Acts 7:1-53
Acts 7:1-53. STEPHEN’S DEFENCE... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 7:1-53. STEPHEN’S DEFENCE... [ Continue Reading ]
ἄρα before ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ omitted with אABC. The _Vulg_. has nothing to express it. 1. ΕἾΠΕΝ ΔῈ Κ.Τ.Λ., _and the high-priest said_: thus calling on Stephen for his defence. ΕἸ ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ. On εἰ with the indicative as a simple particle of interrogation see note on Acts 1:6. The usage is largely confined to St... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΝΔΡΕΣ�. Render, _Brethren and fathers_. For an account of the argument in Stephen’s speech and its connexion with the whole design of the writer of the Acts, see _Introduction_, p. xv. Ὁ ΘΕῸΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΔΌΞΗΣ. The expression occurs in LXX. of Psalms 28:3, but is not common. It is probably used here beca... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕἾΠΕΝ ΠΡῸΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ, _and said unto him_. It does not appear from the narrative in Genesis whether there had been some divine communication which caused the first removal from Ur to Haran. We are only told (Genesis 11:31) that Terah took his family and removed, but as it is there added ‘to go into... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΑΛΔΑΊΩΝ, _of the Chaldæans_. The Chaldæans were the people of that country which had Babylon for its capital. The extent of the country signified by ‘the land of the Chaldæans’ must have varied at different periods. ΜΕΤᾺ ΤῸ�. Α., _after his father was dead_. According to the order of the narrative... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΟΥ͂ΝΑΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι with BCDHP. _Vulg_. ‘dare illi.’ 5. ΚΑῚ ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΔΩΚΕΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι Κ.Τ.Λ., _and he gave him no inheritance in it_. The first settlement of Abraham in Canaan is said (Genesis 12:6) to have been at the place of Sichem [Shechem] at the plain [rather, _oak_] of Moreh. He next dwelt on the east... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΛΆΛΗΣΕΝ ΔΈ. The words are in substance taken from Genesis 15:13-14, though here turned into an indirect narration. ἜΤΗ ΤΕΤΡΑΚΌΣΙΑ, _four hundred years_. This number agrees with that stated in Genesis; but in Exodus 12:40, and also by St Paul (Galatians 3:17), the time is said to have been _four hun... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΘΕῸΣ ΕἾΠΕΝ with אABC. 7. ὮΙ ἘᾺΝ ΔΟΥΛΕΎΣΟΥΣΙΝ, _to whom they shall be in bondage_. This construction of the future indicative after ἐὰν is not uncommon in the LXX. Cf. Deuteronomy 5:27, λαλήσεις πάντα ὅσα ἂν λαλήθει κύριος ὁ θεός. So too Judges 10:18; Judges 11:24, &c. In all these instances a fut... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΑΘΉΚΗΝ ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ͂Σ, _the covenant of circumcision_. This was given the year before Isaac was born (Genesis 17:21).... [ Continue Reading ]
ΖΗΛΏΣΑΝΤΕΣ, _moved with envy_. The same word is used (Acts 17:5) of the hostile feelings of the Jews at Thessalonica against Paul and Silas. In the history (Genesis 37:4), it is said in the LXX. οἱ�, but below in Acts 7:11, ἐζήλωσαν αὐτόν. ἈΠΈΔΟΝΤΟ, _they sold_. The same word in LXX. Genesis 37:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the history, see Genesis 39-41. ἩΓΟΎΜΕΝΟΝ. This same word is employed about Joseph in Sir 49:15 οὐδὲ ὡς Ἰωσὴφ ἡγούμενος�, στήριγμα λαοῦ.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ΑἼΓΥΠΤΟΝ with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘in universam Ægyptum.’ 11. ἘΦ' ὍΛΗΝ ΤῊΝ ΑἼΓΥΠΤΟΝ, _over all Egypt_. ΧΟΡΤΆΣΜΑΤΑ, _sustenance_. The word is generally used of food for cattle rather than men. See LXX. Genesis 24:25; Genesis 24:32, &c. But we may suppose that, though in the history the sufferings of... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΙΤΊΑ ΕἸΣ ΑἼΓΥΠΤΟΝ with אABCE. 12. ὌΝΤΑ ΣΙΤΊΑ ΕἸΣ ΑἼΓΥΠΤΟΝ, _that there was corn in Egypt_. The force of the preposition implies ‘to be had by going down _into_ Egypt.’ See above on Acts 7:4. ΣΙΤΊΑ is found in the LXX. Proverbs 30:22 ἐὰν ἄφρων πλησθῇ σιτίων, ‘if a fool be filled with meat.’ But it... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit τοῦ before ἸΩΣΉΦ with BC. In אAE we have τὸ γένος αὐτοῦ. _Vulg_. ‘genus ejus.’ 13. ἈΝΕΓΝΩΡΊΣΘΗ, _was made known_. The verb used in the LXX. (Genesis 45:1) of this event. ΦΑΝΕΡῸΝ ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ, _became known_. The LXX. has ἀκουστὸν ἐγένετο, ‘it was heard of,’ but this is in reference to the _report_... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΑΚῺΒ ΤῸΝ ΠΑΤΈΡΑ with אABCDE. _Vulg_. ‘Jacob patrem suum.’ Omit the second αὐτοῦ with אABCHP. 14. ἘΝ ΨΥΧΑΙ͂Σ ἙΒΔΟΜΉΚΟΝΤΑ ΠΈΝΤΕ, _threescore and fifteen souls_. The form of expression is a copy of LXX. (Deuteronomy 10:22) ἐν ἐβδομήκοντα ψυχαῖς κατέβησαν οἱ πατέρες σου, and the ἐν is simply a transl... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΚΑΤΈΒΗ with אACEP. 15. ΚΑῚ ΚΑΤΈΒΗ ἸΑΚΏΒ, _and Jacob went down_. Now the whole race whom God had chosen to himself was in Egypt, away from the land of promise, and remained there for a long period, yet God was with them in their exile, and His worship was preserved for the whole time. This seems... [ Continue Reading ]
ὯΙ for ὃ with אABCDE. ἘΝ for τοῦ before ΣΥΧΈΜ, with אBC. 16. ΕἸΣ ΣΥΧΈΜ, _to Sychem_, i.e. the O. Test. ‘Shechem.’ ἘΝ ΣΥΧΈΜ, _in Sychem_. The place and the son of Emmor had the same name, the place from the man or _vice versâ_. And hence came the substitution of τοῦ for ἐν. The statement in this v... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΜΟΛΌΓΗΣΕΝ for ὤμοσεν with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘confessus erat.’ 17. ΚΑΘῺΣ ΔῈ ἬΓΓΙΖΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ., _but as the time of the promise drew nigh_, i.e. the time for its fulfilment. The fathers ‘all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,’ Hebrews 11:13. ἯΣ, _which_. For th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠ' ΑἼΓΥΠΤΟΝ added after ἝΤΕΡΟΣ with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘in Ægypto.’ 18. ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪΣ ἝΤΕΡΟΣ ἘΠ' ΑἼΓΥΠΤΟΝ, _another king over Egypt_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit ἡμῶν after ΠΑΤΈΡΑΣ with אBD. ΤᾺ ΒΡΈΦΗ ἜΚΘΕΤΑ with אABC. 19. ΚΑΤΑΣΟΦΙΣΆΜΕΝΟΣ ΤῸ ΓΈΝΟΣ ἩΜΩ͂Ν, _dealt subtilly with our race and_, &c. The expression is from the LXX. (Exodus 1:10), κατασοφισώμεθα αὐτούς are the words of the new king. ἘΚΆΚΩΣΕΝ ΤΟῪΣ ΠΑΤΈΡΑΣ, _he evil entreated our fathers_. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit αὐτοῦ with אABCHP. 20. ἈΣΤΕΙ͂ΟΣ ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι, _exceeding fair_. Literally, ‘fair unto (i.e. in the sight of) God.’ This is a Hebrew mode of expressing a high degree of any quality. Thus (Jonah 3:3) ‘Nineveh was an exceeding great city’ is ‘a city great unto God.’ Similar instances are found Genes... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΤΕΘΈΝΤΟΣ ΔῈ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ with אABCD. _Vulg_. ‘exposito autem illo.’ 21. ἈΝΕΊΛΑΤΟ, _took him up_. The word of the LXX. (Exodus 2:5). Jewish tradition says that the king had no son, and so Moses was designed by the king’s daughter to succeed to the kingdom. See Josephus (_Ant_. II. 9. 7), where she spea... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΠΆΣΗΙ ΣΟΦΊΑΙ with אACE. ἐν before ἜΡΓΟΙΣ omitted with אABCDH. _Vulg_. has ‘in.’ 22. ἘΠΑΙΔΕΎΘΗ ΜΩΫΣΗ͂Σ, _Moses was instructed_. As was to be expected if he were designed for the kingdom. The wisdom on which the Jewish traditions most dwell is the power of magic, and such knowledge as Pharaoh’s w... