LOCAL CONDITIONS AND SERVICE
LOCAL CONDITIONS AND SERVICE
JT The first verse of Acts 13 is clearly to call attention to what was there in Antioch. It is said, in verse 26 of chapter 11, “And so it was with them that for a whole year they were gathered together in the assembly and taught a large crowd: and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”. Thus the first verse of this chapter clearly contemplates what was there, as if to stress the idea of the local position; that is what God had now in Antioch. We have before us what God had at the time at Antioch and what He could use in a wide field, the Gentile field. Then, in verse 2, we have “As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit [p. 218] said, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted [p. 220] and prayed, and having laid their hands on them, they let them go. They therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed away to Cyprus”. The local position at Antioch was thus evidently taken on by God as a means of enlarging the field. The work was carried on from a centre such as Antioch, in which the principles of the assembly were maintained. The stress would be on what was there in Antioch; the assembly was there. Clearly there was no obstruction at all, so that the Spirit had liberty to move; and so He said, “Separate me now ... for the work to which I have called them”. Then He is free to send them forth, and they go forth, with great results.
FCH There was a spontaneity about the work at first, but did not everything become regulated?
JT Clearly it was the work of God. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. That is a definite name involving that the order that Christ would impart had given character to the company at Antioch.
[p. 215] Ques Is there a suggestion in the fact that these men are called prophets and teachers? Where prophetic ministry and teaching are effective in a place, it will lead to an ability to minister to the Lord, and it is in those conditions the Spirit of God is free to develop something distinctive by way of gift.
JT The Spirit is, thus I suppose, speaking triumphantly, if we may speak of Him in that way, in His saying, “Separate me now”.
Ques Would the teaching for a whole year be in view of assembly formation, and would the presence of the prophets and teachers suggest the functioning of the Spirit so that there should be an answer to the Lord out of the place and in those conditions develop something that becomes of use in a wider area?
JT That is just what I was thinking, in connection with what has been remarked on chapter 11. There is, of course, what had intervened as given in chapter 12; what the enemy was doing, among other things, and how God met that. The field is thus clear for the divine service. It says, “Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was there”. The reference being to the actual position of the assembly which was there. Then to augment all that we have the prophets and teachers whose names are given, and then it says, “As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said ...” Everything is ready, there, under the Lord, for the great work undertaken now; the wide field or scope of service which had in mind the ingathering of the Gentiles. The prophets and teachers would be ready, as there, to maintain the position that had been reached, which is a great matter.
Ques In chapter 11, verse 26, the teaching is mentioned first. It says, “they ... taught a large crowd”, and then in verse 27, we have “Now in these days prophets went down”. I wondered whether there was some significance, now that the assembly status had [p. 216] been arrived at, in the order being reversed to “prophets and teachers”?
JT I suppose Agabus should be taken into account, not exactly as a prophet in the assembly to support it, but bringing in what is needed in the way of information. In the government of God there was to be a famine, and Agabus’ service would be to bring out what was there in the way of means to meet the famine. It came to pass under Claudius and it was over all the inhabited earth. But we are told that “they determined, according as any one of the disciples was well off”, (a remarkable expression), “each of them to send to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea, to minister to them; which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul”. It is not a collection; it is rather to show what was there, what God had governmentally and what would be available to support the testimony in a practical sense. I thought it would be just as well to touch on that section, as to the kind of prophecy that is in mind. It is a person having ability to testify as to coming events.
WC Would there be some link with 1 Corinthians 12, when he passes from the thought of the body to the assembly? It says, “God has set certain in the assembly: first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers”. We get that order, prophets first and teachers following.
JT It is similar in Ephesians. I suppose that prophecy comes next to apostolic power in ministry. It is a question of ministry and what the assembly needs in a spiritual sense.
AB Referring to the end of chapter 11, would the Spirit’s ministry have in mind developments which might take place in the world and anticipate it by ministry which would tend to fortify the saints? I was thinking of the ministry we had before the War. We did not know the War was coming, but how valuable that ministry was when the War came!
JT [p. 217] Undoubtedly this country was in mind, and the number of saints in it, so that they should go through the terrible ordeal that God knew was coming. But we have no such ministry as we see in Agabus. Now it is rather to fit the saints spiritually for what may be about to happen, so that the saints should discern that it was about to happen.
Ques Would it help us, in our local settings, to be more aware of the value, not only of teaching, but of the exercise of what is prophetic? Would the teaching be the steady, systematic building up of the saints and be universal in its character, all following the lead that the Lord may be giving, whereas the prophet, as functioning in a place, would bring in the mind of God in relation to conditions that might exist?
