Gideon's Witness of Faith Pointed to Jesus Christ

Vol 2 - No 26, October 15, 2006

Gideon's witness of faith - Part 4:

As we complete our study of Gideon and consider the significance of his witness, three (3) important facts must be kept in mind. First; the Bible, in the original languages in which it was written, is the Word of God and from beginning to end reveals God to mankind. The Word was, is and for ever will be and approximately 2000 years ago The Word was made flesh and dwelt among mankind as Jesus Christ - John 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

- 41 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

, 14.

Second; The Man Jesus Christ personified faith, that is, He lived the perfect life of faith. The men and women we have studied in the Old Testament bore witness to Him by faith - Hebrews 11:22 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

; 12:1 & 2. (The King James version translates the Greek word meaning "witnesses" or "bore witness to" in 11:2 as "obtained a good report.") So it is that Gideon bore witness or gave testimony to the Faith that would follow, Jesus Christ. At the time of the Midianite oppression God sent Israel a savior in the person of Gideon and although he was far from being perfect his witness of faith never the less typified or pointed to the man of faith, Jesus Christ and what He would someday accomplish.

Third; we must keep in mind that God considered the Nation of Israel as one (1) corporate body, and that as His own son, Exodus 4:2222 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

, etc. Had Israel obeyed The Word of God and followed His law nothing could have hurt them, they would have prospered mightily and been a blessing to all of mankind - Deuteronomy 11:11 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

, 8 - 28, etc. However, as has been observed, some in Israel continually disobeyed, went after other gods and displeased the Lord.

Our last study ended with the confused Midianites fighting and killing each other as the survivors ran from Gideon's 300 man army - Joshua 7:21 - 2221 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

. The account goes on to describe how Gideon and his men pursued while calling for additional Israelis to assist in killing them and their leaders. Once victorious the Israelites wanted to make Gideon their king but he refused, correctly responding that the Lord was their king. Israel went on to enjoy 40 years of peace with Gideon as their judge. Gideon had the people turn in the gold earrings they had collected from the dead Midianites from which he made an ephod, however this was a mistake because after his death some Israelites worshiped it. Gideon must have kept busy because besides judging Israel he sired 71 sons by a number of wives and a concubine. The Word is silent as to how many daughters he had - Judges 7:23 - 8:31.

Some aspects of Gideon's witness of faith, which were types of, or pointed to, Jesus Christ are as follows:

In Gideon's time Israel had forsaken God and followed after other gods and thus they were delivered into the hands of and under domination by the Midianites - Judges 6:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

. They were in the same condition at the time of Jesus Christ, but it was the Romans who oppressed them then.

When Israel cried out for deliverance the Lord sent an obscure prophet with a reminder of what He had done for them and the fact they had not obeyed Him - Judges 6:66 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

- 106 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

. The way was prepared for Jesus Christ by just such a prophet, John the Baptist, who grew up in the wilderness while learning his mission and message directly from God - Mark 1:2 - 92 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

; Luke 1:67 - 8067 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

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At the time of Gideon, Israel cried out for deliverance from the physical oppression of the Midianites, Judges 6:6, but God first delivered them from their sin of idol worship - Judges 6:25 - 2725 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

. So it was when Christ came; Israel was looking for a redeemer to free them from the yoke of Roman slavery but Jesus Christ first provided salvation from sin - Matthew 1:2121 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

; Luke 1:7777 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

; John 4:1414 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

, 6:51 & 10:28.

The Word of God Himself, the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ appeared to and assured Gideon He was with him, informing him he would make him a mighty man of valor and he would save Israel from the oppression of the Midianites - Judges 6:11 - 1611 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

& 23. The Word of God Himself became incarnate as Jesus Christ, John 1:1, 2 & 14, and will someday save Israel from the oppression they have suffered from their enemies throughout history - Luke 1:68 - 7468 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

; Revelation 6:22 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

; 19:11 - 16.

Gideon asked for a sign that he was truly dealing with God and the Lord gave him that sign - Judges 6:11 - 2111 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

. Jesus Christ's ministry included an entire series of miraculous signs that had been previously prophesied, all of which proved He was Lord over earth and life upon it - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

Gideon built an altar unto the LORD and called it Jehovahshalom, Judges 6:2424 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

, which in Hebrew means Jehovah is peace and under Gideon's judgeship Israel had 40 years of peace. And although Israel has not enjoyed peace to this date, Jesus Christ has laid the groundwork for it and will accomplish this at a future time - Luke 2:1414 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

; 10:6; John 14:2727 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

; 16:33; Revelation 20:1 - 61 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

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The Spirit of God came upon Gideon, that is, the Lord fortified and strengthened him with resolve - Judges 6:3434 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

. When Jesus Christ began His earthly work the Holy Spirit descended from heaven upon Him in the shape of a dove - Matthew 3:1616 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

; Mark 1:1010 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

; Luke 3:2222 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

& John 1:3232 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

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Gideon sounded an alarm with trumpet and then sent messengers out to call for men from His tribe and others in Israel to assist in fighting the Midianites - Judges 6:34 & 3534 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

. Jesus Christ called men to accompany and assist Him, of whom 12 became His disciples.

Jehovah told Gideon to take his father's seven (7) year old bullock with which he was to tear down an alter to Baal and the grove about it at which Israel had been worshiping for the past seven (7) years, Judges 6:1, 2 & 25, and to build an alter to the Lord in its place and use the wood from the grove to fuel a fire upon which the bullock was to be sacrificed, - Judges 6:2626 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

. When Jesus Christ died on a wooden cross He was the complete, final and true sacrifice for the sins of mankind, Matthew 26:4242 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

; John 12:2828 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

, and His blood, i.e., His death, provided Israel salvation and access to God - John 3:14 - 1814 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

; Hebrews 10:19 & 2019 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

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There are other aspects of Gideon's life that pointed to Christ but these will suffice to show how Gideon was part of The Word's lesson to introduce and prepare Israel for their Messiah. Jesus Christ who, because of His perfectness, did what Israel was not able to accomplish because of the weakness of the flesh. Most in Israel had gone about trying to justify themselves by the works of the law, but failed in faith, Romans 9:3232 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

, and without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:66 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

. Jesus Christ pleased God, Matthew 3:1717 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

; 17:5; Mark 1:1111 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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After Christ's victory over death, His resurrection and ascension, He returned to Jerusalem to witness to Israel for awhile - Acts 1:1 - 111 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

. Some Israelites who had gathered in Jerusalem from all parts of the known world were anointed with the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1 - 211 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

, and Israel was given another opportunity to believe in and accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah, Acts 2:22 - 4022 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

. Some believed, Acts 2:41 - 4741 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

, but Israel as a nation (a corporate body before God) again rejected their Messiah, Acts 4:1 - 31 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

, and instead stoned to death His messengers, including Stephen, Acts 6:8 - 7:60. Thereafter, God raised up the Apostle Paul to whom it was revealed that Israel, as God's chosen people, would be set aside for awhile, Romans 8, 9 & 10. That nation, God's son Israel, has now been set aside for almost 2000 years. God's dealings with both individual Jews and Gentiles during these almost 2000 years will be studied in future studies. And, whereas Israel had 40 years peace under Gideon, 40 being the number for testing or probation, Israel, as a unified and believing nation will yet someday enjoy 1000 years of peace and prosperity under the Lord Jesus Christ's perfect rule - Revelation 20:1 - 6.