Acts 7:1

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, when he dwelt

in Mesopotamia, in Charran, c., 1-8.

The history of Jacob and Joseph, 9-17.

The persecution of their fathers in Egypt, 18, 19.

The history of Moses and his acts till the exodus from Egypt,

20-37.

The rebellion and idolatry of the Israelites in the wilderness,

38-43.

The erection of the tabernacle of witness, which continued till

the time of David, 44-46.

Of the temple built by Solomon for that God who cannot be

confined to temples built by hands, 47-50.

Being probably interrupted in the prosecution of his discourse,

he urges home the charge of rebellion against God, persecution

of his prophets, the murder of Christ, and neglect of their own

law against them, 51-53.

They are filled with indignation, and proceed to violence, 54.

He sees the glory of God, and Christ at the right hand of the

Father and declares the glorious vision, 55, 56.

They rush upon him, drag him out of the city, and stone him,

57, 58.

He involves the Lord Jesus, prays for his murderers, and

expires, 59, 60.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII.

Verse Acts 7:1. Are these things so?] Hast thou predicted the destruction of the temple? And hast thou said that Jesus of Nazareth shall change our customs, abolish our religious rites and temple service? Hast thou spoken these blasphemous things against Moses, and against God? Here was some colour of justice; for Stephen was permitted to defend himself. And, in order to do this he thought it best to enter into a detail of their history from the commencement of their nation; and thus show how kindly God had dealt with them, and how ungraciously they and their fathers had requited Him. And all this naturally led him to the conclusion, that God could no longer bear with a people the cup of whose iniquity had been long overflowing; and therefore they might expect to find wrath, without mixture of mercy.

But how could St. Luke get all this circumstantial account? 1. He might have been present, and heard the whole; or, more probably, he had the account from St. Paul, whose companion he was, and who was certainly present when St. Stephen was judged and stoned, for he was consenting to his death, and kept the clothes of them who stoned him. See Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1; Acts 22:20.