Bible Commentaries

Are these things so = If (App-118. a) these things are so.

Men. App-123. Compare Acts 1:11.

God. App-98.

glory. See p. 1511. This is the genitive of character. App-17. Compare Psalms 29:3, and note the seven other similar expressions, "the God of comfort" (Romans 15:5. 2 Corinthians 1:3), "hope" (Romans 15:13), "love" (2 Corinthians 13:11), "patience" (Romans 15:5), "peace" (Romans 15:33, &c), "all grace" (1 Peter 5:10), and "truth" (Deuteronomy 32:4, &c).

appeared unto = was seen by. Greek. optomai. App-106.

dwelt = settled. Greek. katoikeo. See note on Acts 2:6.

Charran = Haran (Genesis 11:31).

unto. Greek. pros. App-104.

country = land. Greek. ge. App-129.

from = out of. Greek. ek, as above.

kindred. Greek. sungeneia. Only here, Acts 7:14, and Luke 1:61.

come = hither. Greek. deuro.

land. Greek. ge, as above.

when = after that. Greek. meta. App-104. It was Abraham, not Terah, who had been called (Genesis 12:1), and therefore Terah could get no farther than Haran. There was a long sojourn in Haran of twenty-five years. See App-50. pp Acts 51:52.

removed him. Greek. metoikizo = to cause to change one's abode. Only here and Acts 7:43. In the Septuagint in 1 Chronicles 5:6. Amos 5:27, &c. wherein = into (Greek. eis. App-104.) which, i.e. into which ye came and now dwell there.

none = not (Greek. ou. App-105) any.

no, not, &c. = not even (Greek. oude). Figure of speech Epitasis. App-6.

to set his foot on = a place (Greek. bema. See note on John 19:13) for a foot.

promised. Reference to Genesis 13:15.

possession. Greek. kataschesis. Only here and Acts 7:45.

no = not any, as above.

child. Greek. teknon. App-108.

spake. Greek. laleo. App-121. Quoted from Genesis 15:13, Genesis 15:14.

sojourn = be a stranger. Greek. paroikos. Here, Acts 7:29. Ephesians 2:19. 1 Peter 2:11. The verb paroikeo, only in Luke 24:18. Hebrews 11:9.

strange = foreign. Greek. allotrios. App-124.

bring them into bondage = enslave them. Greek. douloo. App-190.

entreat them evil = wrong them. Greek. kakoo. Compare App-128. Here, Acts 7:19; Acts 12:1; Acts 14:2; Acts 18:10. 1 Peter 3:13.

four hundred years. See note on Exodus 12:40.

nation. Greek. ethnos. See note on Acts 4:25, Acts 4:27.

to whom, &c. = whom they shall serve. Greek. douleuo. App-190.

judge. Greek. krino. App-122.

that = these things.

serve = worship. Greek. latreuo. App-137. Compare Exodus 3:12.

covenant. Greek. diatheke. See note on Matthew 26:28.

patriarchs. See note on Acts 2:29.

moved with envy = being jealous. Greek. zeloo. Compare the noun zelos, Acts 5:17.

delivered. Greek. exaireo. Here, Acts 7:34; Acts 12:11; Acts 23:27; Acts 26:17. Matthew 5:29; Matthew 18:9. Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:4.

afflictions = tribulations. Greek. thlipsis. Compare Psalms 105:17-19.

favour = grace. Greek. charis. App-184.

in the sight of = before. Greek. enantion.

the land of. Omit.

sustenance. Greek. chortasma. Only here. Compare the verb chortazo = to fill. First occurance Matthew 5:6.

corn. Greek. sita, an irregular plural of sitos, the word used elsewhere in N.T. and Septuagint. The texts read sitia, from sition, a word much used by medical writers.

sent out. Greek. exapostello. App-174.

first = the first time.

at = in. Greek. en. App-104.

made known. Greek. anagnorizomai. Only here. Compare App-132.

kindred = race. Greek. genos.

was made known = became (Greek. ginomai) manifest (Greek. phaneros. App-106.) See Genesis 45:16.

unto = to.

sent. Greek. apostello. App-174.

called . . . to him. Greek. metakaleomai. Here, Acts 10:32; Acts 20:17; Acts 24:25. meta in composition expresses the idea of change.

threescore, &c. This included Jacob's kindred. See note on Genesis 46:26.

souls. Greek. psuche. App-110.

died = came to his end. Greek. teleutao.

carried over = removed. Greek. metatithemi. Only here; Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:6. Hebrews 7:12; Hebrews 11:5, Hebrews 11:6. Jude 1:4.

