DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ARE THESE THINGS SO?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ARE THESE THINGS SO?'

"Then the high priest said, 'Are these things so?' " (Acts 7:1)

Stephen had been brought before the high priest by a group called "The Synagogue of the Freedmen." There is no information about this sect, but they were not from Israel. They were from Cyrene, Alexandria (in Egypt), Cilicia and Asia. So it would appear that they had no personal experience regarding the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus. They had probably heard of Jesus from the Jewish leaders because they repeated the same accusations that the Jews had brought against Jesus – that He had blasphemed against Moses and the law, that He had wanted to do away with the Mosaic law, and that He wanted to destroy the temple. This accusation was the same charge leveled against Jesus when He stood trial before Caiphas, the high priest, just before His crucifixion.

Assuming that the high priest in Acts 7:1 is the same high priest that presided at Jesus' trial, we can be sure that his interrogation of Stephen was just like when Jesus was tried. There was no desire for the truth. It was a sham proceeding. When he asked, "Are these things so?", he had no more desire to hear what Stephen would say than he did from Jesus.

As I write this, the national news is filled with the congressional hearings into the January 6 situation. In watching some of the hearings, it is apparent that the ruling party has no interest in truly finding out what happened on that fateful night. The have their minds made up, and will only present arguments that enhance their agenda.

No matter how well the defense argument is presented – as Stephen did – it will fall on deaf ears. Stephen laid out his case as a lawyer would – precept on precept, line upon line, starting with God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. But it had no effect because these people did not want the truth.

When we share the Gospel with people, we can discern pretty quickly whether people want to hear the truth, or just want to hear what fits their mindset. That does not mean that we should not speak God's message, but we must understand that when Satan blinds their eyes, they will not see the truth no matter how well we present it. Nevertheless, we should always be ready to give the reason for the hope that lies with us, that these things are so.

Love, Dad