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣ ΔῈ ἘΠΛΗΡΟΥ͂ΤΟ … ΧΡΌΝΟΣ. Render, _but when he was well-nigh forty years old_. The verb intimates that the forty years were just being completed. For the fixing of this time we have no authority in the Old Testament. We learn thence that Moses was eighty years old when he was sent to speak before P... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΑΠΟΝΟΥΜΈΝΩΙ, _oppressed_. The word is used 2Ma 8:2 of the suffering Jews in the time of Judas Maccabæus, though some MSS. there give καταπατούμενον = _downtrodden_. ΠΑΤΆΞΑΣ, _having smitten_, i.e. to death, as is seen by the context. See Exodus 2:12, where the same word is used.... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit αὐτοῦ after ἈΔΕΛΦΟῪΣ with אBC. _Vulg_. ‘fratres’ only. ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ with אABCD. _Vulg_. ‘salutem illis.’ 25. ἘΝΌΜΙΖΕΝ ΔῈ ΣΥΝΙΈΝΑΙ … ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ. Render, _and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance_. There is no condition in the sen... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΜΑΧΟΜΈΝΟΙΣ _unto them as they strove_, viz. to ‘two men of the Hebrews’ (see Exodus 2:13). The quotation which follows makes plain what was otherwise not yet clear, that the persons contending in this second case were Israelites. Similarly in Acts 7:24 there had been no mention of an ‘Egypt... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΦ' ἩΜΩ͂Ν with אABCHP.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὋΝ ΤΡΌΠΟΝ�, _as thou killedst_. The Israelite knew of the slain Egyptian, whose body Moses had hidden in the sand, but as things stood between Egyptians and Israelites he would hardly think of laying a charge against a fellow Israelite, though he was ready at once to use his knowledge to alarm Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΛΌΓΩΙ ΤΟΎΤΩΙ. The preposition marks the occasion. _Upon this speech_. Josephus (_Ant_. II. 11. 1) makes no mention of this reason for the flight of Moses, but says that the Egyptians were jealous of him, and told the king ‘that he would raise a sedition, and bring innovations’ into the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit κυρίου with אABC. _Vulg_. has ‘angelus’ only. 30. ἘΤΩ͂Ν ΤΕΣΣΕΡΆΚΟΝΤΑ, _forty years_, thus making, with the forty years mentioned in Acts 7:23, eighty years, the age at which Moses went unto Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7). ὬΦΘΗ … ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ, _an angel appeared to him_. It is better to write _Sinai_ than to... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses give in substance the history as recorded in Exodus 3:2-10... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit πρὸς αὐτόν with אAB. _Vulg_. has ‘vox Domini, dicens.’... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit ὁ θεὸς before ἸΣΑᾺΚ and ἸΑΚΏΒ with אABC. The _Vulg_. has ‘Deus’ in each place.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΦ' ὯΙ with אABCD.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΣΤΕΊΛΩ with אABCDE. _Vulg_. ‘mittam.’ 34. ἸΔῺΝ ΕΙ͂ΔΟΝ, _I have seen, I have seen_. Literally, ‘having seen I have seen.’ This construction is employed in the LXX. continually to represent the Hebrew infinitive absolute, which was used to give emphasis to the finite verb. The English of A.V. in E... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΈΣΤΑΛΚΕΝ ΣῪΝ ΧΕΙΡῚ with אABDE. _Vulg_. ‘misit cum manu.’ 35. Stephen now addresses himself to another point and shews how in old time the people had rejected Moses, though he had the witness of God that his commission was divine. He wishes to teach his hearers that they are now acting in like man... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΓΗ͂Ι ΑἸΓΎΠΤΩΙ with אAEHP. _Vulg_. ‘in terra Ægypti.’ 36. ΟΥ̓͂ΤΟΣ ἘΞΉΓΑΓΕΝ, _this man led them out_, having God’s power with him. ΣΗΜΕΙ͂Α ἘΝ ΓΗ͂Ι ΑἸΓΎΠΤΩΙ, _signs in the land of Egypt_. There is much authority for the reading ἐν τῇ Αἰγύπτῳ. ἘΝ ἘΡΥΘΡΑ͂Ι ΘΑΛΆΣΣΗΙ, _in the Red Sea_. The Jewish trad... