Were Stephen a preacher of today he might not, it is true, be stoned, but he would be burned, or dismembered with tongs, by the enraged Papists. 4 Similar to them, the Papists of today, when they hear it claimed that works are not effectual and that faith in Christ must precede and must be of sole efficacy, cry out that good works are prohibited, and God’s commandments blasphemed. Stephen’s purpose was merely to remove the Jews’ false confidence in their own works and in the temple. He simply asserted that we are saved not by the Law or the temple, but by faith in Jesus Christ and that having faith we may rightly observe the Law, whether there be temple or not. Yet Stephen had no intention of giving such impression. 3 Defeated by the power of this passage from Isaiah, and similar citations they could not gainsay, the Jews proceeded to misconstrue Stephen’s words, making out that he declared Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs of Moses. Further, if heaven nor earth can contain him - and he here asserts that heaven is not his house but his throne, and the earth not his habitation but his footstool - how can he be expected to dwell in a house made by men? Solomon speaks to the same purpose in, referring to the house he has himself built. It shows God does not dwell in houses made with hands, for the essential elements of these are, in the first place, of his own creating and belong to him. 2 Stephen, however, opposes them by citing : “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest? For all these things hath my hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith Jehovah.” This statement is clear and forcible beyond gainsaying. Such argument they presumed to be conclusive. For the Bible makes frequent mention of Jerusalem as God’s chosen city, toward which his eyes are always directed, a city called the house of God.
The Jews opposed the doctrine of faith, adducing the law of Moses and the temple at Jerusalem. Faith alone renders us godly faith alone builds the temple of God - the believing hearts. The dispute arose from Stephen’s assertion that whatsoever proceeds not from faith does not profit, and that men cannot serve God by the erection of churches, or by works independent of faith in Jesus Christ. Act 7:42 | Luther | STEP | 1 It is necessary to the understanding of this epistle lesson to introduce something of what is omitted and to present in connection with the narrative the things which gave rise to it.
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