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Acts Chapter
Seven
Acts 7
Stephen
[1] 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 the
Holy Ghost
distributing to whom He would.
He begins therefore their history from the beginning of God's way
that is
from Abraham
called out by the revelation of the God of glory
slow
indeed to obey
but at length led by the patient grace of God into Canaan.
Nevertheless
he was a stranger in the promised land; and bondage was to be the
portion of his descendants
until God interposed in grace. The lot
therefore
of the blessed patriarch was not that of possessing the promises
but of being
a stranger; and that of his descendants was to be captives until God delivered
them with a strong arm. Nothing can be more striking than the calm superiority
to circumstances displayed by Stephen. He recites to the Jews a history they
could not deny
a history they boasted in
yet it condemned them utterly. They
were doing as their fathers had done. But two persons are specially prominent
in Stephen's account
in connection with the goodness of God towards Israel at
this period-Joseph and Moses. Israel had rejected them both
given up Joseph to
the Gentiles
rejected Moses as judge and leader. It was
in cases which the
Jews could not deny or object to
the history of Christ also
who
too
at the
time appointed of God
will indeed be the Redeemer of Israel. This is the
substance of Stephen's argument. The Jews had always rejected those whom God
had sent and in whom the Holy Ghost had acted
and the testimony of the same
Holy Ghost in the prophets who had spoken of the Christ whom they had now
betrayed and slain. Besides this
according to Moses
they had worshipped false
gods
even from the time of their deliverance out of Egypt [2] -a sin which
however great the
long-suffering of God
would cause them to be carried away
now that they had
filled up the measure of their iniquity
beyond the Babylon which had already
been their punishment.
It is a most striking summing up of their whole
history-the history of man with all the means of restoration supplied. The full
measure of guilt is stated. They had received the law and had not kept it
rejected the prophets who had testified of Christ
and betrayed and murdered
Christ Himself-always resisted the Holy Ghost. What they did trust in
the
temple
God rejected. God Himself has been
as it were
a stranger in the land
of Canaan; and if Solomon built Him a house
it was in order that the Holy
Ghost might declare that He who had heaven for His throne
and earth for His
footstool
whose dominion was universal
would not dwell in houses of stone
which were the creation of His own hand. Thus we have the complete summing up
of their history
connected with the last days of their judgment. They always
resisted the Holy Ghost
as they had always disobeyed the law. Judaism was
judged
after the long patience of God and all His ways of grace with man as
means were exhausted. For Israel was man under the special dealings and care of
God. Man's guilt now is not only sin
but sin in spite of all that God has
done. It was the turning-point of man's history. Law
prophets
Christ
the
Holy Ghost
all tried
and man at enmity against God. The cross had really
proved it
but this had added the rejection of the testimony of the Holy Ghost
to a glorified Christ. All was over with man
and began anew with the second
Man ever in connection with heaven.
Their conscience convicted
and their heart hardened
their will unchanged
the members of the council were filled with rage
and
gnashed upon him with their teeth. But if Stephen was to bear this definitive
testimony against Israel
he was not merely to render the testimony
but much
more to place it in its true relative position
by a living expression of that
which a believer was in virtue of the presence of the Holy Ghost here below
dwelling in him. In their history we have man always resisting the Holy Ghost;
in Stephen
a man full of Him consequent on redemption.
Such are the elements of this touching and striking
scene
which forms an epoch in the history of the assembly. The heads of Israel
gnash their teeth with rage
against the mighty and convincing testimony of the
Holy Ghost
with which Stephen was filled. They had rejected a glorified
Christ
as they had slain a humbled one. Let us follow out the effect as to
Stephen himself. He looks stedfastly up to heaven; now fully opened to faith.
It is thither that the Spirit directs the mind
making it capable of fixing
itself there. He reveals to one who is thus filled with Himself the glory of
God on high
and Jesus in that glory at the right hand of God
in the place of
power-Son of man in the far higher place than that of Psalm 2
that of Psalm 8
though all things were not yet put under Him (compare John 1:50
51).
Afterwards He gives the effect of the testimony borne in the presence of the
power of Satan
the murderer.