Sychem = Shechem (Genesis 50:5). See App-187.

sepulchre. Greek. mnema. See note on Acts 2:29.

bought. Greek. oneomai. Only here.

of = from. Greek. para.

sons. Greek. huios. App-108.

when = as soon as.

promise. Greek. epangelia. See note on Acts 1:4.

people. Greek. laos. See note on Acts 2:47.

another. Greek. heteros. App-124.

king. See App-188.

arose. Greek. anistemi. App-178.

knew. Greek. oida. App-132.

The same = This one.

dealt subtilly with. Greek. katasophizomai. Only here. In Septuagint "deal wisely", Exodus 1:10.

cast out = caused to he exposed (Greek. ekthetos. Only here).

young children = babes. Greek. brephos. App-108.

to the end. Greek. eis.

live = be born alive, or preserved alive. Greek. zoogoneo. Only here and Luke 17:33. See also 1 Timothy 6:13. In Septuagint in Exodus 1:17, Exodus 1:18, Exodus 1:22, &c.

Moses. See note on Acts 8:22.

exceeding fair = fair to God. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6.

fair. Greek. asteios. Only here and Hebrews 11:23. The word used in Exodus 2:2, Septuagint

nourished up. Greek. anatrepho. Only here, Acts 7:21 with Acts 22:3. A word common in medical writers.

cast out. Greek. ektithemi, verb of ekthetos, in Acts 7:19. Only here, Acts 11:4; Acts 18:26; Acts 28:23.

took . . . up. Greek. anaireo. Generally translated "kill", i.e. take away (by death). See Acts 7:28; Acts 2:23; Acts 5:33, Acts 5:36, &c.

her own son = a son for herself.

learned = educated. Greek. paideuo.

in all, &c. This included the mysteries of the Egyptian religion, as all education was in the hands of the priests.

words. Greek. logos. App-121.

deeds = works. Figure of speech Syntheton. App-6.

he was, &c. Literally a period (Greek. chronos) of forty years (Greek. tessarakontaetes. Only here and Acts 13:18) was fulfilled. Greek. pleroo. App-125.

into = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.

visit. Greek. episkeptomai. App-133.

children = sons. Greek. huios as in Acts 7:16.

seeing. Greek. eidon. App-133.

suffer wrong = being wronged. Greek. adikeo. Compare App-128.

defended. Greek. amunomai. Only here.

avenged = took vengeance (Greek. ekdikesis. Here, Luke 18:7, Luke 18:8; Luke 21:22. Romans 12:19. 2 Corinthians 7:11. 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Hebrews 10:30. 1 Peter 2:14) for.

him that was oppressed = the oppressed one. Greek. kataponeomai. Only here and 2 Peter 2:7.

and smote = having smitten.

would have. Omit.

deliver them = give them salvation.

next = following. Greek. epeimi. Only here, Acts 16:11; Acts 20:15; Acts 21:18; Acts 23:11. See note on Matthew 6:11.

shewed himself. Greek. optomai, as in Acts 7:2.

strove = fought. Greek. machomai. Only here, John 6:52. 2 Timothy 2:24. James 4:2.

would have set them = was driving them together. Greek. sunelauno. Only here. But the texts read "was reconciling them", Greek. sunallasso.

at one = into (Greek. eis. App-104.) peace.

again. Omit.

Sirs = Men. Greek. aner. App-123. The plural andres is translated "Sirs" six times, all in Acts, here, Acts 14:15; Acts 19:25; Acts 27:10, Acts 27:21, Acts 27:25.

do ye wrong one to another = wrong ye one another. Greek. adikeo, as in Acts 7:24.

thrust him away. Greek. apotheomai. Only here. Acts 7:39; Acts 13:46. Romans 11:1, Romans 11:2; 1 Timothy 1:19.

judge. Greek. dikastes. Only here, Acts 7:35. Luke 12:14. Compare App-177.

Wilt thou = Thou dost not (App-105) wish (App-102); me is used with questions, where a negative answer is expected.

kill. Greek. anaireo, as in Acts 7:21.

diddest = killedst.

saying. Greek. logos, as in Acts 7:22.

stranger. Greek. paroikos. Same as "sojourn" in Acts 7:6.