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΑΣΤΉΣΕΙ Ὁ ΘΕῸΣ ἘΚ with אABD. _Vulg_. ‘suscitabit Deus de.’ αὐτοῦ� omitted with אABHP. _Vulg_. has ‘ipsum audietis.’ 37. ΠΡΟΦΉΤΗΝ. The prophecy is in Deuteronomy 18:15, and has been already quoted by St Peter (Acts 3:22) as referring ultimately to the Messiah. Its quotation to those who had rejec... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ἘΚΚΛΗΣΊΑΙ, _in the congregation_, i.e. with the congregation of Israel assembled at Mt. Sinai. ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΟΥ͂�, _with the angel_. As in 35, the angel is God Himself; just so in Acts 7:31 the voice which spake is called ‘a voice of the Lord.’ ΣΙΝΑ͂, _Sinai_. ΚΑῚ ΤΩ͂Ν ΠΑΤΈΡΩΝ ἩΜΩ͂Ν, _and with our... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ before ΤΑΙ͂Σ ΚΑΡΔΊΑΙΣ with אABC. 39. ὯΙ ΟΥ̓Κ ἨΘΈΛΗΣΑΝ ὙΠΉΚΟΟΙ ΓΕΝΈΣΘΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ., _to whom our fathers would not be obedient_. For they said (Numbers 14:4) ‘Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.’ This was after the return of the spies, when the people became discontented with the lea... [ Continue Reading ]
40 ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ for γέγονεν with אABC. 40. ΘΕΟῪΣ ΟἻ ΠΡΟΠΟΡΕΎΣΟΝΤΑΙ, _gods which shall go before us_. The verse is almost exactly in the words of the LXX. of Exodus 32:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕΥ̓ΦΡΑΊΝΟΝΤΟ, _and they rejoiced_. It was not the voice of them that shout for the mastery, nor of them that cry for being overcome, but _the noise of them that sing_ which Moses (Exodus 32:18) heard when he came down from the mount.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΣΤΡΕΨΕΝ ΔῈ Ὁ ΘΕΌΣ, _but God turned_, i.e. changed His treatment of the people. Cf. Isaiah 63:10, ‘but they rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit, therefore He was turned (ἐστράφη) to be their enemy.’ The word is not often found in this sense. ΛΑΤΡΈΥΕΙΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΣΤΡΑΤΙΑ͂Ι ΤΟΥ͂ ΟΥ̓ΡΑΝΟΥ͂, _to serve the host... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit ὑμῶν before ῬΕΦΆΝ with BD. _Vulg_. has vestri.’ 43. ΚΑῚ�. Render, _and ye took up_. The conjunction is the ordinary copulative, and the thought is continuous, ‘your hearts were after your idols, and ye took up their images,’ more truly than my ark. In the Hebrew the word for ‘took up’ is that... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit ἐν before ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΠΑΤΡΆΣΙΝ with אABCDHP. 44. Ἡ ΣΚΗΝῊ ΤΟΥ͂ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΊΟΥ, _the tabernacle of the testimony_. This name is found first in Exodus 38:21 (Exodus 37:19, LXX.). The ark is also called ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ μαρτυρίου, as in Exodus 25:21, &c. The name was no doubt given because all the contents of t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἫΝ ΚΑῚ ΕἸΣΉΓΑΓΟΝ ΔΙΑΔΕΞΆΜΕΝΟΙ Κ.Τ.Λ., _which also our fathers having received it after_, &c. All the generation that came out of Egypt was dead at the entry into Canaan except Caleb and Joshua. ΜΕΤᾺ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂, _with Joshua_. See above on Acts 7:29-30. ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΚΑΤΑΣΧΈΣΕΙ Κ.Τ.Λ., _when they took possess... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἼΚΩΙ for θεῷ with אBDH. _Vulg_. has ‘Deo.’ 46. ΕὙΡΕΙ͂Ν ΣΚΉΝΩΜΑ ΤΩ͂Ι ΟἼΚΩΙ ἸΑΚΏΒ, _to find a tabernacle for the house of Jacob_. This is the reading preferred by most critics. Tischendorf says ‘τῷ οἴκῳ minime sensu caret, sed facile apparet cur τῷ θεῷ a tot testibus cum omnibus interpretibus substi... [ Continue Reading ]