"I see
" said Stephen
"the heavens opened." Such
then is the position of the true believer-heavenly upon the earth-in presence
of the world that rejected Christ
the murderous world; the believer
alive in
death
sees by the power of the Holy Ghost into heaven
and the Son of man at
the right hand of God. Stephen does not say "Jesus." The Spirit
characterises Him as the Son of man! Precious testimony to man! Nor is it to
the glory of God that he testifies (this was natural to heaven) but to the Son
of man in the glory
heaven being open to him
and then looks to Him as the
Lord Jesus
to receive his spirit
the first example and full testimony of the
state of the believer's soul after death with Christ glorified.
With regard to the progress of the testimony
it is not
now that Jesus is the Messiah
and He will return if you repent (which
however
does not cease to be true)
but it is the Son of man in heaven
which
is open to the man that is filled with the Holy Ghost-that heaven to which God
is about to transport the soul
as it is the hope and the testimony of those
that are His. The patience of God was doubtless still acting in Israel; but the
Holy Ghost opened new scenes and new hopes to the believer. [3]
But remark that Stephen
in consequence of seeing Jesus
in heaven
perfectly resembles Jesus upon earth-a fact precious in grace to us:
only that the glory of His Person is in all cases carefully guarded. Jesus
though heaven was opened to Him
was Himself the object to which heaven looked
down
and who was publicly owned and sealed of the Father. He did not need a
vision to present an object to His faith
nor did it produce any transformation
into the same image by revelation of the glory. But "Father
into Thy
hands I commit my spirit" is found in "Lord Jesus
receive my
spirit." And the affection for Israel which expresses itself in
intercession
"Father
forgive them
for they know not what they do
"
is found again in "Lord
lay not this sin to their charge"; save that
here the Holy Ghost does not now affirm that they are ignorant.
But it is well to dwell a moment on that which brings out
more clearly the especial position of Stephen
the vessel of the Spirit's
testimony
so definitively rejected by the Jews; and the divine character and
Person of Jesus
even where His disciple is most like Him. Heaven is open to
Jesus
the Holy Ghost descends upon Him and He is acknowledged the Son of God.
Heaven opens on Jesus
and the angels descend upon the Son of man: but He has
no object presented to Him; He is Himself the object on which heaven is gazing.
Heaven will open at the end of the age
and Jesus Himself come forth on the
white horse (that is
in judgment and triumph). Here
too
heaven opens
and
the disciple
the Christian
full of the Holy Ghost
sees into it
and there
beholds Jesus at the right hand of God. Jesus is still the object
before of
heaven
now of the believing man who is filled with the Holy Ghost; so that
as
to the object of faith and the position of the believer
this scene is
definitively characteristic. Jesus has no object
but is the object of heaven
when it opens; the saint has
and it is Jesus Himself in heaven when it is
open. Rejected
and rejected by the Jews
like Jesus
partaking in His
sufferings
and filled with His Spirit of grace
Stephen's eyes are fixed on
high
on the heaven which the Holy Ghost opens to him; and he sees the Son of
man there ready to receive his spirit. The rest will come later; but it is not
only Jesus
whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution
but
also the souls of His believing people until the moment of resurrection
and
the whole church
in spirit
detached from the world that rejected Him
and
from Judaism that opposed the testimony of the Holy Ghost. The latter
Judaism
is no longer at all recognised; there is no longer any room for the
long-suffering of God towards it. Its place is taken by heaven
and by the
assembly
which
so far as it is consistent
follows her Master there in
spirit
while waiting for His return.
[1] He
is the expression of the power of the Holy Ghost witnessing to Christ
glorified
who had been now thus presented to Israel
who had already rejected
Him in humiliation. From the fall to the flood
man
though not left without
witness
was otherwise left to himself. There were no special ways and
institutions of God. The result was the flood
to cleanse
so to speak
the
earth from its horrible pollution and violence. In the new world God began to
deal with man. Government was set up in Noah. But in Abraham one was
by
electing grace
called out
and God's promises given to him when the world had
turned to demons. This began the history of God's people
but the question of
righteousness was not raised. This the law did
claiming it from man. Then
prophets came in patient grace. Then
the last appeal of God for fruits
and
testimony of grace
the Son was sent. He was now rejected
and on His
intercession the Holy Ghost had witnessed to His glory by Peter (Acts 3) for
their repentance
and now dealt with them as to it by Stephen.
