ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:1 Stephen’s defense is the longest speech in Acts 1:1. It is a selective summary of OT history that turned the charges on his accusers: _they_ were the ones disobeying God because they rejected his appointed leaders. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for ... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:6 FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. That is, the time Israel spent in Egypt. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:7 Combining Genesis 15:13 with Exodus 3:12, Stephen spoke of God’s assurances to Abraham that after 400 years his descendants would come to Canaan and worship God IN THIS PLACE. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:9 The theme of Israel’s rejection of God’s chosen leaders (such as JOSEPH) runs throughout Stephen’s speech, culminating in their rejection of Jesus. GOD WAS WITH HIM. God’s presence with Joseph in EGYPT shows that God can bless those outside the Promised Land. A physical temple... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:14 When Stephen cites the number of Jacob’s KINDRED at SEVENTY-FIVE instead of seventy, he follows the Greek translation of the OT rather than Hebrew text for Exodus 1:5. The different texts were apparently based on different decisions regarding whether to include Jacob and his w... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:16 THE TOMB THAT ABRAHAM HAD BOUGHT... FROM THE SONS OF HAMOR IN SHECHEM. It was actually Jacob who bought land “from the sons of Hamor” in Shechem (Genesis 33:19), and this is where Joseph was buried (Joshua 24:32). Stephen may have been using the name “Abraham” to refer to all... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:20 Stephen’s recital of the story of MOSES is in three parts, covering 40 years each: birth and years in Pharaoh’s court (vv. Acts 7:17), flight from Egypt and stay in Midian (vv. Acts 7:23), and divine call at Sinai and leading Israel in the wilderness (vv. Acts 7:30). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:22 Moses’ education in Egyptian wisdom is not mentioned in the OT, but it was well established in Jewish tradition. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:23 The rejection of Moses’ attempt to reconcile two quarreling Israelites (Exodus 2:11) illustrates Israel’s constant rejection of its God-sent leaders (see Acts 7:35). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:35 Stephen presents Moses as a type of Christ: both were men whom GOD SENT, both served as a REDEEMER (see Luke 24:21), and both performed WONDERS AND SIGNS (see Acts 2:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagNa [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:37 Christ is the PROPHET whom Moses predicted (see Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:38 CONGREGATION. The characteristic NT word for “church.” The idea that the law was mediated by angels was well established in Judaism. It is repeated in v. Acts 7:53, in Galatians 3:19, and Hebrews 2:2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:40 The golden CALF incident illustrates the Israelites’ continuing rejection of Moses’ leadership and their idolatry. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:42 Stephen continues his description of Israel’s idolatry during their occupation of the Promised Land, when they worshiped stars and planets (THE HOST OF HEAVEN). To establish this fact he quotes the Greek version of Amos 5:25. MOLOCH was the Canaanite sun god. The identity of R... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:44 Stephen turned to the charge made against him regarding the temple (Acts 6:12). He contrasted the tabernacle (or TENT) with the temple. The temple is not necessary for God’s purposes, for in the wilderness God was worshiped in the tabernacle. In distinction from the temple, it... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:48 Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1 to establish that God does not dwell IN HOUSES. Israel’s error was in confining God to the temple. Further, Stephen suggests that neither the tabernacle nor the temple were intended to last forever. Both pointed to something greater that was to come.... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:51 Stephen concludes with a direct attack on Israel for rejecting the Messiah. This seems harsh, but Luke will soon say that Stephen was “full of the Holy Spirit” (v. Acts 7:55; Acts 6:10, Acts 6:15) and so his accusation was also led by the Spirit. Using the OT, he accused his J... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:52 Like Jesus, Stephen accused his Jewish listeners of killing the prophets (compare Luke 11:47; Luke 13:34) and of rejecting their ultimate God-sent deliverer, the RIGHTEOUS ONE (see Acts 3:14). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = do [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:58 It is debated whether Stephen was stoned on the Sanhedrin’s order or killed by mob violence. The fact that he was appearing before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:12) favors the former, but the fast nature of the stoning suggests mob behavior. Also, the Sanhedrin did not have the legal... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 7:59 Stephen’s dying prayer recalls Jesus’ words during his crucifixion (Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46). FELL ASLEEP is a Christian expression for death, reflecting assurance of a future resurrection. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.lengt... [ Continue Reading ]