n00:22:04,680 –> 00:22:07,800
\nBut the effect was not quite
\nwhat Saul was working for, <\/p>\n
366
\n00:22:09,040 –> 00:22:11,400
\nthough that was scattered
\nabroad, we are told, went <\/p>\n
367
\n00:22:11,400 –> 00:22:16,080
\neverywhere preaching the word.
\nSo a gospel hitherto confined to<\/p>\n
368
\n00:22:16,080 –> 00:22:19,280
\nthe environs of Jerusalem,
\nspread outwards through Judea <\/p>\n
369
\n00:22:19,880 –> 00:22:22,800
\nand into Samaria, as the Lord
\nhad said. <\/p>\n
370
\n00:22:22,800 –> 00:22:26,080
\nThey were beginning to act.
\nHe should be my witnesses in <\/p>\n
371
\n00:22:26,080 –> 00:22:29,920
\nJerusalem and in Samaria and to
\nthe uttermost parts of the <\/p>\n
372
\n00:22:29,920 –> 00:22:32,680
\nworld.
\nNow they had got as far as <\/p>\n
373
\n00:22:32,680 –> 00:22:36,000
\nSamaria before another three
\nchapters have gone, they will <\/p>\n
374
\n00:22:36,000 –> 00:22:39,120
\nhave gone further still into
\nstrictly Gentile territory, and <\/p>\n
375
\n00:22:39,120 –> 00:22:42,680
\nafter that there will be no
\nlimit to where they will go and <\/p>\n
376
\n00:22:42,680 –> 00:22:44,400
\nSaul.
\nHumanly speaking, started it <\/p>\n
377
\n00:22:44,400 –> 00:22:47,840
\nall.
\nStarted it all by trying to stop<\/p>\n
378
\n00:22:47,840 –> 00:22:51,400
\nit all.
\nSaul’s first missionary work was<\/p>\n
379
\n00:22:51,400 –> 00:22:55,360
\ndone against his own will, by
\nscattering aboard the preachers,<\/p>\n
380
\n00:22:56,080 –> 00:23:00,040
\nby blowing the seed into the
\nwinds and letting the seed <\/p>\n
381
\n00:23:00,040 –> 00:23:01,480
\nsettle to the ground and take
\nroot. <\/p>\n
382
\n00:23:01,480 –> 00:23:04,680
\nThat was Saul’s work, humanly
\nspeaking. <\/p>\n
383
\n00:23:07,120 –> 00:23:11,600
\nWhy he had lost.
\nIt seems all thought that he <\/p>\n
384
\n00:23:11,600 –> 00:23:17,960
\nmight be found fighting against
\nGod, lost it or shouted it down.<\/p>\n
385
\n00:23:20,160 –> 00:23:22,760
\nWhat do you do when something is
\nnagging at your conscience and <\/p>\n
386
\n00:23:22,760 –> 00:23:24,400
\nyou don’t intend to take any
\nnotice? <\/p>\n
387
\n00:23:25,920 –> 00:23:28,480
\nOr you turn up the sound of the
\nhigh five, or switch on the <\/p>\n
388
\n00:23:28,480 –> 00:23:30,680
\ntelly?
\nOr you take an aspirin and go to<\/p>\n
389
\n00:23:30,680 –> 00:23:32,400
\nbed?
\nYou do anything to get the <\/p>\n
390
\n00:23:32,400 –> 00:23:35,520
\nthought out of your mind.
\nAnd if the noise still keeps on <\/p>\n
391
\n00:23:35,520 –> 00:23:38,360
\ndigging in, then you go to
\nsomebody else and start talking <\/p>\n
392
\n00:23:38,360 –> 00:23:41,400
\nabout something different.
\nYou shut it down. <\/p>\n
393
\n00:23:42,400 –> 00:23:46,840
\nThat’s what you do, don’t you?
\nAnd it doesn’t work. <\/p>\n
394
\n00:23:48,680 –> 00:23:52,600
\nAnd it didn’t work with Saul and
\nwhen he got to his. <\/p>\n
395
\n00:23:52,600 –> 00:23:54,480
\nWorst point.
\nSo he got to the point where he <\/p>\n
396
\n00:23:54,480 –> 00:23:58,800
\nwas now ripe for the change
\nasking of the chief priests. <\/p>\n
397
\n00:23:58,800 –> 00:24:02,520
\nWe are told in Chapter 9,
\nLetters to Damascus that going <\/p>\n
398
\n00:24:02,520 –> 00:24:05,960
\nright outside normal Jewish
\nterritory and going into a city <\/p>\n
399
\n00:24:05,960 –> 00:24:07,560
\nwhere.
\nOne would think the Jewish writ <\/p>\n
400
\n00:24:07,560 –> 00:24:10,640
\ndid not run, but Damascus was
\none of the cities of the <\/p>\n
401
\n00:24:10,640 –> 00:24:12,800
\nDecapolis and perhaps that was
\nwhy it did run. <\/p>\n
402
\n00:24:13,320 –> 00:24:16,160
\nAsking of the high priest
\nletters, he went to Damascus, <\/p>\n
403
\n00:24:16,320 –> 00:24:19,360
\nintending to hail more men and
\nwomen, if he found any of this <\/p>\n
404
\n00:24:19,360 –> 00:24:22,280
\nway, to bring them to the death,
\nto trial in Jerusalem, and then <\/p>\n
405
\n00:24:22,280 –> 00:24:25,160
\nto whatever might follow.
\nAnd he was well on his way to <\/p>\n
406
\n00:24:25,160 –> 00:24:27,080
\ndoing that when approaching
\nDamascus. <\/p>\n
407
\n00:24:27,080 –> 00:24:30,400
\nHe was stricken down.
\nYou know the passage Acts, <\/p>\n
408
\n00:24:30,400 –> 00:24:39,400
\nChapter 9, verse three.
\nAnd as he journeyed, it came to <\/p>\n
409
\n00:24:39,400 –> 00:24:43,040
\npass.
\nAs he drew nigh to Damascus, and<\/p>\n
410
\n00:24:43,040 –> 00:24:47,600
\nsuddenly thou shined down about
\nhim a light from heaven, and he <\/p>\n
411
\n00:24:47,600 –> 00:24:51,520
\nfell to the earth, and heard a
\nvoice saying to him, Saul, Saul,<\/p>\n
412
\n00:24:51,960 –> 00:24:56,040
\nwhy persecutest thou me?
\nAnd he said, Who art thou, Lord?<\/p>\n
413
\n00:24:57,200 –> 00:24:59,720
\nAnd the Lord, said, I am Jesus,
\nwhom thou persecutest? <\/p>\n
414
\n00:25:00,560 –> 00:25:03,200
\nIt is hard for thee to kick
\nagainst the pricks. <\/p>\n
415
\n00:25:04,200 –> 00:25:07,400
\nAnd he trembling and astonished,
\nsaid, Lord, what wilt thou have <\/p>\n
416
\n00:25:07,400 –> 00:25:10,240
\nme to do?
\nAnd the Lord said unto him, <\/p>\n
417
\n00:25:10,240 –> 00:25:13,040
\nArise, and go into the city, and
\nit shall be told thee what thou <\/p>\n
418
\n00:25:13,080 –> 00:25:15,880
\nmust do.
\nAnd the men that journey with <\/p>\n
419
\n00:25:15,880 –> 00:25:20,920
\nhim stood speechless, hearing a
\nvoice, but seeing no man, and <\/p>\n
420
\n00:25:20,920 –> 00:25:23,280
\nsaw the roast from the earth.
\nAnd when his eyes were opened, <\/p>\n
421
\n00:25:23,360 –> 00:25:26,280
\nhe saw no man.