[2]
Observe
too
here
that however long the patience of God had lasted
repentance not being its result
the first sin
the first departure from God
bears its penalty at the end.
[3] The
Holy Ghost opens heaven to our view
and enables us to contemplate that which
is found there; and forms us on earth according to the character of Jesus. As
to the change that took place in the progress of God's dealings
it appears to
me that it was the realisation by the Spirit of the effect of the veil being
rent. Jesus is seen still standing; because
until the rejection by Israel of
the testimony of the Holy Ghost
He did not definitely sit down
waiting for
the judgment of His enemies. Rather He remained
in the position of High
Priest
standing; the believer with Him on high by the Spirit
and the soul
having thus far joined Him there in heaven; for now
by the blood of Christ
by
that new and living way
it could enter within the veil. On the other hand
the
Jews having done the same thing with regard to the testimony of the Holy Ghost
that they did with regard to Jesus
having (so to speak) in Stephen sent a
messenger after Him to say
"We will not have this man to reign over
us
" Christ definitively takes His place
seated in heaven
until He shall
judge the enemies who would not that He should reign over them. It is in this
last position that He is viewed in the Epistle to the Hebrews; in which
consequently they are exhorted to come out of the camp of Israel
following
after the victim whose blood had been carried into the sanctuary; thus anticipating
the judgment
which fell upon Jerusalem intermediately by means of the Romans
in order to set the nation aside
as it will be finally executed by Jesus
Himself. The position of Stephen therefore resembles that of Jesus
the
testimony being that of the Spirit to Jesus glorified. This makes the great
principle of the Epistle to the Hebrews very plain. The doctrine of the church
announced by Paul after the revelation made to him on his way to Damascus
goes
further than this; that is
it declares the union of Christians with Jesus in
heaven
and not merely their entrance into the holy place through the rent
veil
where the priest might only go in previously
behind the veil which hid
God from the people.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Acts》
Acts 7
Chapter Contents
Stephen's defence. (1-50) Stephen reproves the Jews for
the death of Christ. (51-53) The martyrdom of Stephen. (54-60)
Commentary on Acts 7:1-16
(Read Acts 7:1-16)
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 Abraham
advanced toward performance
plainly show that it had a spiritual meaning
and
that the land intended was the heavenly. God owned Joseph in his troubles
and
was with him by the power of his Spirit
both on his own mind by giving him
comfort
and on those he was concerned with
by giving him favour in their
eyes. Stephen reminds the Jews of their mean beginning as a check to priding
themselves in the glories of that nation. Likewise of the wickedness of the
patriarchs of their tribes
in envying their brother Joseph; and the same
spirit was still working in them toward Christ and his ministers. The faith of
the patriarchs
in desiring to be buried in the land of Canaan
plainly showed
they had regard to the heavenly country. It is well to recur to the first rise
of usages
or sentiments
which have been perverted. Would we know the nature
and effects of justifying faith
we should study the character of the father of
the faithful. His calling shows the power and freeness of Divine grace
and the
nature of conversion. Here also we see that outward forms and distinctions are
as nothing
compared with separation from the world
and devotedness to God.
Commentary on Acts 7:17-29
(Read Acts 7:17-29)
Let us not be discouraged at the slowness of the
fulfilling of God's promises. Suffering times often are growing times with the
church. God is preparing for his people's deliverance
when their day is
darkest
and their distress deepest. Moses was exceeding fair
"fair
toward God;" it is the beauty of holiness which is in God's sight of great
price. He was wonderfully preserved in his infancy; for God will take special
care of those of whom he designs to make special use. And did he thus protect
the child Moses? Much more will he secure the interests of his holy child
Jesus
from the enemies who are gathered together against him. They persecuted
Stephen for disputing in defence of Christ and his gospel: in opposition to
these they set up Moses and his law. They may understand
if they do not
wilfully shut their eyes against the light
that God will
by this Jesus
deliver them out of a worse slavery than that of Egypt. Although men prolong
their own miseries
yet the Lord will take care of his servants
and effect his
own designs of mercy.
