Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 7:60

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 usual verb. On Stephen’s kneeling Chrysostom remarks ὅθεν θεῖος αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ θάνατος γέγονεν.

μὴ στήσῃς αὐτοῖς, lay not to their charge. More literally, ‘set it not down against them.’ The verb is the same as in LXX. Zechariah 11:12, καὶ ἔστησαν τὸν μισθόν μου τριάκοντα�, ‘and they weighed (or set) as my price thirty silverlings,’ from which sense the text may be explained = ‘charge it not upon them.’

It is to be observed that both the prayers of Stephen are addressed to Jesus as God. The tone of both cannot but bring to the memory the words of Jesus addressed to the Father in His agony, ‘Into thy hands I commend My spirit’ (Luke 23:46) and ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34). As Christ had died, so did His servant learn to die.

ἐκοιμήθη, he fell asleep. The verb is common in the LXX. in the phrase ἐκοιμήθη μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, of the kings when they die. It is also used (Matthew 27:52) of ‘the saints which slept’ and arose after the Crucifixion. How far its use in the Old Test. Scriptures implies a belief in an awakening is not easy to decide, for the word is used of death in the classical writers. Cf. Soph. Electra 509.

Acts 8:1. συνευδοκῶν, consenting, i.e. approving of all that was done. The verb is found 1Ma 1:57, εἴ τις συνευδόκει τῷ νόμῳ, of assenting or approving of a law; and 2Ma 11:35, καὶ ἡμεῖς συνευδοκοῦμεν, ‘therewith we also are well pleased.’ The word implies entire approbation. So Luke 11:48, συνευδοκεῖτε, ‘ye allow (i.e. praise and approve of) the deeds of your fathers.’ St Paul also says of himself (Acts 22:20), ‘when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by and consenting (συνευδοκῶν) unto his death.’

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 7:60

Old Testament

New Testament