Madian = Midian. See Exodus 2:15; Exodus 3:1.

expired = fulfilled. Greek. pleroo, as in Acts 7:23.

of the Lord. The texts omit.

of fire in a bush = of a burning bush. Figure of speech Antimereia. App-6.

sight. Greek. horama. Occurs twelve times, all in Acts, except in Matthew 17:9. Always trans, "vision", except here. Not the same word as in Acts 2:17.

behold = inspect, or consider. Greek. katanoeo. App-133.

the Lord. App-98.

unto him. The texts omit. The quotations are from Exodus 3:32

God. The texts omit the third and fourth occurance of the word in this verse.

trembled = became trembling (Greek. entromos. Only here, Acts 16:29. Hebrews 12:21).

thy shoes, &c. = the sandal of thy feet.

where = in (Greek. en) which, but the texts read epi.

ground. Greek. ge. App-129.

I have seen, I have seen. A Hebraism. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6. Literally Seeing, I saw.

affliction = wrong. Greek. kakosis. Only here. Compare Kakoo, verses: Acts 7:6, Acts 7:19.

groaning. Greek. stenagmos. Only here and Romans 8:26.

deliverer = redeemer. Greek. lutroes. Only here. Compare lutron, ransom (Matthew 20:28. Mark 10:45); lutroo, redeem (Luke 24:21. Titus 2:14. 1 Peter 1:18); lutrosis, redemption (Luke 1:68; Luke 2:38. Hebrews 9:12).

by = in. Greek. en, but the texts read sun.

He = This one.

shewed. Literally done. See Deuteronomy 31:2; Deuteronomy 34:7.

wonders. Greek. teras. App-176.

signs. Greek. semeion. App-176.

that = the.

A Prophet. Quoted from Deuteronomy 18:15. Compare Acts 3:22.

your. The texts omit.

raise up. Greek. anistemi. App-178.

like unto = as.

Him shall ye hear. The texts omit, but not the Syriac.

church. App-186.

lively = living. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6.

oracles = utterances. Greek. logion. Only here; Romans 3:2. Hebrews 5:12. 1 Peter 4:11.

would. App-102.

obey = be obedient (Greek. hupekoos. Only here; 2 Corinthians 2:9. Philippians 1:2, Philippians 1:8).

from them = away.

gods. App-98.

to go before. Greek. proporeuomai. Only here and Luke 1:76.

wot = know. App-132.

is become of = has come (to).

made a calf Greek. moschopoieo, a compound word, meaning "were calf-making" Only here.

idol. Greek. eidolon. The first of eleven occurances. Only word so rendered.

rejoiced = were rejoicing. Greek. euphraino. Same word as in Acts 2:26.

worship. Same word as "serve" in Acts 7:7.

host = army. Greek. stratia. Only here and Luke 2:13.

heaven = the heaven. See note on Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

as = even as.

is = has been.

the = a.

ye. Omit.

have ye offered = did ye offer. This question is introduced by me, as in Acts 7:28.

slain beasts. Greek. sphagion. Only here. Compare sphage, Acts 8:32.

Yea, ye = Ye even.

tabernacle. Greek. skene, tent.

Remphan. See notes on Amos 5:25-27, from which this quotation is taken. It follows the Septuagint very closely. App-107.

figures. Greek. tupos. See note on John 20:25 (print). Romans 5:14.

worship. Greek. proskuneo. App-137.

carry . . . away. Greek. metoikizo, as in Acts 7:4.

beyond. Greek. epekeina. Only here.

Babylon. Amos says "Damascus". See note there. The stages of captivity were: Syrian, to Damascus; Assyrian, beyond Damascus to Mesopotamia; Babylonian, to Babylon and beyond, and now they were to be carried to the uttermost parts of the earth.

witness = testimony. Greek. marturion, as in Acts 4:33. See Exodus 25:16; Exodus 26:33; Exodus 30:6, Revelation 15:5.

had appointed = arranged.

according to. Greek. kata. App-104.

fashion Greek. tupos, as in Acts 7:43.

seen. Greek. horao. App-133. Compare Exodus 26:30; Exodus 27:8. Hebrews 8:5.

also. This should he read after "brought in".

came after = received in succession. Greek. diadechomai. Only here. Revised Version "in their turn".

Jesus = Joshua. Compare Hebrews 4:8. The Hebrew means "Jehovah the Saviour". See note on Joshua 1:1.

Gentiles. Greek. ethnos, same as nation, Acts 7:7.

drave out = thrust out. Greek. exotheo. Only here and Acts 27:39. Compare Acts 7:27.

before = from. Greek. apo. App-104.

unto = until. Greek. heos.