Commentary on Acts 7:30-41
(Read Acts 7:30-41)
Men deceive themselves
if they think God cannot do what
he sees to be good any where; he can bring his people into a wilderness
and
there speak comfortably to them. He appeared to Moses in a flame of fire
yet
the bush was not consumed; which represented the state of Israel in Egypt
where
though they were in the fire of affliction
yet they were not consumed.
It may also be looked upon as a type of Christ's taking upon him the nature of
man
and the union between the Divine and human nature. The death of Abraham
Isaac
and Jacob
cannot break the covenant relation between God and them. Our
Saviour by this proves the future state
Matthew 22:31. Abraham is dead
yet God is still
his God
therefore Abraham is still alive. Now
this is that life and
immortality which are brought to light by the gospel. Stephen here shows that
Moses was an eminent type of Christ
as he was Israel's deliverer. God has
compassion for the troubles of his church
and the groans of his persecuted
people; and their deliverance takes rise from his pity. And that deliverance
was typical of what Christ did
when
for us men
and for our salvation
he
came down from heaven. This Jesus
whom they now refused
as their fathers did
Moses
even this same has God advanced to be a Prince and Saviour. It does not
at all take from the just honour of Moses to say
that he was but an instrument
and that he is infinitely outshone by Jesus. In asserting that Jesus should
change the customs of the ceremonial law. Stephen was so far from blaspheming
Moses
that really he honoured him
by showing how the prophecy of Moses was
come to pass
which was so clear. God who gave them those customs by his
servant Moses
might
no doubt
change the custom by his Son Jesus. But Israel
thrust Moses from them
and would have returned to their bondage; so men in
general will not obey Jesus
because they love this present evil world
and
rejoice in their own works and devices.
Commentary on Acts 7:42-50
(Read Acts 7:42-50)
Stephen upbraids the Jews with the idolatry of their
fathers
to which God gave them up as a punishment for their early forsaking
him. It was no dishonour
but an honour to God
that the tabernacle gave way to
the temple; so it is now
that the earthly temple gives way to the spiritual
one; and so it will be when
at last
the spiritual shall give way to the
eternal one. The whole world is God's temple
in which he is every where
present
and fills it with his glory; what occasion has he then for a temple to
manifest himself in? And these things show his eternal power and Godhead. But
as heaven is his throne
and the earth his footstool
so none of our services
can profit Him who made all things. Next to the human nature of Christ
the
broken and spiritual heart is his most valued temple.
Commentary on Acts 7:51-53
(Read Acts 7:51-53)
Stephen was going on
it seems
to show that the temple
and the temple service must come to an end
and it would be the glory of both
to give way to the worship of the Father in spirit and in truth; but he
perceived they would not bear it. Therefore he broke off
and by the Spirit of
wisdom
courage
and power
sharply rebuked his persecutors. When plain
arguments and truths provoke the opposers of the gospel
they should be shown
their guilt and danger. They
like their fathers
were stubborn and wilful.
There is that in our sinful hearts
which always resists the Holy Ghost
a
flesh that lusts against the Spirit
and wars against his motions; but in the
hearts of God's elect
when the fulness of time comes
this resistance is
overcome. The gospel was offered now
not by angels
but from the Holy Ghost;
yet they did not embrace it
for they were resolved not to comply with God
either in his law or in his gospel. Their guilt stung them to the heart
and
they sought relief in murdering their reprover
instead of sorrow and
supplication for mercy.
Commentary on Acts 7:54-60
(Read Acts 7:54-60)
Nothing is so comfortable to dying saints
or so
encouraging to suffering saints
as to see Jesus at the right hand of God:
blessed be God
by faith we may see him there. Stephen offered up two short
prayers in his dying moments. Our Lord Jesus is God
to whom we are to seek
and in whom we are to trust and comfort ourselves
living and dying. And if
this has been our care while we live
it will be our comfort when we die. Here
is a prayer for his persecutors. Though the sin was very great
yet if they
would lay it to their hearts
God would not lay it to their charge. Stephen
died as much in a hurry as ever any man did
yet
when he died
the words used
are
he fell asleep; he applied himself to his dying work with as much
composure as if he had been going to sleep. He shall awake again in the morning
of the resurrection
to be received into the presence of the Lord
where is
fulness of joy
and to share the pleasures that are at his right hand
for
evermore.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Acts》
Acts 7
Verse 3
[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.