\nBut they led him by the hand, <\/p>\n
422
\n00:25:26,280 –> 00:25:29,000
\nand brought him into Damascus.
\nAnd he was three days without <\/p>\n
423
\n00:25:29,000 –> 00:25:30,760
\nsight and did neither eat nor
\ndrink. <\/p>\n
424
\n00:25:34,280 –> 00:25:37,160
\nHe was going out to Damascus,
\nbreathing threatenings and <\/p>\n
425
\n00:25:37,160 –> 00:25:39,000
\nslaughter the most, one has told
\nus. <\/p>\n
426
\n00:25:39,640 –> 00:25:43,080
\nHe had a set purpose for which
\nhe would not be deflected to go <\/p>\n
427
\n00:25:43,080 –> 00:25:46,040
\nto the purse the disciples might
\ndust, I have gone, and bring <\/p>\n
428
\n00:25:46,040 –> 00:25:48,600
\nthem to what he would perversely
\nhave called justice. <\/p>\n
429
\n00:25:50,920 –> 00:25:56,920
\nAnd he was strapped down, And
\nthe voice said, Saul, Saul, why <\/p>\n
430
\n00:25:56,920 –> 00:26:01,920
\npersecutest thou me?
\nIt is hard for thee to kick <\/p>\n
431
\n00:26:01,920 –> 00:26:07,120
\nagainst the Goad.
\nWhy persecutest thou me? <\/p>\n
432
\n00:26:09,520 –> 00:26:12,960
\nHe doesn’t just bring home to
\nSaul that he is committing a far<\/p>\n
433
\n00:26:12,960 –> 00:26:16,360
\nworse offence than merely
\nhurting men, but he is going <\/p>\n
434
\n00:26:16,360 –> 00:26:19,800
\nagainst someone who is now at
\nthe right hand of God in heaven.<\/p>\n
435
\n00:26:19,800 –> 00:26:24,760
\nIt does that, but it does more.
\nIt perhaps revealed to him, as <\/p>\n
436
\n00:26:24,760 –> 00:26:29,040
\nit must surely reveal to us,
\nthat when anyone does anything <\/p>\n
437
\n00:26:29,960 –> 00:26:32,680
\nagainst the servants of God, or
\nindeed against the will of the <\/p>\n
438
\n00:26:32,680 –> 00:26:36,080
\nLord, it hurts.
\nHurts in the heavenly places, <\/p>\n
439
\n00:26:37,360 –> 00:26:41,640
\nhurts the Lord himself.
\nSaul, you’re persecuting me. <\/p>\n
440
\n00:26:43,400 –> 00:26:45,240
\nYou had those stones thrown at
\nme. <\/p>\n
441
\n00:26:47,280 –> 00:26:51,640
\nYou are crucifying me afresh.
\nYou’re travelling under foot, <\/p>\n
442
\n00:26:51,640 –> 00:26:53,360
\nthe Son of God.
\nYou are counting the blood of <\/p>\n
443
\n00:26:53,360 –> 00:26:55,400
\nthe covenant wherewith you might
\nhave been sanctified. <\/p>\n
444
\n00:26:56,240 –> 00:27:01,000
\nAn unholy thing.
\nThat’s what men do to Jesus when<\/p>\n
445
\n00:27:01,000 –> 00:27:04,880
\nthey turn against him and hurt
\nhis disciples or reject His <\/p>\n
446
\n00:27:04,880 –> 00:27:08,800
\nwords.
\nThat’s what we would do to our <\/p>\n
447
\n00:27:08,800 –> 00:27:14,440
\nLord were we to reject His ways
\nor go astray, or be ruthless <\/p>\n
448
\n00:27:14,440 –> 00:27:18,360
\nwith those who trust in him.
\nWe will be persecuting him. <\/p>\n
449
\n00:27:18,520 –> 00:27:20,400
\nWe will be trampling under foot
\nthe Son of God. <\/p>\n
450
\n00:27:20,520 –> 00:27:23,400
\nWe will be counting the blood of
\nthe UN covenant, the covenant <\/p>\n
451
\n00:27:23,400 –> 00:27:25,960
\nwhereby we were sanctified, an
\nunholy thing. <\/p>\n
452
\n00:27:25,960 –> 00:27:31,600
\nWe will be hurting our Lord.
\nYou remember how the Lord said I<\/p>\n
453
\n00:27:31,600 –> 00:27:35,800
\nwas sick and in prison, and you
\ncame not unto me? <\/p>\n
454
\n00:27:37,320 –> 00:27:39,480
\nI was naked, and you gave me no
\nclothes. <\/p>\n
455
\n00:27:40,880 –> 00:27:42,640
\nI was hungry.
\nYou gave me no food. <\/p>\n
456
\n00:27:44,560 –> 00:27:46,920
\nAnd you picture the Lord
\nbeholding A disciple, being <\/p>\n
457
\n00:27:46,920 –> 00:27:49,800
\nneglected by other disciples,
\nand given no clothing in the <\/p>\n
458
\n00:27:49,800 –> 00:27:53,000
\ncold.
\nAnd the Lord shivers You picture<\/p>\n
459
\n00:27:53,000 –> 00:27:55,920
\nthe disciple being hungry and
\ndevoid of the means of daily <\/p>\n
460
\n00:27:55,920 –> 00:27:57,240
\nliving, and no food is given
\nhim. <\/p>\n
461
\n00:27:57,240 –> 00:28:02,920
\nAnd the Lord Pines he that
\nhurteth you and despise of you, <\/p>\n
462
\n00:28:04,080 –> 00:28:07,120
\nhe despiseth me, said the Lord.
\nNot just he is doing a thing as <\/p>\n
463
\n00:28:07,120 –> 00:28:11,400
\nbad as that, but I feel it.
\nSo says our Lord. <\/p>\n
464
\n00:28:12,560 –> 00:28:18,760
\nSo he said to Saul, Saul, Saul,
\nwhy persecute astound me? <\/p>\n
465
\n00:28:21,760 –> 00:28:23,880
\nHe’s hard to lead to kick
\nagainst the pricks. <\/p>\n
466
\n00:28:25,640 –> 00:28:27,480
\nI’m sure every other donkey
\nfeels the same. <\/p>\n
467
\n00:28:28,840 –> 00:28:32,160
\nYou stop in your tracks and you
\nare goaded on by the nail in the<\/p>\n
468
\n00:28:32,160 –> 00:28:35,120
\nsharp stick, and you still stay
\ndoggedly where you are, and it <\/p>\n
469
\n00:28:35,120 –> 00:28:38,040
\nhurts the donkey.
\nSaul, you donkey, why don’t you <\/p>\n
470
\n00:28:38,040 –> 00:28:41,440
\nturn round and go the right way?
\nSo the Lord is saying to him as <\/p>\n
471
\n00:28:41,440 –> 00:28:44,560
\nexplicitly as that, stop kicking
\nagainst the goat. <\/p>\n
472
\n00:28:45,000 –> 00:28:47,160
\nGo the way, then you know you
\nmust go. <\/p>\n
473
\n00:28:50,160 –> 00:28:52,280
\nIt wasn’t.
\nSo much a sudden conversion as a<\/p>\n
474
\n00:28:52,280 –> 00:28:56,280
\nsudden yielding to conversion
\nthat Saul underwent on that <\/p>\n
475
\n00:28:56,280 –> 00:28:58,720
\nDamascus Rd.
\nHe had inside his heart, <\/p>\n
476
\n00:28:58,720 –> 00:29:01,240
\nsuspected all along that things
\nwere not right. <\/p>\n
477
\n00:29:01,240 –> 00:29:04,240
\nThe way he was going.