JT I think so. The prophetic ministry is seen in 1 Corinthians 14 when the saints in one place all come together. It is to show what God has in the place.
JJT Does not the prophetic word keep us alive in regard to the truth?
JT Quite so. We are told who these prophets and teachers were, and then what they were doing. It says, that they were ministering to the Lord and fasting. These are things that have to be noted, because “ministering to the Lord” is purely spiritual activity on the part of the saints. Then fasting is another thing, for it is that which in itself reduces mere effort; fasting would reduce what might appear in itself, to be right, but brought about by natural effort. We are thus all the more ready for spiritual support.
Ques Do you mean it would limit mere human activity?
JT just so.
GWB Does the word “they” in verse 2 refer to the prophets and teachers, or to the saints as a whole?
JT I would say to the prophets and teachers. “As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said ...” Then we are told what He said, “Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”. Although it might be said that brothers and sisters alike have part in the ministering, I think what is in mind here is the special thought of prophets and teachers, and the part they have in this whole position.
PL Although they are levites, are their priestly functions pronounced here in the service? Is it to balance levitical activity?
JT Just so. “The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and at his mouth they seek the law”, Malachi 2: 7. No doubt all that entered into this position.
PHH Would the passage present the features of quality in the general assembly position?
JT They would. I think the thing to be specially noted is that they were fasting. There is a way made for the Spirit in the fasting process, so that there is more there in the spiritual side in intelligence.
Ques I have thought of what you said about Daniel, that when he got light from God, instead of going at once to convey his message, he called his companions and with them went over the matter before God. Were they not, in principle, ministering, and did not that give them power in the testimony?
JT They were companions together. The word companions is used.
SR It says, “The boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah” and that precedes what is afterwards said that “Jehovah ... let none of his words fall to the ground”.
JT God greatly honoured Samuel, even as a boy, in telling him about Eli. Some of us have been speaking about the years gone by in which the patriarchal order of things existed in this city, and how later the younger men came into activity and place in the maintenance of the service of God. I think Samuel may be taken from the prophets as a peculiar type of this, in the same sense that Joseph, in an earlier day, was a type. Samuel and [p. 219] Joseph are types of young men and show what such may come to in their youth, on moral grounds. “Jehovah ... let none of his [Samuel’s] words fall to the ground”. They fell into the hearts of the saints. He would be a brother that would affect the saints, so that they took his words into their hearts, honest and good hearts.
Rem It is said that “all Israel ... knew that Samuel was established a prophet of Jehovah”.
PHH Would you say a little on how the speaking of the Spirit works out now. First we have “the Holy Spirit said”; then presently, “They therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit”. In between, there are the brethren who fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them and let them go.
JT The Spirit is here, but He uses the saints, and the question is how He may use us. We have had much on levitical lines in recent years, which must mean that the Spirit has those whom He can use, and that He can send forth. We have to discern how what is seen here, in apostolic days, is to work out now, and, I would say, it is a question of measurement. The apostle, for instance, speaks about a measure reaching unto the Corinthians. It would now be a question of how this works out and how far the measure of brethren, whom the Spirit would send out in some sense and use, reaches. Whether they can go afield to far-off places where the work of God is or whether they are more likely to be used locally is, I think, a question of measurement. The question of measure is seen in the first chapter of 2 Corinthians.
Ques Where things are normal, would you expect the saints to have a judgment as to a brother’s measure in the way you are speaking of it? Anyone moving extensively would thus be anxious not only to have his directions from the Lord, but to carry the confidence of the brethren, particularly the spiritual?
JT Just so. How is he to have their prayers unless he has their confidence and there can be nothing done unless there is prayer. Here we have, “having fasted and prayed, and having laid their hands on them, they let them go”. Clearly there was no selfish motive as to these two men. “They let them go”, and then it says, “They therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit”. But now we have to bring it down to our own times, because after all we have to come down to the limitation according to measure, and of the state of things in the localities where the ministry is carried on. It is a question of what place a brother has in the hearts of the saints and in their prayers. Hence the great importance of fixing a day for prayer, an evening for prayer, which is usually now a Monday. I think it is an immense advantage to the work of God that the brethren all know that Monday is the time for prayer.
PHH Would the saints then begin to have an appreciation of the increasing measure, say, of Barnabas and Saul as the Spirit uttered these words? Should we have to be ready for increasing measure on the part of some who serve?