Which I will show thee — Abraham knew not where he went.
Verse 4
[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.
After his father was dead — While Terah lived
Abraham lived partly with him
partly in Canaan: but
after he died
altogether in Canaan.
Verse 5
[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.
No
not to set his foot on — For the field mentioned
Acts 7:16
he did not receive by a Divine
donation
but bought it; even thereby showing that he was a stranger in the
land.
Verse 6
[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.
Verse 7
[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.
They shall serve me —
Not the Egyptians.
Verse 8
[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.
And so he begat Isaac — After the covenant was given
of which circumcision was the seal. Genesis 17:10.
Verse 9
[9] And
the patriarchs
moved with envy
sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him
But God was with him — Though he was not in this land. Genesis 37:28.
Verse 12
[12] But
when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt
he sent out our fathers first.
Sent our fathers first — Without Benjamin.
Verse 14
[14] Then
sent Joseph
and called his father Jacob to him
and all his kindred
threescore and fifteen souls.
Seventy-five souls — So
the seventy interpreters
(whom St. Stephen follows
) one son and a grandson of
Manasseh
and three children of Ephraim
being added to the seventy persons
mentioned Genesis 46:27.
Verse 16
[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.
And were carried over to Shechem — It seems that St. Stephen
rapidly running over so many circumstances of
history
has not leisure (nor was it needful where they were so well known) to
recite them all distinctly. Therefore he here contracts into one
two different
sepulchres
places
and purchases
so as in the former history
to name the
buyer
omitting the seller
in the latter
to name the seller
omitting the
buyer. Abraham bought a burying place of the children of Heth
Gen. xxiii. Genesis 23:1-20 There Jacob was buried. Jacob
bought a field of the children of Hamor. There Joseph was buried. You see here
how St. Stephen contracts these two purchases into one. This concise manner of
speaking
strange as it seems to us
was common among the Hebrews;
particularly
when in a case notoriously known
the speaker mentioned but part
of the story
and left the rest
which would have interrupted the current of
his discourse
to be supplied in the mind of the hearer.
And laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought — The first land which these strangers bought was for a sepulchre. They
sought for a country in heaven. Perhaps the whole sentence might be rendered
thus: So Jacob went down into Egypt and died
he and our fathers
and were
carried over to Shechem
and laid by the sons (that is
decendants) of Hamor
the father of Shechem
in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money.
Verse 17
[17] But
when the time of the promise drew nigh
which God had sworn to Abraham
the
people grew and multiplied in Egypt
Verse 18
[18] Till
another king arose
which knew not Joseph.
Another king —
Probably of another family.
Verse 19
[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.
Exposed —
Cast out to perish by hunger or wild beasts.
Verse 20
[20] In
which time Moses was born
and was exceeding fair
and nourished up in his father's
house three months:
In which time — A
sad but a seasonable time. Exodus 2:2.
Verse 21
[21] And
when he was cast out
Pharaoh's daughter took him up
and nourished him for her
own son.
Pharaoh's daughter took him up — By which means
being designed for a kingdom
he had all those
advantages of education
which he could not have had
if he had not been
exposed.
Verse 22
[22] And
Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians
and was mighty in words
and in deeds.
In all the wisdom of the Egyptians — Which was then celebrated in all the world
and for many ages after.
And mighty in words —
Deep
solid
weighty
though not of a ready utterance.
Verse 23
[23] And
when he was full forty years old
it came into his heart to visit his brethren
the children of Israel.
It came into his heart — Probably by an impulse from God.
Verse 24
[24] And
seeing one of them suffer wrong
he defended him
and avenged him that was
oppressed
and smote the Egyptian:
Seeing one wronged —
Probably by one of the task masters.
Verse 25
[25] For
he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would
deliver them: but they understood not.
