People's New Testament Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 7:1 The Martyrdom of Stephen
SUMMARY OF ACTS 7: Stephen Outlines God's Dealings with Abraham. The Christ Promised. Abraham a Man of Faith Before Circumcision Was Appointed. The Patriarchs Sell Joseph into Bondage, Ignorant of the. Counsels of God. The Israelites in Egypt First Reject Moses Their Deliverer. The Rejected Moses Is Their Savior. He Predicted a Prophet Like Unto Himself. The Tabernacle and Temple Built, Though God Dwells Not in. Temples Made with Hands. The Jews of Stephen's Time Were Like Their Fathers in Resisting. God. Had Slain the Holy One and Had Not Kept the Law. The Outburst of Rage. Stephen Stoned by the Mob. Are these things so? As president, the high priest asks what reply Stephen has to make to the charges. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 7:2 Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. In order to make his defense, to unveil the fact that his accusers were fighting God, and to preach Christ, Stephen rapidly outlines Jewish history. Every fact cited has a point. Note (1) that Abraham was called in uncircumcision, and the Christ promised through his seed before he was circumcised; (2) that Joseph, the type of Christ, was rejected by his brethren, and afterwards saves them; (3) that Moses is also rejected and despised, but that God makes choice of him to save Israel; (4) that the Israelites went whoring after false gods and were carried into captivity; (5) that God had the tabernacle and temple built, but was particular to assure Israel that he dwelt not in temples made with human hands; (6) that their Moses, rejected, whom the people refused to obey, predicted a prophet like unto himself, and (7) that in the rejection of Christ they showed just the same spirit as their fathers who had rejected and slain the prophets who predicted Christ's coming. The speech is pointed, logical, and powerful, not intended to conciliate, but to show the Jews their own sins.
The God of glory appeared unto... Abraham... in Mesopotamia. Abraham's childhood home was at Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia, the country between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Ge 12:1 gives a second call at Haran, or Charran (the same), but Stephen declares that the family had gone from Ur to Charran, because of an earlier call (Ac 7:4). Charran was on the route to Canaan, and Abraham made a stop there of five years, until his father died (Ge 11:31,32). And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 7:5 Gave him no inheritance in it. Abraham possessed Canaan only by faith. He looked to the fulfillment of the promise, that it would be the possession of his children when he had neither land nor seed. See Heb 11:8-16.
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7:6 His seed should sojourn in a strange land. In Egypt. See Ge 15:13,16.
Four hundred years. In round numbers, counting from the time the seed, Isaac, should be born to the Exodus. It is stated in Ex 12:40 that the sojourning of the children of Israel was 430 years. This includes the period from the call of Abraham to the Exodus. See Ga 3:16,17. But Isaac was born about thirty years after the call of Abraham, which leaves Stephen's period of 400 years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. After his call and the promise of Christ. See Ge 17:1-14. The covenant of Christ was for all; circumcision for the Jews.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 7:9 The patriarchs, moved with envy. The sons of Jacob. See Ge 37:28. As they rejected Joseph, their descendants rejected Jesus.
God was with him. With the one rejected, and raised him to royal honors in the house of Pharaoh. And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 7:11 There came a dearth over all the land. For the history of Joseph, begin at Ge 39:1, and read to the close of Genesis. For the account of the famine and the visit to Egypt of the ten brethren, see Ge 42:1-43:34.
But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 7:14 Then sent Joseph. The rejected Joseph becomes the prince and savior of all Israel.
Threescore and fifteen souls. Ge 46:27 says that sixty-six persons besides Jacob, Joseph and his two sons, seventy in all, were in Egypt. But the Septuagint Version, quoted almost invariably by Christ and the apostles, as well as by Stephen here, after giving the sixty-six, adds: And the sons of Joseph born in Egypt were nine souls. The nine, added to the sixty-six, make the seventy-five that Stephen gives. Why this clause was omitted from the Hebrew text, followed by the Common Version, is unknown. Stephen simply follows the text received by Christ, the apostles, and the Jews generally. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
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. 7:16 And were carried over into Sychem. Jacob was buried at Hebron in the cave of Machpelah (Ge 50:13), but the fathers were buried in Sychem. We are told that Joseph was buried there, and Jewish tradition always affirmed that his brethren were buried there also (Jos 24:32). Jerome, in the fourth century, said that their tombs were still to be seen. He lived in Palestine.
That Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor. For an account of this purchase, see Ge 33:19 Jos 24:32. The difficulty arises that it was Jacob that made the purchase instead of Abraham. Some have supposed that Stephen, in the hurry of a rapid speech under exciting circumstances, by an oversight used the name of Abraham for Jacob; others have thought that Abraham did make the purchase first and that it was repeated by Jacob. Neither of these views is probable. Had Stephen made a lapsus, it would have been corrected by Luke, who wrote under Paul's supervision (see Introduction), so as to give Stephen's meaning. It is far more probable that some copyist, by oversight, first wrote Abraham for Jacob, and that the MSS that have come down to us were made from that copy. There can hardly be a doubt that a man so learned in the Scriptures as Stephen, and making an inspired defense, said Jacob. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 7:17 The time of the promise. Of deliverance from Egypt. See Ge 15:13,14.
Which God had sworn. Solemnly promised. There is no account of a formal oath. Maimonides says: Every divine assurance is equivalent to an oath.'' Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 7:18-21 Till another king arose, etc. For an account of the persecution of Israel and birth of Moses, see Ex 1:1-22 2:1-10.
The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 7:18-21 Till another king arose, etc. For an account of the persecution of Israel and birth of Moses, see Ex 1:1-22 2:1-10.
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 7:18-21 Till another king arose, etc. For an account of the persecution of Israel and birth of Moses, see Ex 1:1-22 2:1-10.
And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 7:18-21 Till another king arose, etc. For an account of the persecution of Israel and birth of Moses, see Ex 1:1-22 2:1-10.
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 7:22 Moses was learned. He was reared as the son of Pharaoh's daughter (Heb 11:24) and would be educated in all the accomplishments of his time. We know from the researches of the Egyptologists (see Rawlinson's Egypt ) that at the period of Moses there were great universities for the education of all who were expected to engage in public employments. Eber's Uarda gives a good picture of Egypt when Moses was a child.
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. 7:23-29 And when he was full forty years old, etc. For the accounts here given, see Ex 2:11-15. Compare Heb 11:24. Observe the point of Stephen, that Israel rejected Moses as a ruler and judge over them (Ac 7:35), as they had rejected Joseph and Jesus. Yet God chose both Joseph and Moses to be their saviors and rulers.
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 7:30-34 And when forty years were expired, etc. For the call of Moses, see Ex 3:1-10.
When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 7:30-34 And when forty years were expired, etc. For the call of Moses, see Ex 3:1-10.
Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 7:30-34 And when forty years were expired, etc. For the call of Moses, see Ex 3:1-10.
Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 7:30-34 And when forty years were expired, etc. For the call of Moses, see Ex 3:1-10.
I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 7:30-34 And when forty years were expired, etc. For the call of Moses, see Ex 3:1-10.
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 7:35,36 This Moses whom they refused, but God sent him as their ruler and deliverer. With great force Stephen makes his application. If his hearers failed to see the point, Ac 7:37 makes it clear.
He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 7:35,36 This Moses whom they refused, but God sent him as their ruler and deliverer. With great force Stephen makes his application. If his hearers failed to see the point, Ac 7:37 makes it clear.
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 7:37 This is that Moses, which said. This rejected Moses who was chosen by God to be a prince and a savior hath said.
A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up... like unto me. Like me, of your brethren; like me, rejected and despised by Israel; like me, exalted to be a Prince and a Savior by God. See De 18:15-19. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 7:38 This is he. Moses.
That was in the church in the wilderness. The congregation of Israel, the typical church. Moses as its mediator. With the angel. The angel of the Covenant, who communicated the law to Moses in Sinai. See Ac 7:53 Ex 23:20,23. Lively oracles. The Word of life. To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 7:39-42 To whom our fathers would not obey, etc. These verses summarize the unbelief, disbelief and waywardness of Israel under Moses. The point is to show that the rejection of Christ harmonizes with their past history. See Ex 16:3 17:04 32:1-14 De 4:19.
Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 7:39-42 To whom our fathers would not obey, etc. These verses summarize the unbelief, disbelief and waywardness of Israel under Moses. The point is to show that the rejection of Christ harmonizes with their past history. See Ex 16:3 17:04 32:1-14 De 4:19.
