Acts 7:44

Omit ἐν before τοῖς πατράσιν with אABCDHP.

44. ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου, the tabernacle of the testimony. This name is found first in Exodus 38:21 (Exodus 37:19, LXX.). The ark is also called ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ μαρτυρίου, as in Exodus 25:21, &c. The name was no doubt given because all the contents of the ark, which was the most sacred part of the tabernacle fittings, were testimonies to God’s rule or to His power exerted for His people. Aaron’s rod, the pot of manna, and the tables of the Law were all stored up therein. And this ark, above which God made His presence seen, was in the wilderness and moving from place to place.

ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν, our fathers had, &c. Concerning a historic religion, like that of the Jews, this was, or ought to have been, a weighty argument.

καθὼς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν, even as He had appointed who spake, &c. For the command see Exodus 25:9; Exodus 25:40; Exodus 26:30; Exodus 27:8.