Then said the high priest, Are these things so? THEN SAID THE HIGH PRIEST, ARE THESE THINGS SO? Stephen defends himself by a Historical Sketch of God's procedure toward Israel, and of Israel's conduct in return. Part First: From the call of Abraham to the settlement of Jacob and his family in Eg... [ Continue Reading ]
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, AND HE SAID, MEN, BRETHREN, AND FATHERS, HEARKEN. In this long defense Stephen takes a much wider range, and answers the charges brought aga... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND SAID UNTO HIM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND COME INTO THE LAND WHICH I SHALL SHEW THEE._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THEN CAME HE OUT OF THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS, AND DWELT IN CHARRAN: AND FROM THENCE, WHEN HIS FATHER WAS DEAD, HE REMOVED HIM INTO... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND HE GAVE HIM NONE INHERITANCE IN IT, NO, NOT SO MUCH AS TO SET HIS FOOT ON - for, though he got... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND GOD SPAKE ON THIS WISE. THAT HIS SEED SHOULD SOJOURN IN A STRANGE LAND; AND THAT THEY SHOULD BRING THEM INTO BONDAGE, AND ENTREA... [ Continue Reading ]
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 THE NATION TO WHOM THEY SHALL BE IN BONDAGE WILL I JUDGE, SAID GOD - that is, visit with avenging judgments. AND AFTER THAT SHALL THEY COME FORTH, AND S... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND HE GAVE HIM THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION - that is, the covenant of which circumcision was the visible, sacramental toke... [ Continue Reading ]
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, AND THE PATRIARCHS, MOVED WITH ENVY, SOLD JOSEPH INTO EGYPT: BUT GOD WAS WITH HIM. Here Stephen brings forward his first example of Israel's misapprehension of God's purposes and opposition to them, in spite of wh... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND DELIVERED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS AFFLICTIONS, AND GAVE HIM FAVOUR AND WISDOM IN THE SIGHT OF PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT; AND HE MA... [ Continue Reading ]
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. NOW THERE CAME A DEARTH OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT AND CHANAAN, AND GREAT AFFLICTION: AND OUR FATHERS FOUND NO SUSTENANCE. [Lachmann, on good external authority, leaves out gee... [ Continue Reading ]
But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. BUT WHEN JACOB HEARD THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT, [ eis (G1519) Aigupton (G125) is manifestly the true reading here, not en (G1722) Aiguptoo (G125), as in the Received Text] HE SENT OUT OUR FATHERS FIRST.... [ Continue Reading ]
And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. AND AT THE SECOND TIME JOSEPH WAS MADE KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN; AND JOSEPH'S KINDRED WAS MADE KNOWN UNTO PHARAOH. And so were the enemies of God's chosen one, who were his own brethren,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. THEN SENT JOSEPH, AND CALLED HIS FATHER JACOB TO HIM, AND ALL HIS KINDRED, THREESCORE AND FIFTEEN SOULS. This is strictly according to and , as rendered in the Septuagint, which Stephen foll... [ Continue Reading ]
So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, SO JACOB WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT. [Tischendorf on insufficient authority, strikes out eis (G1519) Aigupton (G125), and Alford brackets it; Lachmann retains it.] AND DIED, HE, AND OUR FATHERS.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND WERE CARRIED OVER INTO SYCHEM, AND LAID IN THE SEPULCHRE THAT, [the Greek letter omega (oo) is clearly the true reading here-by attr. for the Greek l... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, BUT WHEN, [ kathoos (G2531 ) de (G1161 ), RATHER, 'BUT AS'] THE TIME OF THE PROMISE (THAT IS, FOR ITS FULFILLMENT) DREW NIGH, WHICH GOD HAD SWORN TO ABRAHAM, [ oomosen (G3660)] -... [ Continue Reading ]
Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. TILL ANOTHER KING AROSE, [ heteros (G2087), not allos (G243)] - q.d., 'a king of a different sort,' pointing to another dynasty (as Lechler notes). WHICH KNEW NOT JOSEPH. After the lapse of centuries, and in a new dynasty, this might seem not surp... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THE SAME DEALT SUBTILLY (OR CUNNINGLY) WITH OUR KINDRED, AND EVIL-ENTREATED OUR FATHERS, SO THAT THEY CAST OUT THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN, [ ta (G3588)... [ Continue Reading ]