JT We can see it, and we should see it. It is well set out in the way these two men worked, and how they increased in efficiency.
FCH Would the “me” in, “Separate me now”, go alongside of what the Lord said of Paul, “he is a chosen vessel unto me”? Another divine Person is coming into the matter.
JT I think the point in our chapter would be to stress the Person who is in mind, namely, the Holy Spirit, because He is acting in a very outstanding way as a divine Person here.
Ques Is the emphasis on what is here? The Spirit of God being here is not merely an objective idea, but there are available to Him those that He may use as indicating His mind at the moment. It would not be of much use my claiming that I am sent by the Lord, if I am not really carrying the confidence of the brethren in a spiritual sense. [p. 221] Would you agree?
JT Yes, I would.
WC Do you think these words would be voiced by a brother present? It says, “having fasted and prayed” and I was wondering whether the brethren, so to speak, felt their way to it and afterwards it could definitely be said that it was the Holy Spirit.
JT I think it would be in order to say that. The Spirit is not incarnate as Christ was, and therefore I would say that the orders coming from Him would be generally through persons.
Ques Would the expression, “the work to which I have called them”, suggest that there had been some personal indication to Barnabas and Saul of what the Lord had in mind for them? It would hardly have been a surprise to them to have been called.
JT It would not be a surprise, but I think it was immediate, for the Spirit has first-hand knowledge of everything; even if it is the birth of a child, or a marriage, the Spirit has first-hand knowledge of everything. Thus what is in mind in the divine operations is that what comes about is available to the divine Persons who are operating. The Spirit does not leave, as the Lord would. The Lord goes into heaven and comes to His own, but the Spirit remains with us, so that there is a first-hand knowledge of everything. Therefore as regards Paul and Barnabas the Spirit would have a perfect knowledge of those two men and what was current in their hearts.
ADT Would there be a link here with the vow of the Nazarite? It speaks of “all the days of the vow of his separation”, Numbers 6: 5.
JT That is very good, because the Nazarite’s vow would enter into the service of these men. Not only would it enter particularly into the service of Paul and Barnabas, but all the other apostles too for they were all men in that position; and, of course, every servant ought to be in the attitude of a Nazarite who has a vow. He is under the Lord; he is under orders.
[p. 222] CW Would this thought of letting go suggest, that as far as the brethren were concerned, they would rather keep them, but love would release them? We have some of our brethren leaving shortly and, so far as we are concerned, we would sooner keep them, but love would release them?
JT Just so. Of course, they will be missed; but then their absence may give opportunity to others to take on work that they have not hitherto been doing. The extension of the work of God in that way is another thing and shows how young men come into it, if they are fit for it morally.
Rem There are only two out of five going here. The home front was being looked after.
PHH “Sent forth by the Holy Spirit”; would that add the feature of authority to their going? I believe the word is very much akin to apostle.
JT I would say that. It is an apostolic suggestion. Then, there can be no doubt that what we are saying as to the home front entered into all this. It has to be guarded so that the enemy does not get in. Hence the importance of young men taking note of what elder brethren do. They must, of course, get experience for themselves, but if the elder brethren have to go afield, the work at home has to be carried on, and it is for them to do it. The wording is very striking, but it certainly is to bring out the personality of the Holy Spirit in the divine economy that is now taking form and extending out to the gentiles. What subsequently follows is to bring out how the devil at once attacks. Following on the verses we have been noting, it says “And being in Salamis, they announced the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also as their attendant. And having passed through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man a magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus, who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man”. This intelligent man is to be kept in mind and the devil’s activity to divert him. The work of God through Paul had reached such proportions that the devil made a point of getting in to attack the person that was in mind. This intelligent man fits in exactly to the period because it is a time for intelligence.
SR In that connection would you say something as to the word of God coming in here so forcibly? It says in the previous chapter that it “grew and spread itself”. Do you think these prophets and teachers would come into the carrying forward of it?
JT Quite so. All that is mentioned here shows how extensive the service of God was and how everything was taken account of. Then these men are sent forth with the hearty consent of the assembly. Having the hands of the brethren laid upon them, they go forth, the Spirit of the Lord having selected them. Then this work proceeds and an intelligent man comes into evidence. How the devil would be set to overthrow the work; but he was defeated, and the great thing is to note how Paul was used at this juncture.
