Acts 7 Acts 7:1–8 Stephen, called upon to answer the charge against him, relateth how God called Abraham, and gave him and his seed the land of Canaan by promise, Acts 7:9–16 how Joseph was sold by his brethren, and Jacob with his family went down into Egypt, Acts 7:17–36 how, when they were…

Then said the high priest; who was resolved to condemn any, right or wrong, that should profess Christ, as appears John 9:22. Are these things so? That he might seem just, he gives him a kind of liberty to answer for himself; not to defend his doctrine, but; to know out of his own mouth whether he…

Brethren; to take away any prejudice they might have conceived against him, and to recommend, not his person as much as his doctrine to them, he calls them brethren; 1. As hoping in the same promises with them; 2. Observing the same law; 3. Worshipping the same God.

This command given unto Abraham we read of, Gen. 12:1, Gen. 12:5–6; and it is here the rather spoken of by St. Stephen, to prove that Abraham was in the favour of God, and did truly serve him, before he ever saw the land of Canaan, and before the ceremonial law was given by Moses, and, much more,…

Abraham had as great a love to his kindred and native country as others have; but he had a greater faith, which made him yield to God’s call and command, and follow from place to place the will of God, who is said here to have removed Abraham, and does choose the inheritance and habitation for his…

He gave him none inheritance in it; it is true that Abraham had a field, and the cave of Mach-pelah, Gen. 23:9; but that was of no use to Abraham whilst alive, but to bury him in when dead; besides, it was not as an inheritance by God’s gift, but it was purchased with his money.

Should sojourn in a strange land, as men which dwell in houses that are not their own; which seem to contradict the promise mentioned in the foregoing verse; but it is only to make Abraham the more believe against hope in hope, as it is said, Rom.

Will I judge, or punish; and so the Egyptians were punished, not by human means, but by Divine power, and with God’s own immediate hand, and that in the fulness of time, the very night in which God’s promise was to take effect: and therefore it is a night to be much observed, Ex.

He gave him, Abraham, of whom he was speaking, the convenant of circumcision; of which covenant, circumcision was the sign and seal by which, on the part of Abraham and his seed it was stipulated, that they should put off all carnal affections.

Moved with envy; enraged: the holy martyr accommodates his apology so, as that they may yet have occasion to reflect on themselves; for as they had sold our Saviour unto strangers, so had their fathers sold Joseph.

And delivered him out of all his afflictions; the effect of God’s presence with him, which to his people is always in an especial manner, not only as he is with all other creatures, but as the soul is with the body, most effectually, so is God with them.

A dearth; this is mentioned, Gen. 41:54;c. And great affliction; as seldom any mischief comes alone, rapine and many diseases follow famine. Found no sustenance; any coarse diet, grass or herbs.

The history is known, Gen. 42. Our fathers; our progenitors, Jacob’s sons, from whom we are descended.

Upon their second coming into Egypt, Gen. 45:3–4, Gen. 45:16, Joseph made himself known unto them. Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh; for the continuance of their sustenance, and fulfilling of what was foretold.

All his kindred; his affinity, and not consanguinity only, which may be the reason why, though in Gen. 46:26 it is said, that all the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt were threescore and six, ( it being then added, they were all such as came out of his loins), yet it is said they were seventy…

Which St. Stephen puts them in mind of the rather, that he might insinuate, no country, nor place, nor temple, were so necessary, but that (notwithstanding they had none of them) their forefathers did live and die in the fear and favour of God, although in Egypt, out of the Promised Land, &c.

That they carried Joseph to bury him in Canaan, according to the oath he made them take, Gen. 1:25, is certain; and that this was desired to be done for him out of faith, Heb.

Of the promise; of the fulfilling of the promise, either of the increase of his seed, or of their deliverance out of bondage, for both were promised, Gen. 22:17; though at that very time there were the greatest endeavours to hinder either when God accomplished both.

These words are taken from the Septuagint, Ex. 1:8.