\nThere was still that haunting <\/p>\n
478
\n00:29:04,240 –> 00:29:08,120
\nface, as it had been the face of
\nan Angel that couldn’t be <\/p>\n
479
\n00:29:08,120 –> 00:29:10,080
\nexpunged from the eyes of his
\nmind. <\/p>\n
480
\n00:29:11,960 –> 00:29:13,600
\nThere was still those words of
\nStephen. <\/p>\n
481
\n00:29:14,600 –> 00:29:19,040
\nI see the Lord Jesus standing at
\nthe right hand of God, and now <\/p>\n
482
\n00:29:19,040 –> 00:29:20,840
\nsomething from above is talking
\nto him. <\/p>\n
483
\n00:29:20,960 –> 00:29:26,040
\nWho art thou, Lord?
\nAnd there was still that calm <\/p>\n
484
\n00:29:26,040 –> 00:29:30,040
\nfalling asleep, of the man who
\nhad said, Lord Jesus received my<\/p>\n
485
\n00:29:30,040 –> 00:29:34,920
\nspirit.
\nLord, lay not this sin to their <\/p>\n
486
\n00:29:34,920 –> 00:29:39,760
\ncharge.
\nAnd the man ripe for conversion <\/p>\n
487
\n00:29:39,760 –> 00:29:44,680
\ncollapsed, abandoned all his
\nrebellions, allowed himself to <\/p>\n
488
\n00:29:44,680 –> 00:29:49,560
\nbe led by the hand experience,
\nthe blindness which the Lord had<\/p>\n
489
\n00:29:49,560 –> 00:29:51,880
\nsaid, came to all people who
\nrejected him. <\/p>\n
490
\n00:29:52,120 –> 00:29:58,560
\nFools and blind they were.
\nYet they said, they saw and was <\/p>\n
491
\n00:29:58,560 –> 00:30:02,600
\nmet by a man who had every
\nreason to be afraid of him, who <\/p>\n
492
\n00:30:02,600 –> 00:30:06,280
\nhad heard by many of this man
\nhow he had destroyed the people <\/p>\n
493
\n00:30:06,280 –> 00:30:10,520
\nof God, but responded with
\nchastened bravery to the <\/p>\n
494
\n00:30:10,520 –> 00:30:14,240
\ncommandment of the Lord, and
\nwent to greet the chosen vessel.<\/p>\n
495
\n00:30:16,280 –> 00:30:21,440
\nBrother Saul, he said in
\nanticipation received thy sight.<\/p>\n
496
\n00:30:22,840 –> 00:30:28,160
\nAnd then arise, why carry us?
\nThou wash away thy sins, calling<\/p>\n
497
\n00:30:28,160 –> 00:30:32,760
\nupon the name of the Lord?
\nAnd Saul did that. <\/p>\n
498
\n00:30:35,440 –> 00:30:38,320
\nAnd what a change there was in
\nthe confession of this man at <\/p>\n
499
\n00:30:38,320 –> 00:30:42,280
\nthat stage.
\nHitherto it had been all these <\/p>\n
500
\n00:30:42,280 –> 00:30:46,760
\nthings have I observed from my
\nyouth up, he could later say <\/p>\n
501
\n00:30:46,760 –> 00:30:50,800
\nabout his former way of life and
\nthinking my manner of life from <\/p>\n
502
\n00:30:50,800 –> 00:30:54,280
\nmy youth up know.
\nAll the people I was. <\/p>\n
503
\n00:30:54,640 –> 00:30:57,840
\nWhat was he?
\nA Hebrew of the Hebrews. <\/p>\n
504
\n00:30:58,400 –> 00:31:00,280
\nA Hebrew child of Hebrew
\nparents. <\/p>\n
505
\n00:31:00,280 –> 00:31:03,760
\nA true born Hebrew.
\nA Pharisee of the Pharisees. <\/p>\n
506
\n00:31:03,960 –> 00:31:08,320
\nA faithful Pharisee with a
\nPharisaic father of the tribe of<\/p>\n
507
\n00:31:08,320 –> 00:31:12,920
\nBenjamin circumcised the 8th
\nday, touching the righteousness <\/p>\n
508
\n00:31:12,920 –> 00:31:17,160
\nwhich is of the law blameless,
\nall those things Was this I <\/p>\n
509
\n00:31:17,160 –> 00:31:20,720
\nprofited in the Jews religion of
\nmany my equals not just a <\/p>\n
510
\n00:31:20,720 –> 00:31:23,320
\nPharisee of the Pharisees, but a
\nsuper Pharisee better than the <\/p>\n
511
\n00:31:23,320 –> 00:31:25,480
\nothers.
\nHe could stand side by side with<\/p>\n
512
\n00:31:25,480 –> 00:31:28,320
\nhis fellow Pharisees and think
\nthe publicans profiting in the <\/p>\n
513
\n00:31:28,320 –> 00:31:30,320
\ndeuter religion above many mine
\nequals. <\/p>\n
514
\n00:31:30,320 –> 00:31:37,160
\nThat’s what this Saul was.
\nAnd from all that fragile fabric<\/p>\n
515
\n00:31:37,160 –> 00:31:41,760
\nof righteousness he retreated.
\nSo it crumbled into the dust, <\/p>\n
516
\n00:31:41,760 –> 00:31:45,280
\nshattered and confessed his
\nsins. <\/p>\n
517
\n00:31:46,120 –> 00:31:51,040
\nAnd now why, Tarius, thou arise
\nand be baptized, and call upon <\/p>\n
518
\n00:31:51,040 –> 00:31:54,680
\nthe name of the Lord, and wash
\naway thy sins, said Ananias to <\/p>\n
519
\n00:31:54,680 –> 00:31:58,360
\nhim.
\nAnd he did. <\/p>\n
520
\n00:32:00,600 –> 00:32:06,000
\nAnd Saul the persecutor became
\nSaul the disciple, still Saul. <\/p>\n
521
\n00:32:06,280 –> 00:32:09,040
\nI’ve called him Paul once or
\ntwice today, but that name <\/p>\n
522
\n00:32:09,040 –> 00:32:12,040
\ndoesn’t belong to him as a
\nChristian name as yet. <\/p>\n
523
\n00:32:13,080 –> 00:32:16,120
\nThat’s yet to come.
\nHe still saw until we reached <\/p>\n
524
\n00:32:16,120 –> 00:32:21,480
\nChapter 13.
\nAnd Saul had the same courage in<\/p>\n
525
\n00:32:21,480 –> 00:32:26,040
\nhis new convictions as he had
\nhad personality in his old he <\/p>\n
526
\n00:32:26,040 –> 00:32:29,080
\nsaid about the new job, with the
\nsame zeal he had shown about the<\/p>\n
527
\n00:32:29,080 –> 00:32:31,360
\nold job and straight.
\nAway in the synagogues of <\/p>\n
528
\n00:32:31,360 –> 00:32:34,120
\nDamascus preached Jesus that he
\nis Christ and the Son of God. <\/p>\n
529
\n00:32:36,760 –> 00:32:39,400
\nIt’s not quite easy to
\nreconstruct for sure the events <\/p>\n
530
\n00:32:39,400 –> 00:32:42,840
\nin Damascus.
\nAppeal of something over three <\/p>\n
531
\n00:32:42,840 –> 00:32:46,120
\nyears is spanned by them.
\nHe preaches there. <\/p>\n
532
\n00:32:46,120 –> 00:32:48,280
\nHe goes to Arabia.
\nHe goes back to Damascus and <\/p>\n
533
\n00:32:48,280 –> 00:32:50,520
\npreaches again.
\nSo he tells us that in the <\/p>\n
534
\n00:32:50,560 –> 00:32:54,520
\nletter to the Galatians.
