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Summarized Bible Commentary

Acts 7:1-60

Contents: Address of Stephen before the council. Stephen martyred.

Characters: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Stephen, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Pharaoh, Moses, Pharaoh's daughter, Aaron, Solomon, Saul.

Conclusion: Those who are filled with the Holy Ghost and the Word of God cannot but speak boldly against sin, and they will be made fit for anything, either to act for Christ or to suffer for Him. As their afflictions for Christ abound, their consolation in Him may yet more abound. Let us as we witness look constantly to Christ that we may be ever set above the fear of man.

Key Word: Testimony, Acts 7:1. Martyrdom, Acts 7:59.

Strong Verses: Acts 7:52; Acts 7:55; Acts 7:56.

Striking Facts: Acts 7:56; Colossians 3:1 tells us when Jesus ascended, He sat down in heaven. Stephen sees Him standing. He stood to welcome to heaven the first martyr. He will stand again when the hour of the rapture of the Church is at hand.

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See also Acts 7:1-60 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 7:1 After ei=pen de. o` avrciereu,j the Western text (D E itgig, h vgmss copG67) adds the very natural supplement tw|/ Stefa,nw|....

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER VII. _Stephen, being permitted to answer for himself relative to the_ _charge of blasphemy brought against him by his accusers, gives_ _a circumstantial relation of the call of Abraham, whe...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN SAID THE HIGH PRIEST - See the notes on Matthew 2:4. In this case the high priest seems to have presided in the council. ARE THESE THINGS SO? - To wit, the charge alleged against him of blasphem...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The Address of Stephen (Acts 7:1)._ 2. The Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54). This is the largest chapter in this book and concludes the first section. Stephen is the chosen instrumen...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AND THE PATRIARCHS. The High Priest invites Stephen to plead to the charge. Addressing his audience in the style used by Paul (Acts 22:1), Stephen speaks of the theophany to Abraham, placing i...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    STEPHEN'S DEFENCE (Acts 7:1-7) When Oliver Cromwell was outlining the education he thought necessary for his son Richard, he said, "I would have him know a little history." It was to the lesson of hi...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    The high priest said, "Is this so?" And Stephen said, "Men, brothers and fathers, listen to what I have to say. The God of glory appeared to Abraham our father when he was in Mesopotamia, before he li...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ARE THESE THINGS SO. If (App-118. a) these things are so....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Then said the high priest, Are these things so?_ Read, _And the high priest said_, &c. Thus he called upon Stephen to answer the charges laid against him....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 7:1-53. STEPHEN’S DEFENCE...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἄρα before ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ omitted with אABC. The _Vulg_. has nothing to express it. 1. ΕἾΠΕΝ ΔῈ Κ.Τ.Λ., _and the high-priest said_: thus calling on Stephen for his defence. ΕἸ ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ. On εἰ with the indicat...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CALL OF ABRAHAM ACTS 7:1-8:_ The High Priest wanted to know if the things said about Stephen were true. Stephen's faith in Hebrew history was strong because he knew it was God at work. Stephen be...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΊ (G1487) вводит прямой вопрос. Обвиняемому предлагается защищаться в ответ на обвинения (Haenchen). ΈΧΕΙ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΕΧΩ (G2192) иметь, держать; букв.: "держат ли данные вещи?" (RWP). Воп...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    c. Stephen's defence. Acts 7:1-53. Acts 7:1 And the high priest said, Are these things so? Acts 7:2 And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham,...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    VII: 1. “_Then said the high priest, Are these things so?_” Stephen responds in a long and powerful discourse. There is great diversity of opinion among commentators, as to the logical bearing and con...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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 con...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    13 These synagogues were doubtless very lax in their adherence to the Jewish law and customs, yet they are not ashamed to charge Stephen with this, in order to inflame the Sanhedrin against him. The f...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DEFENCE AND MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN 1-53. Speech of Stephen. There is every reason to believe that this speech was really delivered by St. Stephen, and not composed by St. Luke; for, (1) the speech does...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 7 STEPHEN’S SPEECH, PART 1: ABRAHAM’S *FAITH IN GOD, 7:1-8 V1 The *high priest asked Stephen, ‘Is this true?’ V2 Stephen replied, ‘Listen, brot...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    VII. (1) THEN SAID THE HIGH PRIEST, ARE THESE THINGS SO? — The question was analogous to that put to our Lord. The accused was called on to plead guilty or not guilty, and had then an opportunity for...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 15 ST. STEPHEN'S DEFENCE AND THE DOCTRINE OF INSPIRATION. Acts 6:12; Acts 7:1 ST. STEPHEN and St. Philip are the two prominent names among the primitive deacons. Stephen, however, much surp...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The question of the high priest breaks in upon the silence (Holtzmann). St. Chrysostom, _Hom._, xv., thought that the mildness of the inquiry showed that the assembly was overawed by St. Stephen's pre...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    STEPHEN'S DEFENSE: GOD'S FIRST CALLED ONES Acts 7:1-13 There are several touches in this eloquent apology which deserve notice. Acts 7:2: “The God of glory.” This chapter begins and ends with glory....