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: IN WHICH TIME - of deepest depression and urgent need. MOSES WAS BORN - the destined deliverer; their extremity being God's opportunity (see Deuteronomy 32:36; Isaiah 59:15). AND WAS EXC... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. AND WHEN HE WAS CAST OUT, [ Ektethenta (G1620)] - or 'exposed;' for his mother "could not longer hide him" (Exodus 2:3). [ ektethentos (G1620), adopted by Lachmann, though supported by 'Aleph (') A B C D... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. AND MOSES WAS LEARNED IN ALL THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS, [ epaideuthee (G3811) en (G1722) pasee (G3956) sofia (G4678) - the preposition being better attested than the want of it in the Received Text].... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. AND WHEN HE WAS FULL FORTY YEARS OLD. Here, and in ; , the life of Moses is represented as embracing three periods of forty years each. The Jewish writers affirm the same; and though in the... [ Continue Reading ]
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: AND SEEING ONE OF THEM SUFFER WRONG, HE DEFENDED HIM, AND, AVENGED HIM THAT WAS OPPRESSED, AND SMOTE THE EGYPTIAN - in the heat of his indignation going further, probably, than he in... [ Continue Reading ]
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. FOR, [ de (G1161)] - 'But' or 'Now,' explaining the view under which he acted. FOR, [ de (G1161)] - 'But' or 'Now,' explaining the view under which he acted. HE SUPPOSED HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
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? AND THE NEXT DAY HE SHOWED HIMSELF UNTO THEM, [ oofthee (G3700) autois (G846)]. This mode of expression (with which compare Exodus 2:1... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? BUT HE THAT DID HIS NEIGHBOUR WRONG THRUST HIM AWAY, SAYING, WHO MADE THEE A RULER AND A JUDGE OVER US? Compare the similar treatment of Christ Himself (), "By what authority doest thou these... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? WILT THOU KILL ME, AS THOU DIDST THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY? Moses had thought the deed unseen (), but, to his surprise and alarm, he now finds himself mistaken.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. THEN FLED MOSES AT THIS SAYING - for "when Pharaoh heard this thing he sought to slay Moses" (Exodus 2:15). No doubt he had before this become an object of jealousy in Pharaoh's court, as a too asp... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND WHEN FORTY YEARS WERE EXPIRED - (see the note at Acts 7:23). THERE APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT SINA - the wilderness or desert of that... [ Continue Reading ]
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, WHEN MOSES SAW IT, BE WONDERED AT THE SIGHT, [ ethaumazen (G2296). Tischendorf reads-azen, 'kept wondering.' The authorities are about equal]: AND AS HE DREW NEAR TO BEHOLD, [ ka... [ Continue Reading ]
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. [SAYING], I AM THE GOD OF THY FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND [THE GOD OF] ISAAC, AND [THE GOD OF] JACOB. (The bracketed words are insufficiently attes... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. THEN SAID THE LORD TO HIM, PUT OFF THY SHOES FROM THY FEET. Stephen may seem to have reversed here the order in which the divine command was given-which was before, not after, proclaiming... [ Continue Reading ]
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. I HAVE SEEN, I HAVE SEEN, [ idoon (G1492) eidon (G1492), as in the Septuagint = raa'oh (H7200) raa'iytiy (H7200),... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THIS MOSES WHOM THEY REFUSED, SAYING, WHO MADE THEE A RULER AND A JUDGE? [ archonta (G758) kai (G2532) dikastee... [ Continue Reading ]
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. HE BROUGHT THEM OUT AFTER THAT HE HAD SHOWED, [ poieesas (G4160)] - rather, 'He brought them out, having (that is, after bringing them out) showed' WONDE... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THIS IS THAT MOSES WHICH SAID UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (Deuteronomy 18:15). A PROPHET SHALL [THE LORD YOUR] GOD RAISE UP UNTO YO... [ Continue Reading ]
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: THIS IS HE THAT WAS IN THE CHURCH, [ en (G1722) tee (G3588) ekkleesia (G1577)] - the collective body of God's chosen pe... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, TO WHOM OUR FATHERS WOULD NOT OBEY, BUT THRUST HIM FROM THEM. Here Stephen shows that the deepest dishonour ever done to Moses came from the nation that now professed the greatest jeal... [ Continue Reading ]
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. SAYING UNTO AARON, MAKE US GODS TO GO BEFORE US. In using the word "gods" in the plural number, Stephen only follows the Septuagint translation of t... [ Continue Reading ]
