Friday, June 24, 2022
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1 KJV).
How does today’s Scripture, this Psalm of David, explain the Bible timeline for us?
The most infamous Bible character present at Stephen’s murder was Saul of Tarsus: “And they cast [Stephen] out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul” (Acts 7:58). Saul eventually got saved and become the Apostle Paul (see Acts 13:9). Years later, Paul (no longer lost) gave his testimony to lost Israel: “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting [agreeing, approving] unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him” (Acts 22:19,20). As an unbelieving religious leader, (Pharisee) Saul had led Israel’s rebellion against the Holy Spirit’s ministry during early Acts (Acts 8:1-4; Acts 9:1-14; Acts 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13,14,23; Philippians 3:5,6; et al.)!
Decades pass. In 1 Timothy 1:12-16, and late in his ministry, Paul reflected on his former life: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief [leader]. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
Indeed, Jesus Christ did return in early Acts—but not in the wrath and war of prophecy. Rather, with the introduction of the un-prophesied, unexpected mystery program commencing in Acts chapter 9, the Lord came back in grace, mercy, and peace to meet and save first and foremost Saul of Tarsus. Grace and peace have been offered to all the world ever since….
Bible Q&A articles #964 and #965: “Did Nebuchadnezzar appoint his own uncle or brother as King of Judah?” and “Why are the genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3 different?”
333 Words of Grace 