Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 7

Introduction

1  Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,
2  shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,
20  before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;
37  that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;
44  and that all outward ceremonies were ordained, according to the heavenly pattern, to last but for a time;
51  reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, the Just One, whom the prophets foretold should come into the world.
54  Whereupon they stone him to death, who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them.
Verse 1

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
Are
6:13,14, Matthew 26:61,62, Mark 14:58-60, John 18:19-21,33-35
Verse 2

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Men
22:1, 23:7
The God
Psalms 24:7,10, 29:3, Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 6:13, Luke 2:14, John 1:14, 12:41, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Titus 2:13; *Gr:; Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 4:11, 5:12,13
appeared
Genesis 12:1, Nehemiah 9:7, Isaiah 51:2
when
Joshua 24:2
Charran
Genesis 11:31, 12:5, 29:4
Haran
Verse 3

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Get
Genesis 12:1, Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:33, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Hebrews 11:8
the land
Genesis 13:14-17, 15:7, Joshua 24:3, Nehemiah 9:8
Verse 4

Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
came
Genesis 11:31,32, 12:4,5, Isaiah 41:2,9
Verse 5

And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
he gave
Genesis 23:4, Psalms 105:11,12, Hebrews 11:9,10,13-16
not
Deuteronomy 2:5
yet
Genesis 12:7, 13:15, 15:3,18, 17:8, 26:3, 28:13-15, Exodus 6:7,8, Deuteronomy 6:10,11, 9:5, 10:11, 11:9, 34:4, Nehemiah 9:8, Psalms 105:8-11
when
Genesis 15:2-5, 16:2, 17:16-19
Verse 6

And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
That
Genesis 15:13,16
four
Exodus 12:40,41, Galatians 3:17
Verse 7

And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
the nation
Genesis 15:14-16, Exodus 7:1-14, Nehemiah 9:9-11, Psalms 74:12-14, 78:43-51, Psalms 105:27-36, 135:8,9, 136:10-15, Isaiah 51:9,10
and serve
Exodus 3:12
Verse 8

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 begat the twelve patriarchs.
the covenant
Genesis 17:9-14, John 7:22, Romans 4:10, Galatians 3:15,17
and so
Or, "and thus," [kai houtos
Genesis 17:12, 21:1-4
and Isaac
Genesis 25:21-26, 1 Chronicles 1:34, Matthew 1:2, Romans 9:9-13
and Jacob
Genesis 29:31-35, 30:1-24, 35:16,23-26, Exodus 1:1-4, 1 Chronicles 2:1,2
patriarchs
2:29, Hebrews 7:4
Verse 9

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
moved
Genesis 37:4-11, 49:23, Matthew 27:18
sold
Genesis 37:18-29, 45:4, 50:15-20, Psalms 105:17
but
Genesis 39:2,5,21-23, 49:24, Isaiah 41:10, 43:2
Verse 10

And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
delivered
Genesis 48:16, Psalms 22:24, 34:17-19, 37:40, 40:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:18, James 5:11, Revelation 7:14
gave
Genesis 41:12-46, 42:6, 44:18, 45:8,9, Psalms 105:19-22, Proverbs 2:6, 3:4, 16:7
Verse 11

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Genesis 41:54-57, 43:1, 45:5,6,11, 47:13-15, Psalms 105:16
Verse 12

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
Genesis 42:1-24, 43:2
Verse 13

And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
Joseph
Genesis 45:1-18, 46:31-34, 47:1-10
Verse 14

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
sent
Genesis 45:9-11, Psalms 105:23
threescore
Genesis 46:12,26,27, Deuteronomy 10:22, 1 Chronicles 2:5,6
Verse 15

So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
Jacob
Genesis 46:3-7, Numbers 20:15, Deuteronomy 10:22, 26:5, Joshua 24:4
died
Genesis 49:33, Exodus 1:6, Hebrews 11:21,22
Verse 16

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
were
Of the two burying-places of the patriarchs, one was at Hebron, the cave and field which Abraham purchased of Ephron the Hittite, (Ge 23:16, etc.); the other in Sychem, which Jacob (not Abraham) bought of the sons of Emmor, (Ge 33:19.) To remove this glaring discrepancy, Markland interprets [para] from, as it frequently signifies with a genitive, and renders, "And were carried over to Sychem; and afterwards from among the descendants of Emmor, the father, or son, of Sychem, they were laid in the sepulchre which Abraham bought for a sum of money." This agrees with the account which Josephus gives of the patriarchs; that they were carried out of Egypt, first to Sychem, and then to Hebron, where they were buried.
Exodus 13:19, Joshua 24:32
the sepulchre
Genesis 33:9-20, 35:19, 49:29-32
Emmor
Genesis 34:2-31
Hamor, Shechem
Verse 17

