2 And he said , "Hear me, brethren e and fathers ! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia , before he lived in Haran , 3 and said to him, ' LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES , AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.' 4 " Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran . From there , after his father died , God had him move to this country in which you are now living . 5 "But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground , and yet, even when he had no child , He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION , AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM. 6 "But God spoke to this effect , that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND , AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS . 7 " 'AND WHATEVER e NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I MYSELF WILL JUDGE ,' said God , 'AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE .' 8 "And He gave him the covenant of circumcision ; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac , and circumcised him on the eighth day ; and Isaac became the father of Jacob , and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs . 9 "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt . Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions , and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh , king of Egypt , and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household . 11 "Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan , and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food . 12 "But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt , he sent our fathers there the first time . 13 "On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers , and Joseph's family was disclosed to Pharaoh . 14 "Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five e persons in all. 15 "And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died . 16 "From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem .
17 "But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham , the people increased and multiplied in Egypt , 18 until THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH . 19 "It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose e their infants and they would not survive . 20 "It was at this time that Moses was born ; and he was lovely in the sight of God , and he was nurtured three months in his father's home . 21 "And after he had been set outside , Pharaoh's daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son . 22 "Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians , and he was a man of power in words and deeds . 23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty , it entered his mind to visit his brethren , the sons of Israel . 24 "And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly , he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian . 25 "And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand . 26 " On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together , and he tried to reconcile them in peace , saying , 'Men , you are brethren , why e do you injure one another ?' 27 "But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away , saying , ' WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28 ' YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY , DO YOU?' 29 "At this remark , MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN , where he became the father of two sons .
30 "After forty years had passed , AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai , IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH . 31 "When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight ; and as he approached to look more closely , there came the voice of the Lord : 32 ' I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS , THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB .' Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look . 33 " BUT THE Lord SAID TO HIM, ' TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET , FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND . 34 ' I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS , AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW , AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT .' 35 "This Moses whom they disowned , saying , 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE ?' is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush . 36 " This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years . 37 "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel , ' GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN .' 38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai , and who was with our fathers ; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 "Our fathers were unwilling e to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt , 40 SAYING TO AARON , 'MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT -WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM'. 41 "At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol , and were rejoicing in the works of their hands .
42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven ; as it is written in the book of the prophets , ' IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS , WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL ? 43 ' YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA , THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP . I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON .' 44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness , just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen . 45 "And having received it in their turn , our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before e our fathers , until the time of David . 46 " David found favor in God's sight , and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob . 47 "But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 "However , the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands ; as the prophet says : 49 ' HEAVEN IS MY THRONE , AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET ; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord , 'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE ? 50 ' WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS ?'
51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit ; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 " Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute ? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One , whose betrayers and murderers you have now become ; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels , and yet did not keep it."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 7:2-53
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.