Bible Commentaries
Acts 7

Verse 1

So ; as his accusers had said.

Verse 2

Mesopotamia ; this word means between two rivers; it was the country which lay between the Tigris and the Euphrates. In this region was Ur of the Chaldees, where lived Terah, the father of Abraham.

Charran ; called in the Old Testament Haran. Genesis 11:31 . This was also in Mesopotamia. Opposers of religion who make inquiries about it, should be treated with courtesy and kindness. In answering their questions, we should endeavor to enlighten their minds with regard to Jesus Christ, that we may lead them to believe in him. 1 Timothy 2:2-5 .

Verse 5

He ; God.

Promised that he would give it to him ; Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 13:14-18 .

Verse 6

Sojourn in a strange land ; Egypt. Genesis 15:13-16 .

Verse 14

Threescore and fifteen ; seventy-five. The number stated in Genesis as coming with Jacob into Egypt is sixty-six. Jacob, with Joseph and his two sons who were already there, and the five grandsons of Joseph mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:14-23 , are supposed to make the seventy-five. See note to Genesis 46:27 .

Verse 16

Were carried ; the fathers were carried: Joseph and others were carried and buried in Sychem, called in the Old Testament Shechem, which was near to Samaria, in a piece of ground bought by Jacob of the sons of Emmor, called in the Old Testament Hamor. Genesis 33:18-19 ; Joshua 24:32 . Jacob was buried in the field of Machpelah, which was purchased by Abraham of the sons of Heth. Genesis 23:4-20 ; Genesis 49:29-30 ; Genesis 50:13 . In what way the name of Abraham became connected with the purchase at Sychem is not known.

Verse 17

The time of the promise ; the time for its fulfilment Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 15:14-16 ; Genesis 22:17 .

The people grew ; Exodus 1:7-9 . God’s promises and threatenings all have a set time for their accomplishment; and when that time approaches, his providences will be so ordered as to secure their exact and perfect fulfilment. Habakkuk 2:3 ; Matthew 24:35 .

Verse 27

Persons who are most evidently in the wrong are generally the most forward and earnest in opposing those who would set them right; and the best endeavors to persuade men to live in peace are often met with insolence, reproach, and contempt.

Verse 30

An angel of the Lord ; who was Jehovah himself. He is spoken of in Exodus 23:20-21 , as one in whom is God’s name, and who has power to pardon sin. He is, therefore, with reason supposed to be the same as "the Word" that "was in the beginning with God," and "was God."

Verse 35

In obscurity and retirement God often prepares men for the discharge of great and momentous public duties; and when the proper time arrives, he so orders events that they cannot, without rebelling against him, refuse to leave their retirement and enter upon the responsibilities and toils of public life.

Verse 38

He ; Moses. Exodus 19:3-25 .

Verse 42

Gave them up ; Psalms 81:12 .

It is written ; Amos 5:25-27 .

Have ye offered to me ; that is, to me alone. The answer is, No; ye mingled with my worship that of your idols. See note to Amos 5:26 .

Verse 43

Moloch-Remphan ; idol gods. Stephen does not quote the exact words of the prophet, but following the Septuagint, gives the sense, as in verses Acts 7:48-49 , and in other places.

Verse 44

The tabernacle ; a sacred tent, or movable structure, used before the erection of the temple for religious services, at the door of which God made communications to the people. Exodus 29:42-43 ; Exodus 25:8-9 ; Exodus 25:40 ; Hebrews 8:5 .

Verse 45

Jesus ; Joshua. Jesus in Greek is the same as Joshua in Hebrew. Joshua 1:1-2 ; Hebrews 4:8 ; Joshua 11:23 .

Verse 46

Tabernacle ; this is a different word from that which is translated tabernacle in verse Acts 7:44 , and here means a permanent structure, or fixed habitation. 2 Samuel 7:2-7 ; 1 Chronicles 22:7-19 .

Verse 49

Men may so idolize a time, a place, or an outward form of worship, as entirely to unfit them to worship him who is a Spirit "in spirit and in truth," and lead them violently to oppose and bitterly to persecute those who maintain that none but spiritual worshippers can at any time or in any place or form be accepted of him.

Verse 51

Stiff - necked ; unwilling to bow to the authority or regard the voice of God.

Resist the Holy Ghost ; by refusing to follow his directions.

As your fathers did , so do ye ; he comes now to the application of his narrative, in which he has made prominent the disobedience of the people to Moses, and their attachment to idolatry in the wilderness, verses Acts 7:35 ; Acts 7:39-43 ; as much as to say, As your fathers treated Moses, so do you treat that Prophet like unto Moses, of whom he prophesied. The manner in which the Holy Ghost and those who have been under his influence have in all ages been treated, shows a deep-rooted enmity in the human heart against God. Hence the necessity taught by Jesus Christ in John 3:3 , and the duty inculcated in Job 22:21 , Ezekiel 18:31 ; Act 3:19 ; 2 Corinthians 5:20 .

Verse 52

The Just One ; Jesus Christ. Acts 3:14 ; 2 Chronicles 36:16 ; Matthew 26:66 ; Matthew 27:20-26 ; John 19:12-18 .

Verse 53

The disposition ; the ministration. Deuteronomy 33:2 ; Galatians 3:19 ; Hebrews 2:2 .

Verse 54

Cut to the heart ; exceedingly enraged.

Verse 57

Stopped their ears ; as if unwilling to hear words which they affected to regard as blasphemous.

Verse 58

The witnesses laid down their clothes ; the false witnesses mentioned in chap Acts 6:13 . They, according to the law, were to cast the first stones; and they laid aside their upper garments, that they might do this with greater effect. Leviticus 24:14-16 ; Deuteronomy 17:7 .

Saul ; this is the first mention of him who was afterwards the great apostle of the Gentiles. Men may be very scrupulous in some respects in the observance of forms of law, while in others they grossly violate both its letter and its spirit; and forms of law, as well as professions of religion, may be prostituted to the commission of flagrant injustice and atrocious crimes.

Verse 59

Calling upon-and saying , Lord Jesus ; the word God is not in the original, as its being printed in italics shows. The prayer was offered to Jesus Christ, and it was the custom of the Christians in the days of the apostles to pray to him. Luke 23:42-43 ; Acts 9:21 ; Act 22:16 ; 1 Corinthians 1:2 . The Holy Spirit leads those who are under his influence to pray to Jesus Christ, and ask of him the richest blessings, not only for themselves and their friends, but also for their fellow-men. In thus honoring him as they honor the Father, they glorify him on earth, and prepare to dwell with him in heaven.

Verse 60

This sin ; the sin of murdering him on account of his friendship to Christ. Matthew 5:44 ; Luke 23:34 .

Fell asleep ; peacefully died, and was received to glory by Jesus Christ, to whom he prayed.