But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
when
6, Genesis 15:13-16, 2 Peter 3:8,9
the people
13:17, Exodus 1:7-12,20, Psalms 105:24,25
Verse 18

Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
Exodus 1:8
Verse 19

The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
Exodus 1:9-22, Psalms 83:4,5, 105:25, 129:1-3, Revelation 12:4,5
Verse 20

In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
Moses
Exodus 2:2-10
and was
1 Samuel 16:12, Hebrews 11:23
exceeding fair
or, fair to God.
Verse 21

And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
when
Exodus 2:2-10, Deuteronomy 32:26
for
Hebrews 11:24
Verse 22

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
was learned
1 Kings 4:29, 2 Chronicles 9:22, Isaiah 19:11, Daniel 1:4,17-20
and was
Luke 24:19
Verse 23

And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
when
Exodus 2:11,12, Hebrews 11:24-26
it came
Exodus 35:21,29, 1 Chronicles 29:17-19, 2 Chronicles 30:12, Ezra 1:1,5, 7:27, Proverbs 21:1, 2 Corinthians 8:16, Philippians 2:12,13, James 1:17, Revelation 17:17
to
15:36, Exodus 4:18
Verse 24

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
28, John 18:10,11,25-27
Verse 25

For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
For
or, Now. God.
14:27, 15:4,7, 21:19, 1 Samuel 14:45, 19:5, 2 Kings 5:1, Romans 15:18, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Colossians 1:29
but
Psalms 106:7, Mark 9:32, Luke 9:45, 18:34
Verse 26

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
the next
Exodus 2:13-15
ye are
Genesis 13:8, 45:24, Psalms 133:1, Proverbs 18:19, John 15:17,18, 1 Corinthians 6:6-8, Philippians 2:1,3, 1 John 3:11-15
Verse 27

But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
he that
54, 5:33, Genesis 19:19, 1 Samuel 25:14,15, Proverbs 9:7,8
Who
35,39, 3:13-15, 4:7,11,12, Matthew 21:23, Luke 12:14, John 18:36,37, John 19:12-15
Verse 29

Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
Exodus 2:14-22, 4:19,20
Midian
Exodus 18:2-4
Verse 30

And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
when
17, Exodus 7:7
there
Exodus 3:1, 19:1,2, 1 Kings 19:8, Galatians 4:25
Sinai
an
32,35, Genesis 16:7-13, 22:15-18, 32:24-30, 48:15,16, Exodus 3:2,6, Isaiah 63:9, Hosea 12:3-5, Malachi 3:1
in a flame
Deuteronomy 4:20, Psalms 66:12, Isaiah 43:2, Daniel 3:27
in a bush
35, Deuteronomy 33:16, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37
Verse 31

When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
and as
Exodus 3:3,4
Verse 32

Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
I am
3:13, Genesis 50:24, Exodus 3:6,15, 4:5, Matthew 22:32, Hebrews 11:16
Then
9:4-6, Genesis 28:13-17, Exodus 33:20, 1 Kings 19:13, Job 4:14, 37:1,2, 42:5,6, Psalms 89:7, Isaiah 6:1-5, Daniel 10:7,8, Matthew 17:6, Luke 5:8, Revelation 1:17
Verse 33

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
Put
Exodus 3:5, Joshua 5:15, Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2 Peter 1:18
Verse 34

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
I have seen
Exodus 2:23-25, 3:7,9, 4:31, 6:5,6, Judges 2:18, 10:15,16, Nehemiah 9:9, Psalms 106:44, Isaiah 63:8,9
and am
Genesis 11:5,7, 18:21, Exodus 3:8, Numbers 11:17, Psalms 144:5, Isaiah 64:1, John 3:13, John 6:38
And now
Exodus 3:10,14, Psalms 105:26, Hosea 12:13, Micah 6:4
Verse 35

This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Moses
9-15,27,28,51, 1 Samuel 8:7,8, 10:27, Luke 19:14, John 18:40, 19:15
the same
Psalms 75:7, 113:7,8, 118:22,23
a ruler
2:36, 3:22, 5:31, 1 Samuel 12:8, Nehemiah 9:10-14, Psalms 77:20, Isaiah 63:11,12, Revelation 15:3
by
30, Exodus 14:19,24, 23:20-23, 32:34, 33:2,12-15, Numbers 20:16, Isaiah 63:9, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 2:2
Verse 36

