![]() ![]() ( Acts 7:1-53) When the High Priest asked Stephen if the charges were true Stephen went on to show his devotion to God by telling the story of how God worked through his people to bring Jesus to the world even though throughout Israel’s history they kept rejecting those God sent to them to lead and rescue them. At this time historically the Sanhedrin had a great deal of independence and could judge all cases not involving capital punishment. The Sanhedrin had the power to carry out justice for all matters of Jewish law. The Sanhedrin was overseen by the High Priest. The Sanhedrin was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees, Elders, Scribes and priests. This Council consisted of 71 members and Jewish tradition traces its establishment back to the 70 elders appointed by God in Numbers 11:16. The word Sanhedrin comes from two words “Sun” meaning “together” and “hedra” meaning “seat”. The Sanhedrin was the Jewish Council which administered justice. The Jews at the Synagogue of the Freedmen spread lies that Stephen was blaspheming (speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things profane talk) against Moses, God and the temple. The Theodotus Synagogue may well have been the Synagogue of the Freedmen mentioned in Acts. and possible earlier, tells of a man called “Theodotos” a son of a “Vettenus.” Vettenus is a Latin name which indicates the possibility that Vettenus was a former slave who took Vettenus as his name, thus making Theodotus the son of the Freedman. No Synagogue has yet been uncovered by this specific name, however an inscription was discovered in Jerusalem dating to circa 70 A.D. ![]() ![]() Tarsus (the birthplace of Paul) was one of the cities in Cilicia so Paul was possibly associated with this synagogue. This synagogue was made up of Jews from a variety of places where groups of Jews lived including Cyrene and Alexandria (north Africa) and Cilicia and Asia (present day Turkey and Syria). The synagogue’s name, “freedmen” was a reference to people who had been freed from slavery. The Synagogue of the Freedman was one such place in Jerusalem. He went to the synagogue to teach about Christ.Ī synagogue was a Jewish building, constructed for the purposes of teaching the Scriptures to the Jewish people and as a place of worship. Acts 6:10 indicates that Stephen was a dynamic speaker with wisdom. Acts 6:8 tells us that He was full of God’s grace and power and he performed miraculous signs. He was one of the Seven appointed by the apostles in Acts 6:1-7 as a servant. Stephen was a man who was respected and had a very good reputation. Click here for an overview of the Book of Acts ![]()
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