Pharaoh resolves to deal (as he thought) wisely, Ex. 1:10, and it is acknowledged that the Egyptians dealt subtilly with them, Ps. 105:25. For they do not at once destroy them, which might have been hazardous, the Israelites being so numerous; neither could Egypt well spare at once so many…

Exceeding fair, or, fair to God; which though some understand of the inward beauty of the mind, (which is indeed the most admirable), yet in this place there is no more to be understood by it, than the wonderful beauty of his body, which God bestowed in an extraordinary measure upon him, that it…

Was cast out; exposed and left, Ex. 2:2;c. now was the time for God to take him up, as in Ps. 27:10. Pharaoh’s daughter, an enemy to God’s Israel; yet God did make use of her to bring tip and educate Moses, who was their deliverer, adopting him for her son, Ex.

Learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; the Egyptians were anciently famous for learning, especially in astronomy, and some other parts of philosophy. Mighty in words; he was eloquent. And in deeds; his deeds were equal to his words; he could do, as well as say, what became him.

Forty years old; this age of Moses is not set down in his history, but they might have it by tradition, which is here confirmed unto us by the holy penman: these forty years Moses spent in Pharaoh’s court.

This fact of Moses some defend by the law of nature, which allows us to protect the innocent; but many things we know were done by an extraordinary warrant, which we are not to imitate; nor by our own authority to avenge ourselves or others.

This they might have inferred, 1. From his extraordinary deliverance out of the Egyptians’ hands, and out of the river, when young. 2. From his readiness to defend them: it was wonderful, that such a one as he was, and might have been, should mind them. 3.

He showed himself; as one appointed by God to deliver them, which he had evidenced before. Would have set them at one again; with great earnestness, and as far as words could do, he compelled them. Saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; these words are not mentioned, Ex.

The injurious are most averse from peace, and one sin makes way for another. This was a causeless cavil, especially from such a one as had known what Moses had done, as an essay of his being the deliverer of God’s Israel.

He charges this great crime upon Moses, to hinder him from further reproving of him: though recrimination do not make him, or any other, more innocent; yet men ordinarily use it, as if it were some satisfaction to them that they are not wicked alone, but that others are as bad or worse: this better…

Then fled Moses; knowing that what he had done to the Egyptian would be discovered to Pharaoh, and his life in danger. The land of Madian; inhabitant by the posterity of Midian, Abraham’s son by Keturah, Gen. 25:1–2.

Forty years; so long it pleased God to try Moses’s faith, and his people’s patience. Mount Sinai, in the desert of Arabia, where the law was afterwards delivered, Ex. 18:5, Ex. 19:3.

He wondered at the sight; seeing the bush on a flame, and not consumed, contrary to the nature of devouring flames; that he might be convinced of God’s presence, and made the more attentive to what God should say, and prepared to yield obedience unto it.

I am the God of thy fathers; that he might know from whom he had his commission, and by whom he was to be sent. The God of Abraham, &c. mention is made of these, because God had made unto them the promise of delivering their posterity, which he was now about to do, the time being fully come.

Put off thy shoes; either out of reverence to the Divine presence, as Josh. 5:15, or that thereby he might show that he resigned himself wholly to God’s will and disposal; as in Ruth 4:7, the kinsman, by pulling off his shoe and giving it to Boaz, did resign all his right he might have had to Ruth…

I have seen, I have seen; seeing I have seen, I have attentively seen and considered; it is doubled to show the certainty of it: if earthly parents, especially, look after their children when weak, much more our heavenly Father.

A deliverer; or, a redeemer; but only as a type of Christ, in whom alone we have redemption through his blood, Eph. 1:7; as Moses by the blood of the paschal lamb brought forth and saved the people of Israel.

After that he had showed wonders and signs: God could with the least word or motion of his will save his people; but he chooseth so to do his wonderful works, that they may be had in remembrance.

St. Stephen would show, that he was so far from speaking against Moses, as they falsely imagined, that he recommended none but him, whom Moses had so long before spoken of. A prophet; Christ the Messiah, and Head of the prophets: see Acts 3:22. Him shall ye hear; or obey.

In the church in the wilderness; or congregation; with the rest of the people in all their difficult journey. The angel; see Acts 7:30. The lively oracles; God’s law and word is so called, as the only rule to walk by unto life, Deut.

Their glory being in their fathers, St. Stephen reminds them that many of them rebelled against God and his servant Moses; as they (their posterity) now were rebellions against Christ, who came to save them, as Moses before had done; but from a greater bondage, and by more valuable means.