And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 7:39-42 To whom our fathers would not obey, etc. These verses summarize the unbelief, disbelief and waywardness of Israel under Moses. The point is to show that the rejection of Christ harmonizes with their past history. See Ex 16:3 17:04 32:1-14 De 4:19.
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 7:42 Have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices? This passage is quoted from Am 5:25-27. The emphasis is on me. Did ye not offer them to false gods also? Ac 7:43 gives the reply.
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. 7:43 Ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch. Israel turned to the abominable worship of Moloch and other false gods, and hence shall be carried into Captivity. Moloch, a god of the Amorites, worshiped by human sacrifices.
Remphan. Some planet worshiped as a god. Beyond Babylon. A punishment brought on all Israel for its sins, predicted by Amos (Am 5:25-27). Observe still his point of showing their national sinfulness. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness. The tabernacle built at Sinai, a witness of the Covenant (Nu 18:2), and of the good things to come (Heb 8:5). This tabernacle, built by God's command, according to his pattern (Ex 25:9,40), they had rejected for the tabernacle of Moloch (Ac 7:43).
Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 7:45 Which also our fathers... brought in with Jesus. With Joshua (Revised Version). Joshua, the Hebrew form for Jesus. He and the later generations of Jews brought this tabernacle into Canaan when they conquered it.
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 7:46 Desired to find a tabernacle. David, who sought to build a permanent temple (2Sa 7:2 1Ch 22:7). He was restrained from building the temple, and it was erected by Solomon (2Ch 6:7,8).
But Solomon built him an house.
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 7:48 Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not. See 2Ch 6:18. The argument is that the tabernacle was laid aside for the temple by God's command; that God does not confine himself in any house made with hands, and hence the temple also might be laid aside. God's real temple was greater than the building they reverenced so superstitiously. See Isa 66:1,2.
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Hath not my hand made all these things?
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 7:51 Ye stiffnecked. Stubborn, like the ox which refuses to bend its neck for the yoke. Stephen now makes his direct application.
And uncircumcised. Aliens in heart from God. The uncircumcised were aliens from Israel. Stephen told them that spiritually they were heathen. They, like their fathers, resist the Holy Ghost. The will of God. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 7:52 Which of the prophets, etc.? Their fathers habitually persecuted the prophets and slew some of them who predicted Christ (see lives of Isaiah and Jeremiah). Now they, his hearers, were murderers of the Just One.
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 7:53 Received the law by the disposition of angels. Through the ministration of angels. See De 29:29.
Have not kept it. Pretending to be very scrupulous observers of the law, they were wicked law-breakers. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 7:54 They were cut to the heart. Convulsed with rage. Stephen's speech was now violently interrupted. Their rage is shown by their gnashing teeth.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 7:55 Looked up stedfastly into heaven. The Lord who had promised his presence was with him. His faith was so strengthened that, by faith, he saw the Savior in Heaven, through the opened heavens. The scene was revealed to his soul, instead of his eyes.
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 7:57 Cried out with a loud voice. They cried, closed their ears to what they called blasphemy, then, in a tumult, without a vote on his guilt or innocence, rushed upon him to slay him, though yet uncondemned legally.
And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 7:58 Cast him out of the city. See Le 24:14. Though committing murder, they were scrupulous to comply with their custom of execution outside of the city.
And stoned him. Jesus was crucified, because the Romans put him to death; Stephen was stoned, because Jesus slew him. Stoning was their usual method of execution. The witnesses. The witnesses had to cast the first stones (De 13:10 17:7). Though doing all in a tumult, without the consent of the Roman governor, the forms of the law were observed. At a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Chrysostom says that this young man, who was to become so celebrated, was now about thirty-five. Hackett thinks we was about thirty. For a fuller account of him, see PNT Ac 9:1. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 7:59 Stoned Stephen. Repeated to show that in the storm of stones he committed himself to Jesus.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 7:60 Kneeled down. Either voluntarily, or brought to his knees by the cruel blows. The point is that in his sufferings, like his Master, he prayed for his enemies. Saul, no doubt, noted this, and it had its effect. He fell asleep. To wake again at his Savior's voice. The death of Stephen was a murder, instead of an execution, because (1) no vote of the Sanhedrin was taken, and (2) the consent of the Roman governor, requisite to capital punishment, was not obtained. See PNT Joh 18:32. The People's New Testament by B.W. Johnson [1891] Bible Hub |
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