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, imagining that Almighty God was so pleased with the temple-service and Mosaic rites, that no other way... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, The great trial which God put Abraham's faith unto; The Lord promised to give him the land of Canaan for. possession, but he gave him not. foot's breadth: He promised to give it unto his seed, when as yet he had no child; and when God gave him seed, yet they were to sojourn in. strange... [ Continue Reading ]
From the history of Abraham, Stephen proceeds to that of Joseph; and shews, as he did before, that Joseph, as well as Abraham, worshipped God acceptably without wither tabernacle or temple, and without such customs as Moses delivered; and consequently, that the worship of God is not confined to an o... [ Continue Reading ]
From the history of Abraham and Joseph, St. Stephen descends to that of Moses; where we have observable, 1. The birth and education of Moses, HE WAS BORN AND HID THREE MONTHS IN HIS FATHER'S HOUSE; and then being cast out, was taken in by the Pharoah's daughter, and had. noble education given to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Stephen here goes on with the history of Moses, and having, in the former verses, made mention of what occurred to him in Egypt and in Madian, here an account is given of what happened to him in the wilderness; and the first thing observable, is the appearance of God to him in. flame of fire out... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How St. Stephen, having finished his general discourse in the foregoing verses to the Jews, comes now to. particular and close application of it to them. All the while he was generally discoursing, they were quiet and still, and made no noise at all; for generals do not affect: but... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The Jews' angry and unreasonable resentment of the foregoing representation; though it was exact truth and matter of fact, yet were they cut to the heart; that is, they were angry even unto madness. Here was. most proper corrosive, and applied by. skillful hand, but they would not l... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The holy deportment of this humble saint at his death; he prays. Learn hence, That good men should shut up their lives with prayer, and die with prayer in their mouths. Our Saviour did so; his first martyr here did so. St. Stephen imitated the death of Christ, and he imitated Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
We had St. Stephen's prayer in the foregoing verse for himself: here in this verse he prays for his murderers. Here note, 1. His pious charity in forgiving his enemies, and praying for them, that God would forgive them also; LORD, LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE; How doth this holy martyr imitate... [ Continue Reading ]