WC In connection with the sowing, Luke records the Lord’s words that “The seed is the word of God” and, in the very first class mentioned, it says, “then comes the devil”. He was defeated here, but does the passage in Luke suggest that he is always ready to move as God moves? That should be a warning to us.
JT Yes.
PHH The word of God is brought in first to fortify us against the magician, the false prophet, Bar-jesus, and the word of God is used thus in our day.
JT Quite so.
PHH The Lord speaks in Mark of those who were “making the word of God of none effect”. The word of God by itself would be effectual, would it not?
JT So it says of this man, “having called Barnabas and Saul to him, desired to hear the word of God”. That is important, because the word of God is not [p. 224] simply the preaching, but what is in the mind of God. It is His mind at this time.
Ques Do you mean it requires persons able to receive it intelligently? The “he” in verse 7 is emphatic, and then it says “the magician ... opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith”. The conflict seems to rage round this person.
JT I was thinking of that. We have the idea of intelligence in the material that is secured. How much it is needed. We may get others at other times, but at this time we need this kind of material.
Ques Would he be potential assembly material? The apostle says to the Corinthians, “I speak as to intelligent persons”.
JT This man would be one such.
AB In regard of Paul facing the enemy, it says he was “filled with the Holy Spirit”. Would that suggest special power at the time in dealing with the enemy?
JT Well, it shows the accuracy of the selection the Holy Spirit had made; that Paul is just the man needed. Barnabas, of course, is there, but Paul is the man that is needed especially to combat this attack.
Ques Is it significant, that at this juncture it says of Saul, “who also is Paul”? Paul meaning little shows that he is not elated.
JT Just so. As far as we can see it is not simply that he is called Paul, but rather that he is Paul. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, which would mean that they were that. They were Christians; they bore the character of Christ instead of being Jewish. Instead of carrying a Jewish title or name they have their own name, and they are that. That is what comes out I think, here, and hence we have the word in verse 9, “But Saul, who also is Paul”; the stress is on the word Paul, which we understand means little. He had no selfish thoughts. That is the idea, I am sure, and it fits in here. This name comes in, because he is characteristically [p. 225] that, and he is just the man for the moment. So we get, “But Saul, who also is Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixing his eyes upon him, said, O full of all deceit and all craft: son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness; wilt thou not cease perverting the right paths of the Lord?” It is a very solemn thing where there is any intrusion in the house of God, in the service of God, in the assembly of God, and so the word is terrible here, “And now behold, the Lord’s hand is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness; and going about he sought persons who should lead him by the hand”. Then it says, “Then the pro-consul, seeing what had happened, believed, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord”. It was a question of the teaching.
PL So is this the great Pauline issue, so to speak, opposition blinded and intelligence assured where faith is found?
JT We may count on these things, I would say. They would be in reduced measure, not that the Holy Spirit can be reduced, but the limitations are there through our weakness or ignorance, whatever it may be. We have therefore just to gauge what there is and make the most of it and see how these qualities appear in the day of small things. That is the way I think we ought to work out the, truth. We have to see how they appear in the day of small things in which we are.
AB In spite of the opposition, the work goes on and souls are helped in the face of the enemy’s activity.
JT The work goes on and the very kind of material that is needed is secured. The man, too, is assured of it, because he is amazed, it says, “at the teaching of the Lord”.
FCH Would not the teaching of the Lord include this power to deal with evil? It says, “seeing what had happened, believed, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord”.
JT The teaching would show you what to do and it enters into the whole matter. It was a question of what was coming out. If the Spirit of God has liberty, this indicates what is coming out. Of course, if we are in a day of small things, then we have to measure according to the cloth, so to speak, and to work accordingly.
Ques Is it not a fact in the history of the testimony, that what is distinctive has practically always found its place amongst the saints through conflict?
JT You would expect, that at such a moment, when these two great servants were being sent out, the devil would make his greatest effort. But he is defeated.
Rem So that whether it be persons that are used distinctively, or the truth that comes out at any particular time with special emphasis, it nearly always is in relation to meeting some particular move on the part of the enemy.
PL Is not all this worked out in Zechariah? We have the brazen character of the accusing foe on the one hand, and “the day of small things” not despised, but then we have the Branch appearing and the two olive branches and so on. There is the golden thread, so to speak, of divine handiwork going through in the presence of the worst the enemy can put forward.
JT And so the Spirit of God comes in on that prophetic line. It says “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith Jehovah of hosts”, Zechariah 4: 6.
PHH Would you say that even the “day of small things” should still find us naming things rightly?