\nBut after his second episode in <\/p>\n
535
\n00:32:54,520 –> 00:32:58,080
\nDamascus, it becomes plain that
\nDamascus is now too hot to hold <\/p>\n
536
\n00:32:58,080 –> 00:33:01,360
\nhim.
\nHe begins an experience of the <\/p>\n
537
\n00:33:01,360 –> 00:33:04,400
\nhostility of his former allies
\nthat was to last in the rest of <\/p>\n
538
\n00:33:04,400 –> 00:33:06,720
\nhis life, and human speaking
\ncustom his life too. <\/p>\n
539
\n00:33:08,200 –> 00:33:11,840
\nHis fellow Jews hated him, now
\nwith a devouring of consuming <\/p>\n
540
\n00:33:12,000 –> 00:33:14,800
\nand implacable hatred.
\nThe leaders of the people would <\/p>\n
541
\n00:33:14,800 –> 00:33:17,400
\nstop at nothing to destroy Saul,
\nas they had stopped at nothing <\/p>\n
542
\n00:33:17,400 –> 00:33:20,840
\nto destroy his master in the
\nyears to come. <\/p>\n
543
\n00:33:20,840 –> 00:33:25,560
\nSaul’s life would never be safe,
\nhumanly speaking, so long as the<\/p>\n
544
\n00:33:25,560 –> 00:33:28,120
\nJews of Jerusalem and those who
\nfollowed them had their say. <\/p>\n
545
\n00:33:29,440 –> 00:33:32,240
\nAnd he experienced the first
\ntaste of that in Damascus when <\/p>\n
546
\n00:33:32,440 –> 00:33:34,960
\nthe polygons, his life and the
\nGod around the city was so <\/p>\n
547
\n00:33:34,960 –> 00:33:37,400
\nserious.
\nThat the only way to get him out<\/p>\n
548
\n00:33:37,400 –> 00:33:40,000
\nwas to bundle him up into a
\nbasket and let him down from the<\/p>\n
549
\n00:33:40,000 –> 00:33:43,560
\nwall like so much laundry.
\nVery humiliating for a proud <\/p>\n
550
\n00:33:43,560 –> 00:33:46,680
\nPharisee.
\nSaul remembers it almost with <\/p>\n
551
\n00:33:46,680 –> 00:33:49,240
\nhumiliation, when he writes to
\nthe Corinthians in the second <\/p>\n
552
\n00:33:49,240 –> 00:33:51,960
\nletter, and says almost as an
\nafterthought, after detailing <\/p>\n
553
\n00:33:51,960 –> 00:33:55,640
\nhis persecutions.
\nAnd in Damascus, the governor <\/p>\n
554
\n00:33:55,640 –> 00:33:58,480
\nunder Aretas, The king, was
\nthere, and I was let down in a <\/p>\n
555
\n00:33:58,480 –> 00:34:02,600
\nbasket from the walls almost to
\nsaying, Imagine that me in the <\/p>\n
556
\n00:34:02,600 –> 00:34:08,560
\nframe of mind I had then.
\nAnd he went to Jerusalem, so the<\/p>\n
557
\n00:34:08,560 –> 00:34:11,280
\nchapter tells us.
\nAnd there he was faced with a <\/p>\n
558
\n00:34:11,280 –> 00:34:14,639
\ndouble problem, that as soon as
\nhis fellow Jewish unbelievers <\/p>\n
559
\n00:34:14,639 –> 00:34:18,199
\ngot to know about it, his life
\nwould be not worth a moment’s <\/p>\n
560
\n00:34:18,199 –> 00:34:20,960
\npurchase again.
\nAnd that he wasn’t too well <\/p>\n
561
\n00:34:20,960 –> 00:34:22,960
\nreceived by the believers
\nthemselves. <\/p>\n
562
\n00:34:23,159 –> 00:34:27,320
\nHe was falling very nicely
\nbetween 2 stools, this converted<\/p>\n
563
\n00:34:27,320 –> 00:34:29,159
\nsoul.
\nThe Jews now hated him. <\/p>\n
564
\n00:34:29,360 –> 00:34:32,000
\nThe disciples didn’t trust him.
\nYou can’t really blame them. <\/p>\n
565
\n00:34:32,880 –> 00:34:34,360
\nThey’d had plenty of reason to
\nmistrust him. <\/p>\n
566
\n00:34:34,360 –> 00:34:36,080
\nThey’d suffered grievously at
\nhis hand. <\/p>\n
567
\n00:34:36,080 –> 00:34:40,400
\nThey’d loved Stephen.
\nSo what was to be done? <\/p>\n
568
\n00:34:41,679 –> 00:34:47,120
\nWell, you know, don’t you?
\nActs Chapter 9, verse 26. <\/p>\n
569
\n00:34:48,760 –> 00:34:51,679
\nAnd when Saul was come to
\nJerusalem, he are saved to join <\/p>\n
570
\n00:34:51,679 –> 00:34:54,840
\nhimself to the disciples.
\nAnd they were all afraid of him,<\/p>\n
571
\n00:34:54,840 –> 00:34:59,320
\nnot believing that he was a
\ndisciple, but Barnabas. <\/p>\n
572
\n00:35:00,720 –> 00:35:04,360
\nBut Barnabas took him.
\nAnd brought him to the apostles,<\/p>\n
573
\n00:35:04,360 –> 00:35:07,360
\nand declared unto them how he
\nhad seen the Lord in the way, <\/p>\n
574
\n00:35:08,280 –> 00:35:11,880
\nand that he had spoken to him.
\nAnd how he had preached boldly <\/p>\n
575
\n00:35:11,880 –> 00:35:13,600
\nat Damascus in the name of
\nJesus. <\/p>\n
576
\n00:35:15,640 –> 00:35:18,720
\nBarnabas filling the role that
\nwe’re coming to expect of him. <\/p>\n
577
\n00:35:20,320 –> 00:35:23,000
\nCalled by the apostles, the Son
\nof Consolation. <\/p>\n
578
\n00:35:23,960 –> 00:35:26,320
\nThe man always ready with the
\nhelping hand. <\/p>\n
579
\n00:35:27,360 –> 00:35:30,160
\nThe man who sold his goods and
\nbrought the money to feed the <\/p>\n
580
\n00:35:30,160 –> 00:35:32,880
\npoor.
\nThe man who now takes the <\/p>\n
581
\n00:35:32,880 –> 00:35:35,840
\noutcast, who nobody loves and
\nbrings him to the apostles, and <\/p>\n
582
\n00:35:36,520 –> 00:35:39,840
\nby his own trust in this man
\ninspires their trust. <\/p>\n
583
\n00:35:39,840 –> 00:35:42,360
\nAnd now they do believe that
\nhe’s a disciple. <\/p>\n
584
\n00:35:42,960 –> 00:35:45,400
\nWe haven’t seen the last of
\nBarnabas in that kind of <\/p>\n
585
\n00:35:45,400 –> 00:35:49,200
\ncapacity, not by any means.
\nBut I hope we’re beginning to <\/p>\n
586
\n00:35:49,200 –> 00:35:52,800
\nwarm, warm to him.
\nHe’s a marvelous man, this <\/p>\n
587
\n00:35:52,800 –> 00:35:57,680
\nBarnabas, so the disciples.
\nReceive him, and Saul has a free<\/p>\n
588
\n00:35:57,680 –> 00:36:00,120
\npassport to go where he will
\namongst the believers. <\/p>\n
589
\n00:36:00,280 –> 00:36:01,800
\nHe engages in their work with
\nthem. <\/p>\n
590
\n00:36:01,800 –> 00:36:03,160
\nThey gross and know and like
\nhim. <\/p>\n
591
\n00:36:03,320 –> 00:36:05,800
\nAnd he preaches again in
\nJerusalem, but that can’t go on <\/p>\n
592
\n00:36:05,800 –> 00:36:07,680
\nfor long.