Make us gods; according to the Egyptians, who held that there were many gods, and divers degrees of gods; they therefore speak in the plural number. This Moses: though they confess the great deliverance wrought by Moses’s means, yet how contemptibly do they speak of him! We wot not what is become…

They made a calf; in imitation of the Egyptians, who worshipped their god Apis in that, or the like form of an ox. The idol; the calf which they had made, which they could not be so sottish as to terminate their worship in, knowing that they themselves had made it, and it had not made them; yet…

Then God turned, from being as a Father to them, to be a Judge over them, to punish them; whereas formerly he had blessed them. And gave them up; this was indeed to deliver them to Satan; God withholding his grace which they had abused, Rom. 1:21, Rom.

Took up the tabernacle, on their shoulders, as they did the ark. Of Moloch; the idol of the children of Ammon, which the Israelites were especially forbidden to worship, Lev. 18:21, Lev. 20:2 yet they did ordinarily worship him, 2 Chron. 28:3, Jer.

The tabernacle of witness; called also the tabernacle of the congregation, Ex. 33:7, because about it on all solemn occasions the people assembled. Here it is called the tabernacle of witness, because God here testified or witnessed his glorious presence; and especially because in it the ark of the…

Jesus, or Joshua, it being the same name, as appears also, Heb. 4:8, only Jesus is more according to the Greek use: Joshua was a type of Jesus, and agreed with him in his name, and in the reason of his name; he having also saved the people, and brought them into the promised rest; yet the…

Found favour before God; as Luke 1:30. Desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob; it was David’s earnest request, that he might any ways glorify God, especially in his worship, and that he might know where the ark should rest, and where the temple was to be built, its Ps.

This is also St. Paul’s doctrine, Acts 17:21, which divers amongst the wiser heathens were persuaded of; for God cannot be comprehended in any place, no, not where he is worshipped; and therefore they did foolishly conceive that the worship of God was so tied to the temple, as if he himself had…

The place referred unto, is Isa. 66:1. What house will ye build me, that shall be big enough for one so great as God is? 1 Kings 8:27.

As appears in the history of the creation, Gen. 1:1. It is spoken unto our capacity after the manner of men, and implies that God is too great to stand in need of temples or offerings; and that what worship he requires, is not for his own sake, for our righteousness cannot profit him; but for man’s…

Stiff necked; a metaphor taken from heifers that are unaccustomed to the yoke. Uncircumcised in heart; such as had still depraved affections, which they ought to have put away rather than the foreskin of their flesh; for they were commanded to circumcise their hearts, Deut.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? This is the rather said to stain all their glory from succession, and their ancestors, Matt. 5:12, Matt. 23:31, Matt. 23:37.

The disposition of angels: or ministry of angels; the commandments were published from them ministerially; or the Son of God, (called an Angel, Acts 7:35), accompanied with the militia of heaven, (for it is a military metaphor), did in the midst of that glorious retinue give the law, Deut.

See Acts 5:33. They were cut to the heart; they were angry to madness. They gnashed on him with their teeth: gnashing of teeth is the curse of the damned, Matt. 8:12, which men by their sins do prepare for. This corrosive was applied by a skilful hand, would they have endured the cure.

Full of the Holy Ghost; filled with grace suitable to his present trial and suffering. The glory of God; the glorious God, or so much of the throne and glory of God as mortal eyes are capable for to see.

I see the heavens opened; God not suffering any distance to hinder this refreshing sight. The Son of man; so Christ is frequently called; and St. Stephen would by this inform them, how vain they were in striving against Christ or his truth.

They cried out; the rabble, or multitude. Stopped their ears; that they might show their great detestation of what was said, and might not contract any guilt from it.

Cast him out of the city; that the city might not be polluted with his blasphemy. Stoned him; this punishment was appointed for such as seduced them to the worship of false gods, Deut. 13:6, Deut.

Stephen called upon him whom he saw standing, and that was our Saviour. My spirit; or, my soul: thus our Saviour commended his spirit into his Father’s hands, Luke 23:46 and this disciple imitates his Master, and comforts himself with this, that to be sure his soul should be safe, whatever became…

He kneeled down; a posture used in most earnest prayers; and if so, he prayed at least as earnestly for his enemies as for himself, he praying for them kneeling, and for himself standing.