ναοῖς omitted with אABCDE. _Vulg_. has ‘in manufactis’ only. 48. ΟΥ̓Χ … ἘΝ ΧΕΙΡΟΠΟΙΉΤΟΙΣ ΚΑΤΟΙΚΕΙ͂, _dwelleth not in places made with hands_. Stephen allows that in the days of Solomon there seemed to be a more permanent abode appointed for God’s worship, but instantly points out that God through H... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΟΥ̓ΡΑΝῸΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. The quotation is nearly verbatim from the LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΡΔΊΑΙΣ for τῇ καρδίᾳ with אACD. _Vulg_. ‘cordibus.’ 51. ΣΚΛΗΡΟΤΡΆΧΗΛΟΙ, _Ye stiffnecked_. A charge often brought against the Jews in the Old Testament, cf. Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3, &c., so that it is a very suitable expression when Stephen is declaring that the people of his time were ‘as their... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓΈΝΕΣΘΕ for γεγένησθε with אABCDE. 52. ΤΊΝΑ Κ.Τ.Λ., _which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute?_ Cf. the history 2 Chronicles 36:16, ‘they mocked the messengers of God and despised His words and misused His prophets.’ And Christ (Matthew 23:37) brought the same charge against Jerusalem,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἽΤΙΝΕΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., _ye who received the Law_, from Sinai. ΕἸΣ ΔΙΑΤΑΓᾺΣ�. Literally, ‘unto ordinances of angels,’ which signifies ‘_at the ministration_ of angels’ or ‘as it was ordained by angels.’ St Paul (Galatians 3:19) has the same expression concerning the Law, that it was ‘ministered by angels.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΚΟΎΟΝΤΕΣ ΔῈ ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ ΔΙΕΠΡΊΟΝΤΟ Κ.Τ.Λ., _now when they heard these things they were cut to the heart_. On the verb, which is only found here and in Acts 7:33, see note there. It expresses the sort of cutting that would be made by a saw, its effect is always one of irritation, and at last it came to b... [ Continue Reading ]
EFFECT OF THE SPEECH. DEATH OF STEPHEN... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΌΞΑΝ ΘΕΟΥ͂, _the glory of God_. Some visible sign of God’s presence, such as the Shechinah had been to the Jews of old. See Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:17, in the latter of which passages it is described as like devouring fire. It is defined by the Jews as some concentration of God’s omnipresence. ΚΑῚ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΗΝΟΙΓΜΈΝΟΥΣ with אABC. 56. ΤῸΝ ΥἹῸΝ ΤΟΥ͂�, _the Son of Man_. This title, which in the Gospels is only used by Christ when speaking of Himself, is here first employed by another, and can fitly be so employed now, for the prophecy which Christ uttered of Himself (Matthew 26:64), ‘hereafter ye shall... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΡΆΞΑΝΤΕΣ ΔΈ, _but they cried out_ … _and,_ &c. ΣΥΝΈΣΧΟΝ ΤᾺ ὮΤΑ, _stopped their ears_, thus shewing that they merited the description given in Acts 7:51. The verb signifies to compress, to hold tight together, and is often used in the LXX. of the shutting of heaven that there should be no rain. Cf.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΞΩ ΤΗ͂Σ ΠΌΛΕΩΣ, _out of the city_. In accordance with the Law (Leviticus 24:14) the person to be stoned must be carried without the camp, and to the people of Jerusalem the walls of the city were as the limits of the camp. Though there was much popular excitement exhibited in this proceeding, we ar... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΚΑΛΟΎΜΕΝΟΝ, _calling upon_ the Lord. The noun must be supplied from the Κύριε which immediately follows. The verb ἐπικαλέομαι is used afterwards of St Paul’s appeal to Cæsar, Acts 25:11; Acts 26:32; Acts 28:19. ΔΈΞΑΙ ΤῸ ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΆ ΜΟΥ, _receive my spirit_, i.e. at its departure from my body, which... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΕῚΣ ΔῈ ΤᾺ ΓΌΝΑΤΑ, _and kneeling down_: to pray, probably before the stoning commenced. This shews that the proceeding of the people was somewhat deliberate, and not a mere act of mob violence. τιθέναι τὰ γόνατα is common in N.T., but is not classical, nor found in the LXX., where κάμπτειν is the u... [ Continue Reading ]