FATHER FORGIVE THEM... CONFLICT IN THE CHURCH

BACKGROUND

IN CHAPTER 6 THERE AROSE SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN THE HEBRAIC JEWS AND THE HELLENISTIC JEWS CONCERNING THE NEGLECT OF THE NEGLECT IN THE DAILY DISTRIBUTION (6:1)

THE APOSTLES NOT WILLING TO ABANDON THERE OBLIGATION TO THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER DECIDED TO CHOOSE 6 MEN FROM AMONG THE HELLENIST JEWS WITH SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS (REPUTE, FULL OF THE SPIRIT & WISDOM). AMONG THOSE CHOSEN WAS STEPHEN WHO WAS FULL OF WISDOM, POWER & THE HOLY SPIRIT (6:2-7)

STEPHEN A GREEK SPEAKING JEW, AND OBVIOUS CONVERT OF CHRIST PROVED TO BE ONE OF CHRIST BEST WITNESSES IN THE NT.

6:8 Stephen was full of wisdom (v. 3), full of the Holy Spirit (v. 5), and full of faith and power. He had the gifts, the boldness, and the brilliance to be a powerful witness; yet even his witness would be rejected by the religious leaders. Hearts are opened only by God, not by our gifts, boldness, or brilliance!.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1378). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

EXAMINED

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (according to he has certain gifts of the Spirit)9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Steven had gifts of the Spirit and bore much fruit

Steven preached the Gospel truth

6:9–11 the Synagogue of the Freedmen: A synagogue was a local place of worship, a community center for worship and studying the Scriptures. In contrast, the temple was the one worship center for all Judaism, the focus of Jewish rituals such as sacrifice. There were many synagogues both in Judea and throughout the Roman world. The one referred to in this verse was for Hellenistic Jews from outside Jerusalem.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1378). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Once the leaders examined him they found that he did not agree with the tradition of the

Once the leaders examined him they found that he did not agree with the tradition of the

But not only did he not agree with the tradition of the day but he confronted it (6:9b-10)

According to tradition, a synagogue was established wherever there were as many as ten Jewish men. The principal meeting was on the Sabbath, and a typical service consisted of the recitation of the Shema, a confession of faith in the one God (), prayers, scripture readings from the Law and the Prophets, a sermon, and a benediction.

According to tradition, a synagogue was established wherever there were as many as ten Jewish men. The principal meeting was on the Sabbath, and a typical service consisted of the recitation of the Shema, a confession of faith in the one God (), prayers, scripture readings from the Law and the Prophets, a sermon, and a benediction.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1378). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

EXPOUND

SHEMA, THE [shuh MAH] (hear thou) — the Jewish confession of faith that begins, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (). The complete Shema is found in three passages from the Old Testament: , and 11:13–21.

The first of these passages stresses the unity of God and the importance of loving Him and valuing His commands. The second passage promises blessing or punishment according to a person’s obedience of God’s will. The third passage commands that a fringe be worn on the edge of one’s garments as a continual reminder of God’s laws. These verses make up one of the most ancient features of worship among the Jewish people. Jesus quoted from the Shema during a dispute with the scribes ().

Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.EXPOUND

Scripture that supports the trinity and the unique oneness of God

; ; ; “Mathew1:23”

; ; ; ;

 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Ch. 6:11-15 They have no grounds to bring any charges or accusations against him so they plot and make up lies against him .

 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

  1.Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” 6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes. And they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ” 11 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. The Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

12 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.” 15 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 16 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’ ” 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 18 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ 21 And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

EXPOUND

EXECUTE