\nVerse 28. <\/p>\n
593
\n00:36:08,440 –> 00:36:11,200
\nAnd he was with them coming in
\nand going out at Jerusalem. <\/p>\n
594
\n00:36:11,360 –> 00:36:14,640
\nAnd he spoke boldly in the name
\nof the Lord Jesus, and disputed <\/p>\n
595
\n00:36:14,640 –> 00:36:18,760
\nagainst the Grecians.
\nBut they went about to slay him,<\/p>\n
596
\n00:36:20,120 –> 00:36:22,680
\nwhich, when the Brethren knew,
\nthey brought him down to <\/p>\n
597
\n00:36:22,680 –> 00:36:25,960
\nCaesarea and sent him forth to
\nTarsus. <\/p>\n
598
\n00:36:27,920 –> 00:36:31,720
\nThey took him to the coast.
\nThe most natural assumption <\/p>\n
599
\n00:36:31,720 –> 00:36:34,560
\nthere is that Saul being sent
\naway from the scene of their <\/p>\n
600
\n00:36:34,560 –> 00:36:37,720
\nhostilities to his own hometown
\nof Tarsus, would have gone <\/p>\n
601
\n00:36:37,720 –> 00:36:40,440
\nstraight across by sea in a
\nroughly normally direction. <\/p>\n
602
\n00:36:41,240 –> 00:36:43,840
\nMost maps draw it as though he
\ndid, and he might have done 2 <\/p>\n
603
\n00:36:44,200 –> 00:36:47,320
\nthough his own later words about
\npreaching the gospel in Syria <\/p>\n
604
\n00:36:47,320 –> 00:36:50,680
\nand Synesia see us that perhaps
\nhe might have gone round by land<\/p>\n
605
\n00:36:50,680 –> 00:36:53,520
\nand done a bit of preaching on
\nthe way, Not very much you would<\/p>\n
606
\n00:36:53,520 –> 00:36:55,200
\nsee him because the developments
\ncome later. <\/p>\n
607
\n00:36:55,200 –> 00:36:59,120
\nBut amongst Jews it seems Paul
\nmight have started preaching the<\/p>\n
608
\n00:36:59,120 –> 00:37:04,000
\nword.
\nI saw it as a new disciple, and <\/p>\n
609
\n00:37:04,000 –> 00:37:07,280
\nthere we lose him for a little.
\nHe retires into obscurity, and <\/p>\n
610
\n00:37:07,280 –> 00:37:11,720
\nMoses is back in Midian, as was
\nthe Moses of the Old Testament <\/p>\n
611
\n00:37:11,720 –> 00:37:15,040
\ntimes in the House of rural his
\nfather-in-law for 40 years now. <\/p>\n
612
\n00:37:15,040 –> 00:37:17,880
\nFor a short time, we don’t.
\nKnow how long Saul goes into <\/p>\n
613
\n00:37:17,880 –> 00:37:21,280
\nobscurity.
\nIt was no doubt a good thing in <\/p>\n
614
\n00:37:21,280 –> 00:37:23,640
\nthe purpose of God, that his
\npreparation should continue in <\/p>\n
615
\n00:37:23,640 –> 00:37:26,040
\nthis way.
\nBut he would be called when the <\/p>\n
616
\n00:37:26,040 –> 00:37:33,640
\ntime came and the time did come.
\nThere were, however, important <\/p>\n
617
\n00:37:33,640 –> 00:37:35,480
\ndevelopments before that could
\nhappen. <\/p>\n
618
\n00:37:35,480 –> 00:37:39,920
\nSo far, the apostles have begun.
\nThey have preached in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
619
\n00:37:41,720 –> 00:37:46,120
\nIt has spread through Judea
\nPhilip going back to Chapter 8 <\/p>\n
620
\n00:37:46,120 –> 00:37:49,240
\nfor a moment, one of those seven
\nappointed to adjudicate over the<\/p>\n
621
\n00:37:49,240 –> 00:37:52,560
\nmatter of the widow’s relief.
\nHad gone as far as Samaria, and <\/p>\n
622
\n00:37:52,560 –> 00:37:56,320
\nhad preached the word there to a
\ncity of Samaria, perhaps Syca, <\/p>\n
623
\n00:37:56,320 –> 00:37:58,800
\nwhere the woman of Samaria had
\nbeen, and where the Lord had <\/p>\n
624
\n00:37:58,800 –> 00:38:01,960
\nfirst said, They that worship
\nGod must worship him in spirit <\/p>\n
625
\n00:38:01,960 –> 00:38:04,480
\nand in truth.
\nIt might be in that company, <\/p>\n
626
\n00:38:04,480 –> 00:38:07,200
\nwhere some men had already
\nbelieved in Jesus, that the <\/p>\n
627
\n00:38:07,200 –> 00:38:11,120
\ngospel took its new foothold.
\nWhen Philip went N to a city of <\/p>\n
628
\n00:38:11,120 –> 00:38:15,840
\nSamaria, and when he got there
\nmarvelous works were done by <\/p>\n
629
\n00:38:15,840 –> 00:38:19,960
\nPhilip, the apostles in
\nJerusalem got to know about it. <\/p>\n
630
\n00:38:20,680 –> 00:38:24,920
\nAnd what did they do?
\nThere’s a legend about the <\/p>\n
631
\n00:38:24,920 –> 00:38:27,320
\napostles of the Lord Jesus
\nChrist, and the sooner it is <\/p>\n
632
\n00:38:27,320 –> 00:38:30,560
\nlaid the better.
\nAnd that legend is that they <\/p>\n
633
\n00:38:30,560 –> 00:38:34,800
\nwere reluctant men, that they
\nwere parochial Jews at heart, <\/p>\n
634
\n00:38:34,800 –> 00:38:37,760
\nthat they didn’t want to preach
\noutside the Jewish community, <\/p>\n
635
\n00:38:38,000 –> 00:38:39,840
\nthat they had to be pushed and
\nshrugged before they would. <\/p>\n
636
\n00:38:39,960 –> 00:38:43,760
\nAnd it’s just not true.
\nWhat they were is men of <\/p>\n
637
\n00:38:43,760 –> 00:38:47,520
\nresponsibility.
\nThey heard the Lord Jesus Christ<\/p>\n
638
\n00:38:47,520 –> 00:38:49,920
\nsay Quite.
\nPlainly in the Mark mark record <\/p>\n
639
\n00:38:50,160 –> 00:38:52,760
\ngo ye into all the world and
\npreach the gospel to every <\/p>\n
640
\n00:38:52,760 –> 00:38:54,800
\ncreature, and they want them in
\nto rebel against that. <\/p>\n
641
\n00:38:56,240 –> 00:38:59,320
\nThey heard the Lord Jesus Christ
\nsay in the Matthew 28 record <\/p>\n
642
\n00:38:59,680 –> 00:39:03,120
\nthat they should go and make
\ndisciples of all nations and <\/p>\n
643
\n00:39:03,120 –> 00:39:04,640
\nthey want them in to rebel
\nagainst that. <\/p>\n
644
\n00:39:05,440 –> 00:39:08,760
\nThey’ve heard the Lord well.
\nThe Lord say in Luke chapter 24 <\/p>\n
645
\n00:39:08,960 –> 00:39:11,960
\nthat repentance and remission of
\nsin should be preached in His <\/p>\n
646
\n00:39:11,960 –> 00:39:14,880
\nname amongst all nations
\nbeginning at Jerusalem, and they<\/p>\n
647
\n00:39:14,880 –> 00:39:17,040
\nwouldn’t go against that.
