Definition: And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Acts 7:3. It's a really important part of the story of early Christians and their mission. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is like a clear instruction for Peter to leave his home and family and travel to a specific place. It’s essentially a call to missionary work. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And said unto him…” – This tells us who is speaking – it’s Peter, the apostle who was leading the early church. “…Get thee out of thy country…” – This means to leave your current location – your home, your family, whatever you're currently tied to. It's about moving away from what you know. “…and from thy kindred…” – This is a bit more complex. “Kindred” refers to Peter’s family and his close relationships with them. It means to leave behind the people he’s connected with. “…come into the land which I shall shew thee.” – This is the crucial part! Peter is telling Jesus that he's going to show him a specific place – a new, better place. This "land" represents a future kingdom or community where God will live and flourish. What does it mean in bigger picture? It’s about spreading the Gospel: The verse points towards the core message of Jesus: that he is the promised Messiah and that he wants to bring people to him through faith and repentance. It's a call to discipleship: Peter is urging his followers to follow Jesus, and to go out into the world to share his message. It’s about a new beginning: Leaving behind what was familiar and starting something new – a grand mission to spread God’s love and salvation. In short, this verse is a powerful instruction for early Christians to leave their comfort zones and embark on a journey to share the good news of Jesus Christ. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the significance of this verse in more detail?