<p>11:2 <i>For on account of their faith, the elders had witness borne to them- </i>These &quot;elders&quot; may not refer to those of whom we shall go on to read. I suggested on 1:1 that the Jerusalem church is being addressed here, and that the Hebrew letter is shot through with allusions to Stephen, their martyr. And nowhere is that clearer than in Hebrews 11, which is based upon Stephen's witness in Acts 7. The same word for &quot;had witness borne&quot; is translated &quot;of good report&quot;, concerning the elders of the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:3). &quot;Elders&quot; is the word repeatedly used about the &quot;elders&quot; of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:2,4,6,22,23; 16:4). The founding elders of the Hebrew congregation in Jerusalem were therefore publically commended for their open faith in the Lord Jesus and resistance of the temple system; and the Hebrew audience were to follow their example rather than quitting Christianity and returning to Judaism.</p>