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The charge against Stephen was that he had spoken against the Temple and the Law. His reply consisted of a masterly review of the history of the nation from the calling of Abraham to the rejection of...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    A Face Like an Angel Perhaps Paul reported to Luke the remarkable appearance of the face of Stephen. Luke told Theophilus that those in the council saw Stephen's face "as the face of an angel." The cl...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then (1) said the high priest, Are these things so? (1) Steven is allowed to plead his cause, but for this reason and purpose, that under a disguise and pretence of the Law he might be condemned....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Are these things so? The high priest speaks after this mild manner, being either terrified, or charmed with his angelical countenance. St. Stephen's design in this discourse, was to shew them, first,...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    EXPATRIATION 1-7. Despite the awful doom of the antediluvians, the people after the flood soon became terribly wicked. While they constantly ploughed up the bones of their antediluvian predecessors, f...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The History of Stephen is continued. He preacheth before the Council; is interrupted in the Midst of his Discourse by his Enemies; dragged forth from before the Council, and stoned. Acts 7:...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    First of all we see man in an entirely new place man risen from among the dead and ascending to heaven. The risen ascended man, Christ Jesus, is the new starting-point of the dealings of God. The firs...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1.There appeareth as yet some color of equity in the high priest and in the council; and yet, notwithstanding, there is a most unjust prejudice in his words; for he asketh him not what cause he had to...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Stephen, [11] as far as we are told, had not known the Lord during His life on earth. Certainly he was not appointed, like the apostles, to be a witness of that life. He was simply the instrument of t...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN SAID THE HIGH PRIEST,.... The Ethiopic version adds, "to him"; that is, to Stephen; for to him he addressed himself: or he "asked him", as the Syriac version renders it; he put the following ques...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then said the high priest, Are these things so? Ver. 1. _Are these things so?_] A Fire hearing Stephen should have, but his death was beforehand resolved on....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then said the high-priest_ Who was president of the council, and, as such, the mouth of the court; _Are these things so?_ Are they as these witnesses have deposed? for thou art permitted to speak for...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    SO; as his accusers had said....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE DEFENSE OF STEPHEN AND HIS DEATH. Stephen refers to the call of Abraham:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN SAID THE HIGH PRIEST, ARE THESE THINGS SO?...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The high priest only asks the question, "Are these things so?" Then God provides room for Stephen to speak without interruption for some time. This stands in striking contrast to the way in which the...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Then the high priest said, " Are these things so? " 1. The charge was made in Acts 6:14. "Jesus said He would destroy the Temple and change the customs which Moses delivered to us." 1. The "temple...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    And the high priest said, Are these things so? 'THE HIGH PRIEST'-Since Caiaphas was not deposed until 36 A.D., it seems that he was the high priest presiding over this trial. 'ARE THESE THINGS SO?'-...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-16 Stephen was charged as a blasphemer of God, and an apostate from the church; therefore he shows that he is a son of Abraham, and values himself on it. The slow steps by which the promise made to...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ACTS CHAPTER 7 ACTS 7:1 Stephen, called upon to answer the charge against him, relateth how God called Abraham, and gave him and his seed the land of Canaan by promise, ACTS 7:9 how Joseph was sold by...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    VII: 1. “_ Then said the high priest, Are these things so?_” Stephen responds in a long and powerful discourse. There is great diversity of opinion among commentators, as to the logical bearing and co...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 7:1 Then G1161 priest G749 said G2036 (G5627) Are G1487 G686 G2192 (G5719) things G5023

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” ' We are left to recognise that the High Priest, the chairman of the tribunal, has had the charges laid out before the court. He then turns to Stephe...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 7:1. Then said the high priest, Are these things so? A hush seems to have fallen on the council as they watched that strange unearthly brightness light up the countenance of the accused, and in s...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    ARE THESE THINGS SO? (ε ταυτα ουτως εχε). On this use of ε in a direct question see on Acts 1:6. Literally "Do these things hold thus?" A formal question by the high priest like our "Do you plead gu...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 6; Acts 7 Stephen. From the history of Stephen we learn: I. That fidelity to truth provokes antagonism; holiness and sin are mutually repellent; love and selfishness are the opposites of each o...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The scope and design of St. Stephen's defence before the council will be better understood, if it be properly analyzed. The rulers construed his defence to import, that the glory of their temple shoul...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IS THIS REALLY SO? That is, "What do you have to say in your own defence?...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then said the high priest, Are these things so?_ THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS QUESTION This functionary was probably Theophilus, son-in-law of Caiaphas. The ex-officio president of the council called for...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    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...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 7:1. The high priest’s question, ARE THESE THINGS SO? analogous to that put to Christ (Matthew 26:62), was equivalent to a modern “Guilty or not guilty?” Acts 7:2. Concerning...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 7:1 _And the high priest said _for then _said the high priest, _A.V. The high priest spoke as president of the Sanhedrim (see Acts 9:1. Acts 9:1 and...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn tonight to Acts chapter 7. In the early church when a dispute arose among the Grecians--that is, those Jews of the Grecian culture. They were actually Jews, but they had followed the Grecia...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 6:13; Acts 6:14; John 18:19; John 18:33; Mark 14:58;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Then said the high - priest. "The glorified countenance of Stephen has caused a pause of surprise and admiration, which the high - priest interrupts by calling upon the accused for his defense" (Gloag...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    STEPHEN'S APOLOGY Acts 7:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS After charges against Stephen had been placed, the High Priest with a show of honor, said, "Are these things so?" Stephen then stood forth and made his...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    This chapter contains St. Stephen's apology, or defensative plea which he makes for himself: The Jews had in the foregoing chapter accused him for blaspheming their law, and profaning their temple, im...

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