JT That is just what I was thinking. Naming things rightly is one of the most important suggestions we can have. We need to put right names on things. God gave the lead in that Himself in the first chapter of Genesis, and then He passed on to Adam the ability to name things. Adam did that and God did not change them. But now we are in a time when things are misnamed.
[p. 227] You could hardly give the number of things that are misnamed and yet they are attached to the service of God.
JW Would you expect, in these days, where servants are moving under the direction of the Holy Spirit, that there would be a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, which in this case blinds one and opens another’s eyes and makes him more intelligent?
JT He is made blind for a season, which shows that it is a prophetic matter with God. He is not forgetting His ancient people and He intends to recover them. Although he is blind for a season, the thing is that he is blind, which is a most solemn thing. Anything like this may happen when God is working and when the devil works against Him.
WF Would the power to deal intelligently with evil result in a certain reaction in this intelligent man? It really helps forward the work of God in his soul.
JT Quite so. That is, God has triumphed.
Ques Do you think it might apply, not only dispensationally, but also solemnly to those who may oppose the truth? Sometimes they seem to have something governmentally bound on them so that they are not able to see.
JT We have had exactly that very thing in New York lately, God coming in when we were unable to do anything, and subduing a man, and subduing him governmentally too. The saints did not have anything to do with it. God did it.
CW So that the Lord says to Philadelphia, “Thou hast a little power ... Behold, I make them of the synagogue of Satan ...”.
JT Just so.
PHH Would the proconsul be a man who would bring in not only intelligence but a measure of authority into the assembly? I was thinking of him as being a sample of assembly [p. 228] material.
JT I think we can trace men of this kind on that line through the book of Acts. The great basis of it is that the converts at the beginning, according to chapter 2, persevered in the apostles’ teaching. That is to say, they had regard to authoritative and reliable teaching. They persevered in the apostles’ teaching. It was not that of Moses, nor that of the prophets, but the teaching of the apostles. It is as if the Lord was saying that He had made selection and these were His representatives and He looked for submission to their teaching. We know this came about, as it says, “they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers”. Then as regards the Lord’s supper, there was intelligence as to it. It was never said to be in the temple, nor is it ever linked with the temple. Although other things were linked with the temple, indeed the praises of God were carried on by those that were with the Lord after the Lord went up to heaven, as it says “They ... returned to Jerusalem ... and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God”, yet the Lord’s supper is never mentioned as in the temple. It shows that there was intelligence in what was being done.
Ques Would it be right to say that the service in relation to the temple, when it says, for instance, “Speak ... all the words of this life”, was with a view to waiting on Israel and bringing out the remnant into Christianity; but after Stephen there was nothing more of that, and, in the Lord’s supper, we have what distinctively belongs to the assembly which was never connected with Israel at all?
JT Just so.
Ques Is there not a difference between the early waiting of God on His ancient people and what came about after the martyrdom of Stephen?
JT Yes. The mind of God was coming into evidence, so that the wicked attack on Stephen was observed. What happened showed that it was observed in heaven. Hence Stephen says, “I behold the heavens [p. 229] opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God”. It is as if the Lord is there still ready to serve, for the service is to go on.
JGW It says in Ecclesiastes 8: 11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil”. Do you think there is an immediate sentence against the evil work here, so that the way is made clear for this intelligent man to be confirmed in the faith?
JT Things were done quickly. Of course, in a day of small things we sometimes have to wait for things. We go along and we have to be humbled about them and suffer with them, and suffer because of them, but God comes in in time. We can count on God to come in if there is an attack of any kind against the truth. If we give Him time and be patient, He will come in.
ADT Would you say a word as to “Paul and his company”.
JT That would show I think, that he was being honoured already. He had distinguished himself on moral lines, and not simply in ability, in the sense of gift. There was not very much being done so far, except in one man, but the moral side was there in Paul. The word little as indicated in the name Paul, was in itself enough, and now it is “Paul and his company”. God does not hesitate to link on the idea of a company with Paul. God will respect at any time those who serve Him, and if they wait on Him He will attach others to them.
Rem I was thinking of Paul’s word to Timothy, “Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner”, 2 Timothy 1: 8.
JT Just so.
Ques There is always a danger of turning away from the distinctive feature of the moment?
JT That is just what is seen here.
Ques Would Jerusalem be what had been accredited in the [p. 230] past?
JT I would think so. It says, “John separated from them”. That was a humbling and sorrowful matter, for it was Paul’s company that he was separating from. It says he “separated from them and returned to Jerusalem”.
