UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Michael Levy

“My son, hearken to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.” (Proverbs 4:20)

Examination of the King James Version (KJV) reveals noteworthy errors in the Christian Bible. Without getting into any issues of mistranslation―which is something that becomes an issue when discussing verses like Isaiah 7:14, Zechariah 12:10, etc.―let us examine some of these issues in detail.

I

According to Acts 7:55, Stephen was supposedly "full of the Holy Ghost." Let us study this claim to make sure it’s true:

Stephen tells us that seventy-five of Joseph’s relatives were called to Egypt.

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to [him], and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. (Acts 7:14)

When we examine the Five Books of Moses you learn that seventy-five of Joseph’s relatives were called to Egypt.

And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, [were] two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, [were] threescore and ten. (Genesis 46:27)

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt [already]. (Exodus 1:5)

Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy G-d hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude. (Deuteronomy 10:22)

From here we have three different times in the King James Bible showing that Stephen erred on this matter. Now honestly answers these questions:

1. What does this do for the credibility of those people in the New Testament who claim to be under heavenly grace and the Holy Spirit?

2. What does it do for the credibility of the entire New Testament?

II

Stephen says that Jacob was buried in Shechem, and that Abraham purchased the tomb from Emmor.

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor [the father] of Sychem. (Acts 7:16)

Once again, let’s see if the Old Testament (in the KJV) will corroborate with this claim.

For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying place of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. (Genesis 50:13)

I find the language of the KJV translation of Genesis 50:13 to be slightly difficult to understand in this case. Let’s examine a different rendering:

His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and they buried him in the cave of the Machpelah field, the field that Abraham had bought as a burial estate from Ephron the Hittite, facing Mamre. (Genesis 50:13 Artscroll)

Both KJV and Artscroll agree that Abraham bought the burial ground from Ephron the Hittite, while Stephen claims that it was Emmor. So we see, twice, Stephen gave incorrect information that not even a Christian Bible corroborates, and all of these items can be refuted with the use of a KJV Christian Bible.

SUMMATION

Never again has there arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom HASHEM had known face to face, as evidenced by all the signs and wonders that HASHEM sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his courtiers and all his land, and by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moses performed before the eyes of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12 Artscroll)

I trust Moses better than any other prophet. If Moses transcribed in the Torah the story of Abraham, I trust it better than the commentary of any other man, and anyone who believes in Judeo-Christian theology should agree. Stephen erred, striking a major crack at the idea of him being full of the Holy Spirit.

But wasn’t Stephen under the influence of the Holy Spirit? This is just another example how nothing in the New Testament can be taken seriously regarding inspired or influenced by the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit, or by God himself

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