He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
brought
Exodus 12:41, 33:1
after
Exodus 7:1-14, Deuteronomy 4:33-37, 6:21,22, Nehemiah 9:10, Psalms 78:12,13,42-51, Psalms 105:27-36, 106:8-11, 135:8-12, 136:9-15
in the Red
Exodus 14:21,27-29
and in the wilderness
Exodus 15:23-25, 16:1-17, 19:1-20, Numbers 9:15-23, 11:1-35, 14:1-45, Numbers 16:1-17, 20:1-21, Deuteronomy 2:25-37, 8:4, Nehemiah 9:12-15,18-22, Psalms 78:14-33, 105:39-45, 106:17,18, 135:10-12, 136:16-21
Verse 37

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
that
38, 2 Chronicles 28:22, Daniel 6:13
A prophet
3:22, Deuteronomy 18:15-19
like unto me
or, as myself. him.
3:23, Matthew 17:3-5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:30,31,35, John 8:46,47, 18:37
Verse 38

This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
in the church
Exodus 19:3-17, 20:19,20, Numbers 16:3-35,41,42
with the
30,35,53, Isaiah 63:9, Galatians 3:19, Hebrews 2:2
who
Exodus 21:1-11, Deuteronomy 5:27-31, 6:1-3, 33:4, Nehemiah 9:13,14, John 1:17
lively
Deuteronomy 30:19,20, 32:46,47, Psalms 78:5-9, John 6:63, Romans 3:2, 9:4, 10:6-10, Hebrews 5:12, 1 Peter 4:11
Verse 39

To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
whom
51,52, Nehemiah 9:16, Psalms 106:16,32,33, Ezekiel 20:6-14
but
27, Judges 11:2, 1 Kings 2:27
and in
Exodus 14:11,12, 16:3, 17:3, Numbers 11:5, 14:3,4, 21:5, Nehemiah 9:17
Verse 40

Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
unto
Exodus 32:1
Verse 41

And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
they
Exodus 32:2-8,17-20, Deuteronomy 9:12-18, Nehemiah 9:18, Psalms 106:19-21
rejoiced
Isaiah 2:8,9, 44:9-20, Hosea 9:1,10, Habakkuk 2:18-20
Verse 42

Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
and gave
Psalms 81:11,12, Isaiah 66:4, Ezekiel 14:7-10, 20:25,39, Hosea 4:17, Romans 1:24-28, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
the host
Deuteronomy 4:19, 17:3, 2 Kings 17:16, 21:3, Job 31:26-28, Jeremiah 19:13, Ezekiel 8:16
O ye
Amos 5:25,26
have ye
Isaiah 43:23
of forty
Psalms 95:10, Hebrews 3:9,15-17
Verse 43

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
ye took
Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5, 2 Kings 17:16-18, 21:6
figures
Exodus 20:4,5, Deuteronomy 4:16-18, 5:8,9
and I
2 Kings 17:6, 18:11, Amos 5:27
Babylon
In the passage of Amos, to which Stephen refers, it is beyond Damascus; but as Assyria and Media, to which they were carried, were not only beyond Damascus, but beyond Babylon itself, he states that fact, and thus fixes more precisely the place of their captivity.
Verse 44

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
the tabernacle
Exodus 38:21, Numbers 1:50-53, 9:15, 10:11, 17:7,8, 18:2, Joshua 18:1, 2 Chronicles 24:6
speaking
or, who spake. that he.
Exodus 25:40, 26:30, 1 Chronicles 28:11,19, Hebrews 8:2,5
Verse 45

Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
Which
Joshua 3:11-14, 18:1, Judges 18:31, 1 Samuel 4:4, 1 Kings 8:4, 1 Chronicles 16:39, 21:29
that came after
or, having received. Jesus.
Joshua 3:6,7
Joshua
Hebrews 4:8
whom
13:19, Nehemiah 9:24, Psalms 44:2, 78:55
unto
2 Samuel 6:1-23, 1 Chronicles 15:1-17
Verse 46

Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
found
13:22, 1 Samuel 15:28, 16:1,11-13, 2 Samuel 6:21, 7:1,8,18,19, 1 Chronicles 28:4,5, Psalms 78:68-72, 89:19-37, 132:11
and desired
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 1 Kings 8:17-19, 1 Chronicles 17:1-4, 22:7,8, 28:2,3, 29:2,3, Psalms 132:1-5
Verse 47