Rem Is it a lower standard?
JT It shows that he was just governed by national feeling or that sort of thing.
Rem It says in chapter 15: 38 that he “abandoned” them.
FCH Is it not remarkable that, in the ways of God, Paul’s first island and his last island are still under the authority of those whom God has used to preserve the truth of Paul’s ministry governmentally — Cyprus and Malta?
JP There was something in “the chief man of the island” (Acts 28: 7) at Malta that would indicate that God was there. He took account of Paul and his company.
PL Does “his company” mean that you are going right through with Paul, and that together?
JT That is the idea. Let us not forget John, but cleave to Paul. That is the word for us today. Cleave to Paul. I have never felt the power of the place that Paul has in the mind of God in the testimony, more than I have recently.
Ques Does not John really continue morally with Paul? The Lord says of John “If I will that he tarry till I come”, John 21: 22. Does he not fill out, in many ways, the substance of what Paul brings forward, so that he writes to Paul’s assemblies in Asia?
JT He does. We have to begin with the place that Paul has in all these matters, whatever it be. Whatever critical matter we may have to deal with, then we had better see if Paul has said anything and then begin there.
PHH What is the difference between Paul’s review of things in this chapter and Stephen’s in an [p. 231] earlier chapter? I am not thinking of the detail, but what are we to have in mind in thinking now of Paul’s review in Antioch of Pisidia?
JT Well, I think we ought to pay attention to David and what he says, for it is a question of David here. The Lord says in Revelation, “I am the root and offspring of David”. David thus represents something unique and great. Christ is the root of David, and I believe that refers to the quality in David. It says here of him, “then they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul, son of Kis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, during forty years. And having removed him” (notice that it is not simply that he died in war but that he was removed) “he raised up to them David for king, of whom also bearing witness he said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who shall do all my will”. I think that is what runs through here.
WC Is it not noteworthy that Stephen in his discourse is more or less occupied with Moses? He only just touches Joshua, Solomon and David in about one verse, but is mainly occupied with Moses. Would that be suggestive?
JT I think so. I think that David is the one here. You would expect Paul to stress David.
AM Would that bear on the governmental setting aside of Israel and all that is Jewish in view of making way for the gentiles?
JT Well, it comes in here. It is said in verse 32, “we declare unto you the glad tidings of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this to us their children, having raised up Jesus; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee. But that he raised him from among the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke thus I will give to you the faithful mercies of David. Wherefore also he says in another, Thou wilt not suffer thy gracious one to see corruption. For David indeed, having in his own generation ministered to the will of [p. 232] God, fell asleep, and was added to his fathers and saw corruption. But he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Be it known unto you, therefore, brethren, that through this man remission of sins is preached to you, and from all things from which ye could not be justified in the law of Moses, in him every one that believes is justified”. Therefore it goes on, “See therefore that that which is spoken in the prophets do not come upon you, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye will in no wise believe if one declare it to you. And as they went out they begged that these words might be spoken to them the ensuing sabbath”. So that the work is proceeding.
Ques Does not that show a great advance in the truth as it was proceeding in the Acts? Was not Stephen’s address in the nature of an indictment against the nation that had totally refused God’s overtures? It was hardly an appeal to repentance or the preaching of the gospel. But here is it, so to speak, a fresh start in the gospel?
JT How glorious it is! And they wanted to continue, so that we are told in verse 49 “And the word of the Lord was carried through the whole country. But the Jews excited the women of the upper classes who were worshippers, and the first people of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their coasts. But they, having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit”. So the chapter is triumphant.
PL Would the forsaking of the tabernacle at Shiloh be more connected with Stephen’s indictment, and the choosing of mount Zion which God loved be developed in David? (see Psalm 78).
JT That is good. That is the point, I am sure, and that we might get into our minds what David represents in the Lord’s mind, in the book of Revelation. “I am [p. 233] the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star”. David is linked there with the highest line of thought; he is so near to divine Persons.
PL Do you think that Judah prevailing above his brethren has the quality of David in mind, particularly?
JT Quite so.
Ques The bringing forward of David ensures that the whole will of God will be secured. It says of him, “who shall do all my will”. Is not that the platform on which the work is continuing even today?
JT The quality of the work is in mind too. The Lord says in verse 16 of the last chapter of the Bible, “I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come”. That is the end of the thing. David is linked up there, we might say, with divine Persons; although not, of course, having part in Deity. Then the assembly, the bride, also is near to divine Persons.