They understood it not — Such was their stupidity and sloth; which made him afterward unwilling
to go to them.
Verse 26
[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?
He showed himself — Of
his own accord
unexpectedly.
Verse 27
[27] But
he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away
saying
Who made thee a ruler
and a judge over us?
Who appointed thee —
"Under the presence of the want of a call by man
the instruments of God
are often rejected."
Verse 30
[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.
The angel —
The Son of God; as appears from his styling himself Jehovah.
In a flame of fire —
Signifying the majesty of God then present. Exodus 3:2.
Verse 33
[33] Then
said the Lord to him
Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou
standest is holy ground.
Then said the Lord
Loose thy shoes — An ancient token of reverence; for the place is holy ground - The
holiness of places depends on the peculiar presence of God there.
Verse 35
[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.
This Moses whom they refused — Namely
forty years before. Probably
not they
but their fathers did
it
and God imputes it to them. So God frequently imputes the sins of the
fathers to those of their children who are of the same spirit.
Him did God send to be a deliverer — Which is much more than a judge; by the hand of - That is
by means of
the angel - This angel who spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai expressly called
himself Jehovah
a name which cannot
without the highest presumption
be
assumed by any created angel
since he whose name alone is Jehovah
is the Most
High over all the earth
Psalm lxxxiii
18. Psalms 83:18. It was therefore the Son of God
who delivered the law to Moses
under the character of Jehovah
and who is here
spoken of as the angel of the covenant
in respect of his mediatorial office.
Verse 37
[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.
The Lord will raise you up a prophet — St. Stephen here shows that there is no opposition between Moses and
Christ. Deuteronomy 18:15
Verse 38
[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:
This is he —
Moses.
With the angel
and with our fathers — As a mediator between them.
Who received the living oracles — Every period beginning with
And the Lord said unto Moses
is properly
an oracle. But the oracles here intended are chiefly the ten commandments.
These are termed living
because all the word of God
applied by his Spirit
is
living and powerful
Hebrews 4:12
enlightening the eyes
rejoicing
the heart
converting the soul
raising the dead. Exodus 19:3.
Verse 40
[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.
Make us gods to go before us — Back into Egypt. Exodus 32:1.
Verse 41
[41] And
they made a calf in those days
and offered sacrifice unto the idol
and
rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
And they made a calf — In imitation of Apis
the Egyptian god: and rejoiced in the works of
their hands - In the god they had made. 42.
God turned —
From them in anger; and gave them up - Frequently from the time of the golden
calf
to the time of Amos
and afterward.
The host of heaven —
The stars are called an army or host
because of their number
order
and
powerful influence.
In the book of the prophets — Of the twelve prophets
which the Jews always wrote together in one
book.
Have ye offered —
The passage of Amos referred to
chap. v
25
etc.
Amos 5:25 consists of two parts; of which the
former confirms verse 41
Acts 7:41
42 of the sin of the people; the
latter the beginning of verse 42
concerning their punishment.
Have ye offered to me — They had offered many sacrifices; but God did not accept them as offered
to him
because they sacrificed to idols also; and did not sacrifice to him
with an upright heart. Amos 5:25.
Verse 43
[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 up —
Probably not long after the golden calf: but secretly; else Moses would have
mentioned it.
The shrine — A
small
portable chapel
in which was the image of their god. Moloch was the
planet Mars
which they worshipped under a human shape. Remphan
that is
Saturn
they represented by a star.
And I will carry you beyond Babylon — That is
beyond Damascus (which is the word in Amos) and Babylon. This
was fulfilled by the king of Assyria
2 Kings 17:6.
Verse 44
[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.
Our fathers had the tabernacle of the
testimony — The testimony was properly the two tables
of stone
on which the ten commandments were written. Hence the ark which
contained them is frequently called the ark of the testimony; and the whole
tabernacle in this place.
The tabernacle of the testimony — according to the model which he had seen - When he was caught up in the
visions of God on the mount.
Verse 45
[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 our fathers having received — From their ancestors; brought into the possession of the Gentiles - Into
the land which the Gentiles possessed before. So that God's favour is not a
necessary consequence of inhabiting this land. All along St. Stephen intimates
two things: 1. That God always loved good men in every land: 2. That he never
loved bad men even in this. Joshua 3:14.