And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. AND THEY MADE A CALF IN THOSE DAYS - in imitation of the ox and bull in Egypt, and indeed generally in the East; as appears by the Nineveh sculptures. The ox, as the symbol of ag... [ Continue Reading ]
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? THEN GOD TURNED - changing His method with them: as they had turne... [ Continue Reading ]
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. YEA (RATHER, 'AND' - [ Kai (G2532 )]) YE TOOK UP THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH, [ teen (G3588) skeeneen (G4633)]. This was probably a small porta... [ Continue Reading ]
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. OUR FATHERS HAD [ en (G1722) before tois (G3588) patrasin (G3962) has but weak support] THE TABERNACLE OF WITNESS IN THE WILD... [ Continue Reading ]
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; WHICH ALSO OUR FATHERS THAT CAME AFTER, [ diadexamenoi (G1237)] - rather 'Which also our fathers having received it (that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. WHO FOUND FAVOUR BEFORE GOD AND DESIRED, [ eeteesato (G154)] - or, 'asked for himself' TO FIND A TABERNACLE, [ skeenooma (G4638)] - a more permanent dwelling than the usual one [ skeenee (G4633)], for the God o... [ Continue Reading ]
But Solomon built him an house. BUT SOLOMON BUILT HIM AN HOUSE.... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, HOWBEIT THE MOST HIGH DWELLETH NOT IN [TEMPLES] MADE WITH HANDS. The word "temples," though in the Received Text, is evidently not genuine. The idea is thus quite, general-`dwelleth not in man-made buildings.' S... [ Continue Reading ]
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? 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?... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath not my hand made all these things? HATH NOT MY HAND MADE ALL THESE THINGS? The prophet goes on to say that the chosen and proper resting-place of Yahweh is the "contrite heart that trembleth at His word," and that the time was coming when those who clung to the temple and its ritual would be... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. YE STIFF-NECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EARS. [Lachmann adopts the plural kardiais (G2588), for which the external evidence is rather better than for kardia (G2588) of th... [ Continue Reading ]
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: WHICH OF THE PROPHETS HAVE NOT YOUR FATHERS PERSECUTED? AND THEY HAVE SLAIN THEM WHICH SHOWED BEFORE OF THE CO... [ Continue Reading ]
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. WHO HAVE RECEIVED, [ Hoitines (G3748) elabete (G2983)] - rather 'Who [are the parties that] received the law;' thus identifying those who had just killed the Prince of life with those who had at the beginning of their eco... [ Continue Reading ]
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS, THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART, AND THEY GNASHED ON HIM WITH THEIR TEETH. If they could have answered him, how different would have been their temper of mind!... [ Continue Reading ]
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, BUT HE, BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LOOKED UP STEDFASTLY INTO HEAVEN, AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD - that is, BUT HE, BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LOOKE... [ Continue Reading ]
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. AND SAID. BEHOLD, I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED, AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. This (to use the words of Alford) is the only time that our Lord is by human lips called THE SON OF... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, THEN THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND STOPPED THEIR EARS, AND RAN UPON HIM WITH ONE ACCORD. Compare the remarkably similar scene at the trial and condemnation of our Lord (). To men of their mould... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND CAST HIM OUT OF THE CITY - as the law required to be done in cases of blasphemy (Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 15:35; 1 Kings 21:13: and see Hebrews 13:12), AND ST... [ Continue Reading ]
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. AND THEY STONED STEPHEN, [ elithoboloun (G3036)] - the imperfect tense here denoting the continuance and protracting of the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND HE KNEELED DOWN, AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE - with something of the gathered energy of his dying Lord (see the note at ), LORD - that is, beyond all doubt,... [ Continue Reading ]