_And in those days_ Better, THESE. The narrative which follows is closely connected with Acts 5:14, where it is said, "believers were added to the Lord, _multitudes_both of men and women." _when the number of the disciples was multiplied_ Better, _was multiplying_. The participle is in the present... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 6:1. Murmuring about the distribution of the common fund. Measures for allaying it By the confession of the high-priest himself (Acts 5:28) Jerusalem was now filled with the teaching of the Christians, and thus the first step was accomplished in the course which Christ had ordained (Acts 1:8)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them_ They found that there was cause for the complaint, and at once prepared to provide a remedy. By "the multitude of the disciples" we are not to suppose that an attempt was made to gather every one who in Jerusalem called himself a Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you_ The word _wherefore_should according to the best MSS. be _but_, and the end of the sentence should be "from among you." _seven men of honest report_ Lit. _attested_, i.e. well reported of (as 1 Timothy 5:10). It is rendered "of good report" below (Acts 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_But we will give ourselves continually_ The Greek word is used several times in describing the earnest conduct of the disciples. Thus (Acts 1:14) "these all _continued_with one accord in prayer," and (Acts 2:42) "they _continued stedfastly_in the Apostles" doctrine." So Acts 2:46, and St Paul emplo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the saying pleased the whole multitude_ There was clearly no thought of neglecting any, and when the oversight was known and a remedy proposed all were rejoiced thereat. _and they chose Stephen_, &c. If we may conclude about the men who were chosen from the names they bear, every one of the se... [ Continue Reading ]
_whom they set before the apostles_ That they might confirm, as they had proposed to do, the selection made by the whole congregation. _they laid their hands on them_ As a solemn dedication of them to the work for which they had been chosen. Cf. Numbers 27:18; Numbers 27:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the word of God increased_ i.e. was more widely spread now that the Apostles were freed from secular cares, and left to give themselves unto the ministry of the word. (Cp. for the expression Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20.) _a great company of the priests_ To these men the sacrifice would be greater t... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Stephen's Preaching, Arrest and Accusation 8. _And Stephen, full of faith_ The best MSS. read _grace_. _and power_ i.e. of working miracles. He at least among the seven appears almost as largely gifted by the Holy Ghost, as were the twelve.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then there arose certain_ It is better to render the connecting particle _But_, it is no note of time. _of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines_ Lit. _of them that were of the synagogue called_, &c. The number of synagogues in Jerusalem was very great. The _Libertines_were... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they suborned men_ Suborn = to provide, but nearly always used in a bad sense. _Subornation_of perjury is the legal phrase for procuring a person who will take a false oath. _which said_, &c. The charge here laid against Stephen is afterwards defined. Blasphemous words against Moses and again... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes_ of whom the latter two classes had already been exasperated against the Apostles. And now that it was told them that the glory of the Temple was spoken against, the common people would be readily roused, for the Temple was the object... [ Continue Reading ]
_and set up false witnesses which said_ Their falseness consists in the perverted turn which they gave to the words of Stephen. Though we have no words of his hitherto recorded, we can see from the character of his defence in the next chapter that he must have been heard to declare that the worship... [ Continue Reading ]
_for we have heard him say_ No doubt there was some handle afforded by Stephen's words for their statement. _that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place_ What the tenor of Stephen's language must have been may be gathered from Acts 7:48, "The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with han... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him_ As they would naturally in expectation of what he was about to say in his defence. _saw his face as it had been the face of an angel_ Either because of the calm dignity which Stephen's natural look displayed; he was calm and undisturbed,... [ Continue Reading ]