The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

69 fulfilled and was being enjoyed by those present. In the same way Stephen identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messiah who was also promised . As God had been faithful to fulfill the promise of Land it was not unusual to think He would fulfill the promise of the Son of Man as well. 56 In the second main section of the speech (7:9-16) involving Joseph , Stephen begins to show the pattern of opposition to God's leaders. Joseph ' s brothers reject him out of a spirit of jealousy which corresponds to the attitude of the current leadership towards Jesus. 57 Luke also records that "God was with him" (o 81:oc; ~v µn ' mhoO , 7:9), the identical phrase by which he describes Jesus (10:38). Although Joseph was sold as a slave and experienced many afflictions (7: 10) God rescued him and eventually used him to rescue his own brothers (7 : 11-15) . Thus , Stephen shapes the narrative on a humiliation-vindication-glorification pattern 58 which reflects the story of Jesus . ' The next main character, Moses, provides the greatest reflection of the "Righ– teous One ." He too was one chosen by God (7 :20) to deliver and rule his people (7:35) . Stephen breaks the historical narrative which he had established for a word of interpretation about Moses meant to articulate his main point about his own accusers and audience with the words, "And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliver- 56 Bruce agree that the ori ginal intention of God in bringing Abraham out of M po– tamia wa of a piece with hi promi e of Me iah . " .. . God wa continuou l up rint nding the accompli hment of that on incr a ing purpo e which He inaugurat d h n H all d th father of the faithful out of Me op tamia and which wa to find it ith th coming of hri t" Bruce , The Book of the A l , 148. pn J l u r he perc iv d that it wa out f 15 : 10 R ) d rib th ttitud 8 D bl , 'Th on M n m m t 7 ," 7 .