\nAnd they have been. <\/p>\n
648
\n00:39:17,040 –> 00:39:19,960
\nTold by the Lord in Acts chapter
\none, that the gospel must be <\/p>\n
649
\n00:39:19,960 –> 00:39:23,800
\npreached from Judea, by his
\nwitnesses, from Jerusalem to <\/p>\n
650
\n00:39:23,800 –> 00:39:27,440
\nJudea to Samaria, and as I have
\nsaid, to the uttermost parts of <\/p>\n
651
\n00:39:27,440 –> 00:39:30,720
\nthe earth.
\nThe Jerusalem beginning had <\/p>\n
652
\n00:39:30,720 –> 00:39:34,600
\ntaken place.
\nThey would move to the other <\/p>\n
653
\n00:39:34,600 –> 00:39:36,360
\nareas when the signs were given
\nto them. <\/p>\n
654
\n00:39:36,360 –> 00:39:38,720
\nThat now was the time, and this
\nwas the way to move. <\/p>\n
655
\n00:39:40,120 –> 00:39:43,280
\nPhilip started the next one in
\nSamaria and what did they do? <\/p>\n
656
\n00:39:43,560 –> 00:39:47,320
\nThey sent Peter and John.
\nWith the obvious intention of <\/p>\n
657
\n00:39:47,320 –> 00:39:49,880
\ntrying to find out whether Peter
\nand John were satisfied with <\/p>\n
658
\n00:39:49,880 –> 00:39:52,360
\nwhat they saw.
\nThis was an authentic work of <\/p>\n
659
\n00:39:52,360 –> 00:39:55,680
\nGod, and Peter and John were so
\nvery satisfied that they clearly<\/p>\n
660
\n00:39:55,680 –> 00:39:58,320
\nwent back with a very good
\nreport, and the gospel was <\/p>\n
661
\n00:39:58,320 –> 00:40:00,200
\nconfirmed with preaching in
\nSamaria. <\/p>\n
662
\n00:40:00,320 –> 00:40:03,480
\nSpirit gifts were bestowed as a
\nsign that this was God’s work, <\/p>\n
663
\n00:40:04,160 –> 00:40:07,840
\nbut there was further yet to go.
\nSamaritans were a kind of <\/p>\n
664
\n00:40:07,840 –> 00:40:11,080
\nhalfway house.
\nNeither quite Jews nor quite <\/p>\n
665
\n00:40:11,080 –> 00:40:13,680
\nGentiles.
\nProbably descendants of those <\/p>\n
666
\n00:40:13,680 –> 00:40:16,040
\nwho were brought in by Isa
\nHaddon, the Egyptian, the <\/p>\n
667
\n00:40:16,320 –> 00:40:19,240
\nAssyrian king, when the
\nIsraelites were deported from <\/p>\n
668
\n00:40:19,240 –> 00:40:21,920
\nthe Northern Kingdom to populate
\ntheir cities, and who <\/p>\n
669
\n00:40:21,920 –> 00:40:24,440
\ncompromised very nicely by
\nserving the Lord and worshipping<\/p>\n
670
\n00:40:24,440 –> 00:40:27,360
\ntheir own gods.
\nThat’s the kind of people, <\/p>\n
671
\n00:40:27,360 –> 00:40:30,480
\nperhaps, through whom these
\nSamaritans were descended. <\/p>\n
672
\n00:40:30,800 –> 00:40:32,800
\nThe Jews didn’t trust them, but
\nstill they weren’t quite <\/p>\n
673
\n00:40:32,800 –> 00:40:34,440
\nGentiles.
\nThey did hold the Pentateu. <\/p>\n
674
\n00:40:34,440 –> 00:40:37,560
\nThey did believe in at least the
\nearliest part of the word of <\/p>\n
675
\n00:40:37,560 –> 00:40:38,920
\nGod.
\nSo. <\/p>\n
676
\n00:40:39,520 –> 00:40:42,160
\nPure Gentiles.
\nThey’ve not come in on any scale<\/p>\n
677
\n00:40:42,160 –> 00:40:45,200
\nas yet.
\nThat was to be the next move, <\/p>\n
678
\n00:40:46,280 –> 00:40:48,080
\nand that takes us to Acts
\nChapter 10. <\/p>\n
679
\n00:40:52,440 –> 00:40:55,840
\nThere was a certain man in
\nCaesarea called Cornelius, a <\/p>\n
680
\n00:40:55,840 –> 00:40:59,720
\ncenturion of the band called the
\nItalian Italian band, a devout <\/p>\n
681
\n00:40:59,720 –> 00:41:02,480
\nman, and one that feared God
\nwith all his house, which gave <\/p>\n
682
\n00:41:02,480 –> 00:41:04,960
\nmuch arms to the people and
\nprayed to God all way. <\/p>\n
683
\n00:41:06,120 –> 00:41:07,760
\nObviously he was quite all
\nright, wasn’t he, this <\/p>\n
684
\n00:41:07,760 –> 00:41:09,480
\nCornelius?
\nHe didn’t need anything more, <\/p>\n
685
\n00:41:09,480 –> 00:41:11,320
\ndid he?
\nHe was a righteous man. <\/p>\n
686
\n00:41:11,320 –> 00:41:13,320
\nHe lived well, He gave alms, he
\nprayed to God. <\/p>\n
687
\n00:41:13,560 –> 00:41:16,840
\nObviously salvation was well.
\nIt was being given to him on a <\/p>\n
688
\n00:41:16,840 –> 00:41:18,880
\nplate, wasn’t it?
\nSo good was this man. <\/p>\n
689
\n00:41:20,320 –> 00:41:26,400
\nNo, not that.
\nSend men to Joppa, where there <\/p>\n
690
\n00:41:26,400 –> 00:41:29,080
\nis one Simon Peter lodging with
\none Simon of Tanner. <\/p>\n
691
\n00:41:29,280 –> 00:41:31,640
\nHe will tell thee what thou
\noughtest to do. <\/p>\n
692
\n00:41:33,080 –> 00:41:37,000
\nHe hadn’t started.
\nHe was just fruitful material <\/p>\n
693
\n00:41:37,000 –> 00:41:39,640
\nfor salvation.
\nBut he needed, like everybody <\/p>\n
694
\n00:41:39,640 –> 00:41:42,840
\nelse, to go through the right
\nprocedure to know about the <\/p>\n
695
\n00:41:42,840 –> 00:41:45,360
\nLord, to see his need of the
\nLord’s death, to be aware of his<\/p>\n
696
\n00:41:45,360 –> 00:41:48,560
\nown nature, to take the gesture
\nof obedience and become a <\/p>\n
697
\n00:41:48,560 –> 00:41:50,520
\ndisciple.
\nProfiting then from what the <\/p>\n
698
\n00:41:50,520 –> 00:41:53,200
\nLord had done, Peter will tell
\nyou, sent for him. <\/p>\n
699
\n00:41:54,520 –> 00:41:59,160
\nMeanwhile, in the Providence of
\nGod, Peter in Joppa was pacing <\/p>\n
700
\n00:41:59,160 –> 00:42:02,880
\nthe housetop.
\nHe was waiting for his meal, of <\/p>\n
701
\n00:42:02,880 –> 00:42:05,240
\ncourse, but he was.
\nOn the House stop. <\/p>\n
702
\n00:42:05,480 –> 00:42:09,160
\nAnd he fell into a vision, and
\nhe saw sheep let down from <\/p>\n
703
\n00:42:09,160 –> 00:42:11,640
\nheaven with all manner of
\nunclean beasts and birds and <\/p>\n
704
\n00:42:11,640 –> 00:42:15,240
\ncreeping things in it.
