Commentary on Acts 7:54

By Bob Myhan

⁵⁴ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

It has been said that, when a person who is honestly mistaken is confronted with the truth, either he will cease to be mistaken or he will cease to be honest depending on whether he receives it or rejects it. Those on Pentecost ceased to be mistaken. These ceased to be honest, if they were honest to begin with.

The word translated “cut” in this verse and that translated “cut” in Acts 2:37 are not the same, though both describe an emotional reaction. The word in 2:38 is variously rendered “pricked” (KJV, ASV), “pierced” (NASB) and “cut” (NIV, NKJV, ESV) in that verse. The word here is rendered “cut” in the KJV, ASV, NASB and NKJV, with the only difference being the word kardia is translated “quick” in the NASB rather than “heart” as in the other five translations.

Both the NIV and ESV translate the phrase without using the word “heart.” They render it “furious” and “enraged” respectively. Gnashing with the teeth is an expression of anger, like the baring of fangs by a rabid wolf.

As mentioned in our June 30, 2013 issue, the heart is the fourfold center of man: intellectual, emotional, ethical and volitional. God always approaches man primarily through the intellect. Once there is an understanding of it, there is an emotional reaction to it, followed by an ethical decision and voluntary obedience or disobedience.

Consider the parable of the vinedressers as an illustration.

"Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.  Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.  And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.  Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.  Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'  So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.  Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?"  They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."  Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?  "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.  And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.  But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. (Matt. 21:33-46)

They would have reacted violently but for their fear of the multitudes who took Jesus for a prophet.

(To be continued)

The Lord’s People Part #2

By Bob Myhan

Another figure for the Lord’s people is that of a natural family, or household which, in the material realm, refers to “the people of a house collectively” (see Acts 10:2; Hebrews 11:7).

There are several terms for the family of God.

The term, “the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10), indicates that the family of God is made up of those who have “obtained like precious faith” with the apostles (2 Peter 1:1). The phrase, “the household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6; Ephesians 2:19-20), denotes that God is the head of the family, much as the husband and father is the head of a material family. The expression, “whole family in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:14, 15), shows that one does not lose his place in the family of God upon death. Rather, he goes to be with those faithful members of the family of God who have gone before (Luke 16:20-22; Philippians 1:21-24; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16).

There are innumerable members of the family of God.

There is the Father, of course (Romans 15:6; Ephesians 4:6). There is also the only begotten Son (John 1:14-18; Hebrews 3:1-6), who has many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29). Anyone may become a member in the family of God. Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50).

There are unimaginable blessings associated with being in the family of God.

First, the sons of God are special objects of God’s love (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:38, 39). Yes, He loved the entire world in such a way that He gave His only begotten Son that they might all become His children (John 3:16). But He especially loves those who obey Him, just as a human father naturally has a greater love for those of his children who live upright, moral lives and become productive members of society.

Second, the sons of God are special objects of God’s providence (Romans 8:32; Matthew 6:8; 7:7-11). Yes, He makes “his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,” and sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), and He provides for alien sinners to hear the gospel by sending out His children to preach to them (Matthew 28:18,19; Mark 16:15,16), but His faithful children not only have many material blessings of life, but “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places,” as well (Ephesians 1:3-14). This is the special providence of God.

Third, the sons of God are recipients of Fatherly discipline (Hebrews 12:4-9). Of course, “no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous,” so it may not be immediately apparent to some that being a recipient of discipline is a blessing. But “nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:11). Most of us “had fathers…which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:9). Are we not glad that our earthly fathers disciplined us? Should we not then be all the more glad to be recipients of Heavenly discipline?

Fourth, the sons of God have an inheritance that is indestructible and undefiled and does not fade away (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Though they may experience great physical suffering in this life, they will live eternally with God in heaven (Matthew 25:32-46). Even if their physical relatives make life difficult because of their dedication to the gospel, they have this promise: “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29,30).

There are also responsibilities in the family of God.

First, they have the responsibility of wearing the family name (Acts 4:11, 12; 11:26; 1 Peter 4:15, 16). What would you think if your children refused to wear the family name? Would you not be disappointed and hurt?

Second, they have the responsibility to be obedient to their Father, and to those whom the Father has appointed over them (Romans 8:12-17; Ephesians 5:22-24; 6:1-3, 5-8; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 1:13-17).

Third, they have the responsibility to love one another (1 John 4:7, 20, 21; 3:13-19; 1 Peter 1:22). Fourth, they are to remain separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1; 1 John 2:15-17). If you are “a friend of the world” you are “the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Entrance into the family of God is a simple matter.

As we have already pointed out, one must do the will of the Father in heaven. (Matthew 12:48-50) But what does God will that we do in order to enter into His family? He wills that we have faith (Galatians 3:26), for “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh unto God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Of course, those who believe “that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” will seek Him diligently. And one must seek Him within the pages of His word, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26), therefore the only faith that will please God is “obedient faith” (see Romans 1:5; 16:25, 26). And, when one has sufficient faith to repent and be baptized in water for the remission of sins, he is adopted into the family of God (Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38; 10:45; 22:16; Galatians 3:26, 27; 4:1-7).

Just as those in the universal family of man are divided into individual, local families, those in the universal family of God are divided into individual, local families (Matthew 18:15-17; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; 1 Peter 5:1,2).

(To be continued)