But Solomon built him an house.
2 Samuel 7:13, 1 Kings 5:1-18, 6:1,37,38, 7:13-51, 8:20, 1 Chronicles 17:1, 2 Chronicles 2:1-4, Zechariah 6:12,13
Verse 48

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
the most High
Deuteronomy 32:8, Psalms 7:17, 46:4, 91:1,9, 92:8, Daniel 4:17,24,25,34, Hosea 7:16
dwelleth
17:24,25, 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 2:5,6, 6:18
as
Isaiah 66:1,2
Verse 49

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Heaven
1 Kings 22:19, Psalms 11:4, Jeremiah 23:24, Matthew 5:34,35, 23:22, Revelation 3:21
what house
Jeremiah 7:4-11, Malachi 1:11, Matthew 24:2, John 4:21
Verse 50

Hath not my hand made all these things?
14:15, Exodus 20:11, Psalms 33:6-9, 50:9-12, 146:5,6, Isaiah 40:28, 44:24, Isaiah 45:7,8,12, Jeremiah 10:11, 32:17
Verse 51

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
stiffnecked
Exodus 32:9, 33:3,5, 34:9, Deuteronomy 9:6,13, 31:27, 2 Chronicles 30:8, Nehemiah 9:16, Psalms 75:5, Psalms 78:8, Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 17:23, Ezekiel 2:4, Zechariah 7:11,12
uncircumcised
Leviticus 26:41, Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, 6:10, 9:25,26, Ezekiel 44:7,9, Romans 2:25,28,29, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11
resist
6:10, Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30
as
9,27,35,39, Matthew 23:31-33
Verse 52

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Which of
1 Samuel 8:7,8, 1 Kings 19:10,14, 2 Chronicles 24:19-22, 36:16, Nehemiah 9:26, Jeremiah 2:30, Jeremiah 20:2, 26:15,23, Matthew 5:12, 21:35-41, 23:31-37, Luke 11:47-51, Luke 13:33,34, 1 Thessalonians 2:15
which shewed
3:18,24, 1 Peter 1:11, Revelation 19:10
the Just One
3:14, 22:14, Zechariah 9:9, 1 John 2:1, Revelation 3:7
of whom
2:23, 3:15, 4:10, 5:28-30
Verse 53

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
have received
Exodus 19:1-20, Deuteronomy 33:2, Psalms 68:17, Galatians 3:19, Hebrews 2:2
and have
Ezekiel 20:18-21, John 7:19, Romans 2:23-25, Galatians 6:13
Verse 54

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
they were
5:33, 22:22,23
they gnashed
Job 16:9, Psalms 35:16, 112:10, Lamentations 2:16, Matthew 8:12, 13:42,50, 22:13, 24:51, Matthew 25:30, Luke 13:28
Verse 55

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
full
2:4, 4:8, 6:3,5,8,10, 13:9,10, Micah 3:8
looked
1:10,11, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Revelation 4:1-3
and saw
Isaiah 6:1-3, Ezekiel 1:26-28, 10:4,18, 11:23, John 12:41, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Peter 1:17, Revelation 21:11
standing
Psalms 109:31, 110:1, John 14:3, Hebrews 1:3, 8:1
Verse 56

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
I see
10:11,16, Ezekiel 1:1, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21, Revelation 4:1, 11:19, 19:11
the Son
Daniel 7:13,14, Matthew 16:27,28, 25:31, 26:64,65, John 5:22-27
Verse 57

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
they cried
54, 21:27-31, 23:27
stopped
Psalms 58:4, Proverbs 21:13, Zechariah 7:11
Verse 58

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
cast
Numbers 15:35, 1 Kings 21:13, Luke 4:29, Hebrews 13:12,13
stoned
6:11, Leviticus 24:14-16, John 10:23-26
the witnesses
6:13, Deuteronomy 13:9,10, 17:7
their
8:1, 9:1-19, 22:4,20
Verse 59

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
calling
2:21, 9:14,21, 22:16, Joel 2:32, Romans 10:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:2
Lord
Psalms 31:5, Luke 23:46
Verse 60

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
he kneeled
9:40, 20:36, 21:5, Ezra 9:5, Daniel 6:10, Luke 22:41
Lord
Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, 23:34, Romans 12:14-21
he fell
13:36, 1 Corinthians 11:30, 15:6,18,20,51, 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14, 5:10

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