\nAnd the voice came saying, <\/p>\n
705
\n00:42:15,240 –> 00:42:18,520
\nArise, Peter slay and eat.
\nAnd the Jew in Peter came to the<\/p>\n
706
\n00:42:18,520 –> 00:42:21,320
\nsurface as it would in the
\ndream, wouldn’t it you you’d say<\/p>\n
707
\n00:42:21,320 –> 00:42:23,720
\nthe way you feel in the dream,
\nthere’ll be no inhibitions <\/p>\n
708
\n00:42:23,720 –> 00:42:26,080
\nthere.
\nAnd he said, Lord, nothing <\/p>\n
709
\n00:42:26,080 –> 00:42:28,760
\ncommon or uncleaner than any
\ntime past my lips. <\/p>\n
710
\n00:42:30,080 –> 00:42:32,480
\nAnd the vision came three times,
\nand each time with the words <\/p>\n
711
\n00:42:32,600 –> 00:42:35,120
\nWhat God hath 10s that call not
\nthou common? <\/p>\n
712
\n00:42:36,880 –> 00:42:40,440
\nAnd Peter stood on the housetop
\nand wondered and pondered, until<\/p>\n
713
\n00:42:40,440 –> 00:42:42,920
\nthey called him down to meet the
\nfriends who’ve just arrived. <\/p>\n
714
\n00:42:43,680 –> 00:42:46,480
\nGentile friends, important
\ngentile friends. <\/p>\n
715
\n00:42:46,640 –> 00:42:49,560
\nThe chief officer of Cornelius
\nhousehold, Cornelius was not <\/p>\n
716
\n00:42:49,560 –> 00:42:51,400
\ndoing anything.
\nBy hearts he sent the right <\/p>\n
717
\n00:42:51,400 –> 00:42:53,960
\npeople for the job, the most
\nimposing people he could send. <\/p>\n
718
\n00:42:57,480 –> 00:42:59,920
\nI wonder where Peter was
\nthinking in his mind when he <\/p>\n
719
\n00:42:59,920 –> 00:43:04,160
\nplaced him on a housetop.
\nJoppa was the place from which <\/p>\n
720
\n00:43:04,160 –> 00:43:08,000
\nJonah had set sail in the ship
\nof Tashish. <\/p>\n
721
\n00:43:09,120 –> 00:43:11,560
\nHe was indeed trying to get away
\nfrom it all, but it was a place <\/p>\n
722
\n00:43:11,560 –> 00:43:14,600
\nwhere you could get away from it
\nall, a good place for exporting <\/p>\n
723
\n00:43:14,600 –> 00:43:17,480
\nyour feelings or your person or
\nyour views or your teaching or <\/p>\n
724
\n00:43:17,480 –> 00:43:20,800
\nyour gospel.
\nPeter had been to Samaria. <\/p>\n
725
\n00:43:20,800 –> 00:43:23,360
\nHe’d gone out through litter and
\nhe’d arrived at Joppa. <\/p>\n
726
\n00:43:23,960 –> 00:43:25,800
\nOr was he waiting for a ship to
\ntake him overseas? <\/p>\n
727
\n00:43:25,800 –> 00:43:29,160
\nWas he wanting God to tell him
\nhow he could use that second key<\/p>\n
728
\n00:43:29,160 –> 00:43:30,880
\nto open the door to the
\nGentiles? <\/p>\n
729
\n00:43:31,280 –> 00:43:33,320
\nI will give unto thee the keys
\nof the Kingdom of heaven. <\/p>\n
730
\n00:43:34,880 –> 00:43:37,400
\nWell, if he was, he wasn’t
\ndirected that way, but he got <\/p>\n
731
\n00:43:37,400 –> 00:43:42,440
\nhis directions nevertheless.
\nGo with these men to see Zarya <\/p>\n
732
\n00:43:43,640 –> 00:43:48,320
\nand talk to them.
\nIt was a strange meeting of <\/p>\n
733
\n00:43:48,320 –> 00:43:49,600
\npersons.
\nThat wasn’t it. <\/p>\n
734
\n00:43:51,160 –> 00:43:54,760
\nA possibly retired centurion in
\ngenteel surroundings. <\/p>\n
735
\n00:43:55,480 –> 00:44:01,640
\nGentile by thinking elegant,
\nrich, socially high in the <\/p>\n
736
\n00:44:01,640 –> 00:44:07,160
\nscale.
\nOh Cornelius says the message to<\/p>\n
737
\n00:44:07,160 –> 00:44:10,800
\nhim in his dream.
\nJust send a messenger or more <\/p>\n
738
\n00:44:10,800 –> 00:44:13,360
\nthan one.
\nSent somebody anyway and goes to<\/p>\n
739
\n00:44:13,360 –> 00:44:16,760
\nthe leather workers place.
\nDon’t mind about the smell, just<\/p>\n
740
\n00:44:16,760 –> 00:44:19,520
\ngo there and fetch it.
\nAn ex fisherman. <\/p>\n
741
\n00:44:20,880 –> 00:44:25,040
\nAnd he will tell you what to do
\nand think of the humility of <\/p>\n
742
\n00:44:25,040 –> 00:44:30,960
\nthat man who sent his best
\nservants to go to a tannery and <\/p>\n
743
\n00:44:31,160 –> 00:44:33,880
\nignoring what a tannery
\ninevitably would smell like, or <\/p>\n
744
\n00:44:33,880 –> 00:44:38,880
\nthe house where the tunnel
\nlives, fetch A fisherman and <\/p>\n
745
\n00:44:38,880 –> 00:44:42,480
\ntake him home, and almost
\nworship him when he got there. <\/p>\n
746
\n00:44:44,680 –> 00:44:47,360
\nThere was no I thought he would
\ncome and strike his hand up on <\/p>\n
747
\n00:44:47,360 –> 00:44:50,160
\nthe place.
\nAs the leper Neyman had said <\/p>\n
748
\n00:44:50,160 –> 00:44:53,800
\nbefore, he learned better ways.
\nCornelius, for all his fine <\/p>\n
749
\n00:44:53,800 –> 00:44:55,680
\nclothes, knew the leprosy
\nbeneath and didn’t have to be <\/p>\n
750
\n00:44:55,680 –> 00:45:01,160
\ntold he would do whatever it was
\nthe Prophet told him to do when <\/p>\n
751
\n00:45:01,160 –> 00:45:05,160
\nPeter came.
\nPeter, on his part, has his <\/p>\n
752
\n00:45:05,160 –> 00:45:06,800
\nproblems.
\nHe might smell of fish and he <\/p>\n
753
\n00:45:06,800 –> 00:45:09,600
\nmight smell of leather, but at
\nleast he was a disciple of the <\/p>\n
754
\n00:45:09,600 –> 00:45:13,560
\nLord and he was a Jew, and
\nthings unclean didn’t pass his <\/p>\n
755
\n00:45:13,560 –> 00:45:15,200
\nlips.
\nAnd now he was going and talking<\/p>\n
756
\n00:45:15,200 –> 00:45:18,440
\nto Gentiles.
\nYou know, he said, beginning a <\/p>\n
757
\n00:45:18,440 –> 00:45:21,560
\nrather tactless but highly
\nproper speech to Cornelius. <\/p>\n
758
\n00:45:22,040 –> 00:45:26,480
\nYou know how it is an unlawful
\nthing for a man that is a Jew to<\/p>\n
759
\n00:45:26,480 –> 00:45:29,720
\nkeep company with a Gentile.
