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 the twelve patriarchs.

'COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION'- Genesis 17:9. Carefully note that Stephen speaks very respectfully of the "customs". He declares that circumcision had been given by God. This covenant was given to Abraham the year before Isaac was born. Stott notes, 'So, long before there was. holy place, there was. holy people..' (p. 132)

'THE EIGHTH DAY'-Exactly as God had prescribed (Genesis 17:12).

'ISAAC..JACOB..THE TWELVE PATRIARCHS'-i.e. the 12 sons of Jacob. The word "Patriarch" denotes the father and ruler of. family. These 12 sons became the ancestors of the 12 tribes. Now Stephen will quickly but logically move from Abraham to Joseph.

Point to Note:

Thus in the life of the founder of the Jewish race we find: (a) The acceptance of new divinely given customs. (b). relationship with God without the temple or the law of Moses. (c). willingness (faith) to immediately embrace any moves or changes that God decrees.

THE LIFE OF JOSEPH

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Old Testament