The Call of Abraham
It has been widely taught by learned men, that discrepancies abound in Stephen’s speech before his martyrdom; it, therefore, calls for a few remarks.
It is well to remember, that Acts 6 tells us that Stephen was “full of the Holy Ghost ... full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles ... they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake ... and they saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” We ask, then, was he likely to have spoken with accuracy, or not?
Add to all this, that his faithful speech was before the Sanhedrim, who were well instructed in the history of the people of Israel, and especially as to Moses and Abraham, and the Pentateuch, so that any historical discrepancy would have at once been detected by them. But of such a thing there is not a trace.
Let us now look at some of the charges of modern philosophers. One is, that in Acts 7:4, we are taught concerning Abraham, that the death of his father was after the call, and not, as according to Genesis 11:32, before it. If the accounts of the call of Abraham be carefully examined, no such phrase can be found, as “the call,” because there was evidently more than one. Stephen speaks of the God of glory having appeared to Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee” (Acts 7:2-3). The effect of this was, that he left his country, and it may be, many of his kindred; but his father accompanied him, and Sarah, and Lot, and dwelt in Haran. There they remained long enough for souls to be gotten in Haran (Gen. 11:31; 12:5). Then it seems God called him to get out from his country, kindred, and father’s house, and come into a land that He would show him (Gen. 12:1). The effect of this call was, that he departed out of Haran. This is confirmed by Stephen saying, “from thence (Haran) when his father was dead, He (God) removed him into this land;” showing unquestionably that there was a second interposition on the part of Jehovah. Now, where is there discrepancy between the account in Genesis, and the testimony of Stephen? Nay, rather, is not the comparison of the two accounts a further testimony to the perfect accuracy of Scripture, and of both having divine authorship?
The Years of Moses
It is alleged that there is in Acts 7:23,30,36, the distinct mention of three periods of forty years, of. which only the last is mentioned in the Pentateuch. But if we turn to Exodus 7, we are told that “Moses was fourscore years old ... . when they spake unto Pharaoh” (Ex. 7:7). Now these fourscore years of Moses exactly agree with Stephen’s account, that he was forty years old when it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel, and was forty years after in Madian. This also fits in perfectly with Exodus 2:11,15, and Exodus 7:7. Stephen makes the age of Moses to be one hundred and twenty years altogether; and in Deuteronomy 31:2, and Deuteronomy 34:7, he is said to have died at the age of one hundred and twenty years. Now, where is there any discrepancy?
The Terror of Moses
We believe there is no remedy if men have not the fear of God before their eyes. Take another example, to show with what levity and trifling some of the learned in our day have published their views — some more of the last words of God’s faithful martyr, when full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, and faith. It is said, that “the terror of Moses at the bush spoken of in Acts 7:32, is not mentioned in Exodus 3:3.” It is quite true it is not mentioned in Exodus 3:3, but in Exodus 3:6 we find the words, “And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” Could any testimony more clearly confirm the agreement of the martyr’s teaching with the prophet’s statement?
Saul’s Sight of the Lord Jesus
It is widely taught that there are contradictions in the two accounts of the conversion of Saul, in Acts 9:7 and Acts 22: 9. Let us carefully compare them. Both Saul and those who traveled with him are mentioned. Saul saw the Lord Jesus Christ, was blinded by the light, heard Him speak words to him personally, addressing him in the Hebrew tongue, calling him by name, and Saul replied. The men who were with him saw the light, were alarmed, (did not speak a word, saw no one, but heard a voice or sound. In Acts 9:7 we read. “The men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice (or sound) but seeing no man.’’ In Acts 22:9, we read, “They that were with me saw indeed the light and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me.” In these Scriptures there is surely no discrepancy.
(Continued and to be continued).