\nBut God has told me that I <\/p>\n
760
\n00:45:29,720 –> 00:45:31,760
\nshould not call any man common
\nor unclean. <\/p>\n
761
\n00:45:32,040 –> 00:45:33,320
\nYou know what I think about you,
\ndon’t you? <\/p>\n
762
\n00:45:33,320 –> 00:45:35,480
\nHe said.
\nYou know what kind of people we <\/p>\n
763
\n00:45:35,480 –> 00:45:37,840
\nJews think you Gentiles are.
\nI would have told you so if I <\/p>\n
764
\n00:45:37,840 –> 00:45:41,240
\nhadn’t been forbidden.
\nBut as it is now, I know I’ve <\/p>\n
765
\n00:45:41,240 –> 00:45:43,440
\ngot to come and preach to you.
\nThat was a part of Peter’s <\/p>\n
766
\n00:45:43,440 –> 00:45:46,640
\nexperience too, learning the
\nways of the Lord by humbling <\/p>\n
767
\n00:45:46,640 –> 00:45:49,960
\nhimself too, and recognising the
\nGentiles to a people. <\/p>\n
768
\n00:45:51,160 –> 00:45:54,400
\nThere’s to be no longer in the
\nambit of the gospel, the <\/p>\n
769
\n00:45:54,400 –> 00:45:56,400
\ndistinction between clean and
\nunclean meats. <\/p>\n
770
\n00:45:56,400 –> 00:45:59,560
\nThere wasn’t to be that either.
\nLiterally, in due time, there is<\/p>\n
771
\n00:45:59,560 –> 00:46:02,680
\nto be now a recognition that in
\nChrist there is neither Jew nor <\/p>\n
772
\n00:46:02,680 –> 00:46:04,840
\nGreek, There’s neither bond nor
\nfree. <\/p>\n
773
\n00:46:05,040 –> 00:46:08,200
\nThere’s neither male nor female.
\nYou’re all one in Christ Jesus, <\/p>\n
774
\n00:46:08,480 –> 00:46:12,960
\nand he preached, and Cornelius
\nand his household listened. <\/p>\n
775
\n00:46:14,800 –> 00:46:17,120
\nAnd there’s no reason to think
\nthat Peter had any reluctance <\/p>\n
776
\n00:46:17,120 –> 00:46:19,200
\nthen to accept the consequences
\nof what he was doing. <\/p>\n
777
\n00:46:19,400 –> 00:46:21,360
\nBut those that were with him,
\nperhaps were different. <\/p>\n
778
\n00:46:22,040 –> 00:46:26,160
\nSeveral people had gone with him
\nto Cornelius household, and at <\/p>\n
779
\n00:46:26,160 –> 00:46:29,400
\nthat point there came the gift
\nfrom heaven. <\/p>\n
780
\n00:46:30,320 –> 00:46:33,080
\nAt that point those men,
\nprematurely, as it were, began <\/p>\n
781
\n00:46:33,080 –> 00:46:35,760
\nto speak with tongues, and
\nPeter, possibly relieved that <\/p>\n
782
\n00:46:35,760 –> 00:46:39,240
\nthe need to argue, was taken out
\nof his lips, said, who can <\/p>\n
783
\n00:46:39,240 –> 00:46:42,160
\nforbid water?
\nThat these should not be <\/p>\n
784
\n00:46:42,160 –> 00:46:44,840
\nbaptized, which have received
\nthe Holy Spirit as well as we. <\/p>\n
785
\n00:46:46,800 –> 00:46:50,480
\nAnd they were baptized to the
\ngreat joy of the household, to <\/p>\n
786
\n00:46:51,120 –> 00:46:54,000
\nthe deep satisfaction of Peter,
\nwho had now used his second key <\/p>\n
787
\n00:46:54,000 –> 00:46:56,960
\nwith effect.
\nAnd the apostles at Jerusalem, <\/p>\n
788
\n00:46:56,960 –> 00:47:00,440
\nwhat did they think?
\nWell, I suppose this is one of <\/p>\n
789
\n00:47:00,440 –> 00:47:03,800
\nthe stones on which the legend
\nof the apostles of reluctant men<\/p>\n
790
\n00:47:03,800 –> 00:47:05,920
\nis built.
\nChapter 11, verse one. <\/p>\n
791
\n00:47:07,680 –> 00:47:10,080
\nAnd the apostles and brethren
\nthat were at Judea, they heard <\/p>\n
792
\n00:47:10,080 –> 00:47:12,720
\nthat the Gentiles also had
\nreceived the word of God. <\/p>\n
793
\n00:47:12,840 –> 00:47:15,520
\nAnd when Peter was coming to
\nJerusalem, there that were of <\/p>\n
794
\n00:47:15,520 –> 00:47:18,960
\nthe circumcision contended with
\nhim saying, Thou wentest into <\/p>\n
795
\n00:47:18,960 –> 00:47:20,840
\nMilan, circumcised, and delete
\nwith them. <\/p>\n
796
\n00:47:22,720 –> 00:47:24,960
\nNow of course in Jerusalem there
\nwould be apostles, and there <\/p>\n
797
\n00:47:24,960 –> 00:47:26,600
\nwould be other members of the
\nEcclesia. <\/p>\n
798
\n00:47:26,880 –> 00:47:29,400
\nAnd no doubt the apostles were
\nbetter instructed than some of <\/p>\n
799
\n00:47:29,400 –> 00:47:31,600
\nthe other members were.
\nAnd there might have been some <\/p>\n
800
\n00:47:31,600 –> 00:47:34,640
\nJewish converts who really were
\nfilled with distaste of what <\/p>\n
801
\n00:47:34,640 –> 00:47:38,240
\nPeter had done.
\nBut the apostles wanted to know.<\/p>\n
802
\n00:47:38,240 –> 00:47:40,880
\nThey needed to find out.
\nThey would not take steps in the<\/p>\n
803
\n00:47:40,880 –> 00:47:42,160
\ndark.
\nThey would do as they knew. <\/p>\n
804
\n00:47:42,160 –> 00:47:44,560
\nThe Lord wanted them to do so.
\nPeter had better account for <\/p>\n
805
\n00:47:44,560 –> 00:47:47,280
\nhimself.
\nAnd Peter did. <\/p>\n
806
\n00:47:48,320 –> 00:47:51,800
\nTold about his visions, told
\nabout his preaching, told about <\/p>\n
807
\n00:47:51,800 –> 00:47:55,680
\nthe pouring out of the gifts
\nfrom heaven, and who was I that <\/p>\n
808
\n00:47:55,680 –> 00:48:00,040
\nI should withstand God, he said.
\nAnd their reaction was that of <\/p>\n
809
\n00:48:00,040 –> 00:48:02,920
\ngenerous minded men who really
\nwanted this to happen, but <\/p>\n
810
\n00:48:02,920 –> 00:48:05,480
\nwanted to be sure.
\nAnd when they heard this, they <\/p>\n
811
\n00:48:05,480 –> 00:48:10,120
\nglorified God, saying, Then hath
\nGod also unto the Gentiles <\/p>\n
812
\n00:48:10,120 –> 00:48:16,480
\ngranted repentance unto life?
\nFellow Gentiles, aren’t you <\/p>\n
813
\n00:48:16,480 –> 00:48:16,800
\nglad?\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Class 1 from this series was used in GCT Episode 265. 1 00:00:00,040 –> 00:00:04,960 This…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":786,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/8765608\/podcast\/play\/78036384\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2023-10-1%2Ffac711c0-075b-6c11-a39a-79807537352a.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:48:17","filesize":"44.03M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"tags":[26],"series":[18],"class_list":["post-1030","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-season-6","series-gct-ext"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t