Verse 46
[46] Who
found favour before God
and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Who petitioned to find a habitation for the
God of Jacob — But he did not obtain his petition: for
God remained without any temple till Solomon built him a house. Observe how
wisely the word is chosen with respect to what follows.
Verse 48
[48]
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the
prophet
Yet the Most High inhabiteth not temples made
with hands — As Solomon declared at the very dedication
of the temple
1 Kings 8:27.
The Most High —
Whom as such no building can contain. Isaiah 66:1.
Verse 49
[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?
What is the place of my rest? — Have I need to rest? 51.
Ye stiff necked —
Not bowing the neck to God's yoke; and uncircumcised in heart - So they showed
themselves
verse 54; Acts 7:54 and ears - As they showed
verse 57. Acts 7:57 So far were they from receiving the
word of God into their hearts
that they would not hear it even with their
ears.
Ye — And your fathers
always - As often as ever ye are called
resist the Holy Ghost - Testifying by
the prophets of Jesus
and the whole truth. This is the sum of what he had
shown at large.
Verse 53
[53] Who
have received the law by the disposition of angels
and have not kept it.
Who have received the law by the
administration of angels — God
when he gave the law on Mount Sinai
was attended with thousands of his angels
Galatians 3:19; Psalms 68:17.
Verse 55
[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
But he looking steadfastly up to heaven
saw
the glory of God — Doubtless he saw such a glorious
representation
God miraculously operating on his imagination
as on Ezekiel's
when he sat in his house at Babylon
and saw Jerusalem
and seemed to himself
transported thither
Ezekiel 8:1-4. And probably other martyrs
when
called to suffer the last extremity
have had extraordinary assistance of some
similar kind.
Verse 56
[56] And
said
Behold
I see the heavens opened
and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God.
I see the Son of man standing — As if it were just ready to receive him. Otherwise he is said to sit at
the right hand of God.
Verse 57
[57] Then
they cried out with a loud voice
and stopped their ears
and ran upon him with
one accord
They rushed upon him — Before any sentence passed.
Verse 58
[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.
The witnesses laid down their clothes at the
feet of a young man
whose name was Saul — O
Saul
couldst thou have believed
if one had told thee
that thou thyself
shouldst be stoned in the same cause? and shouldst triumph in committing thy
soul likewise to that Jesus whom thou art now blaspheming? His dying prayer
reached thee
as well as many others. And the martyr Stephen
and Saul the
persecutor
(afterward his brother both in faith and martyrdom
) are now joined
in everlasting friendship
and dwell together in the happy company of those who
have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
Verse 59
[59] And
they stoned Stephen
calling upon God
and saying
Lord Jesus
receive my
spirit.
And they stoned Stephen
invoking and saying
Lord Jesus
receive my spirit — This is the literal translation of the
words
the name of God not being in the original. Nevertheless such a solemn
prayer to Christ
in which a departing soul is thus committed into his hands
is such an act of worship
as no good man could have paid to a mere creature;
Stephen here worshipping Christ in the very same manner in which Christ
worshipped the Father on the cross.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on
Acts》
Chapter 7. Bloody Witness
Powerful in
Speech
Powerful in Action
I. Recital of
the Old Testament History
II. Rebuke the
Israelites
II. Stephen the
First Martyr
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
Chapter Seven General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To review Stephen's defense to the charge of blasphemy against the temple and the Law 2) To note the remarkable manner in which the first martyr for Christ died SUMMARY
The previous chapter ended with Stephen before the Sanhedrin councilfacing accusations that he spoke blasphemy against the temple and theLaw (cf. 6:13-14). Chapter seven contains Stephen's defense to thesecharges
and the account of his martyrdom. Stephen responded by reviewing the call of Abraham and God's promise tohim and the nation of Israel deliver Israel through the wilderness. Yet Israel God gave the Law. Not only in the incident involving the golden calf
but throughout their wilderness wanderings Israel false gods (cf. Amo 5:25-27). Turning to the matter of God's dwellingplace
Stephen acknowledged the role of the tabernacle of Moses and the