David. Like Joseph, David was rejected, and tested by affliction before God gave him deliverance.

before = in the eyes of. Greek. enopion.

desired = asked. Greek. aiteo. App-134. See 2 Samuel 7:2, 2 Samuel 7:3.

tabernacle. Greek. skenoma. Only here and 2 Peter 1:13, 2 Peter 1:14. Not the same as in Acts 7:44. Revised Version reads "habitation". Compare Psalms 132:5.

Solomon. Stephen does not enlarge upon the history of either David or Solomon, probably because he saw the gathering storm on the faces of his audience.

Howbeit, &c. Read, "But not the Most High in hand-made temples dwelleth". The "not"stands first by Figure of speech Anastrophe. App-6.

the Most High. Greek. hupsistos. This, as a title of Deity, occurs nine times. See Luke 1:32.

Temples. The texts omit.

made with hands. Greek. cheiropoietos. Here, Acts 17:34. Mark 14:58. Ephesians 2:11. Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:24.

earth. Greek. ge, as in Acts 7:3.

My footstool = the footstool of my feet, as in Acts 2:35. Compare Matthew 5:35, and see note on Matthew 22:44.

what = what kind of.

rest. Greek. katapausis. Only here; Hebrews 3:11, Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 4:5, Hebrews 4:10, Hebrews 4:11.

not. Greek. ouchi. App-105. Freely quoted from Isaiah 66:1, Isaiah 66:2.

stiffrieoked. Greek. sklerotrachelos. Only here in NT., but in Sept, in Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5; Exodus 33:34, Exodus 33:9. Deuteronomy 9:6, Deuteronomy 9:13. Compare Deuteronomy 31:27. 2 Chronicles 30:8. Proverbs 29:1. This is an instance of Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6.

uncircumcised. Greek. aperitmetos. Only here.

resist = fall against. Greek. antipipto. Only here.

the Holy Ghost. App-101. This verse is quoted in support of the idea that men can successfully withstand the Spirit, instead of stumbling at His words. Compare Matthew 21:44.

have, &c. = did . . . persecute.

have slain = slew.

shewed before. Greek. prokatangello. See Acts 3:18.

coming. Greek. eleusis. Only here. the Just One. Greek. dikaios. App-191. Compare Acts 3:14; Acts 22:14. 1 John 2:1.

have been = became.

the. Omit.

betrayers. Greek. prodotes. Here, Luke 6:16. 2 Timothy 3:4.

have. Omit.

by = unto. Greek. eis. App-104.

disposition. Greek. diatage. Only here and Romans 13:2. The Syriac reads, "by the precept". Compare Acts 7:38 and Galatians 1:3, Galatians 1:19.

have, &c. = guarded it not.

cut. Greek. diapriomai, as in Acts 5:33.

gnashed, &c. = were gnashing their teeth on him. Greek. brucho Only here. An onomatopoeic word, like brugmos. Matthew 8:12, &c. Both are medical words.

being. Greek. huparcho. See note on Luke 9:48.

the Holy Ghost No article. App-101.

looked up stedfastly. Greek. atenizo. App-133. He was probably in one of the Temple courts, open to the sky.

Jesus. App-98.

right hand Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

Behold Greek. idou, App-133.:2. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

see = behold. Greek. theoreo. App-133.

the heavens. Plural See note on Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

opened. Greek. anoigo, but the texts read "dianoigo", thrown open.

Son of Man. App-98. The eighty-fifth occurance. Only here in Acts, and the only place where He is so named by man. In John 12:34, the Lord's own words are repeated in a question.

loud = great, i.e. the shout of the crowd in indignation.

stopped = held tight. Greek. sunecho. See Luke 4:38.

ran = rushed.

with one accord. Greek. homothumadon. See note on Acts 1:14.

out of = without. Greek. exo. Compare Leviticus 24:14. The charge was blasphemy, as in the case of his Master. Compare Hebrews 13:13.

stoned him = kept easting stones at him. Greek. lithoboleo. Compare Mark 12:4.

witnesses. See note on Acts 1:8. In accordance with the law they had to cast the first stone (Deuteronomy 17:7).

young man. Greek. neanias. Only here, Acts 20:9; Acts 23:17, Acts 23:18, Acts 23:22. He was probably about thirty-three years of age. Neanias was the next period to neaniskos (App-108. x), but the limits are very uncertain.

Saul. Greek. Saulos. Compare Acts 22:20.

calling upon. There is no Ellipsis of the word God. See Revised Version. Stephen called upon and invoked the Lord.

spirit. App-101.

kneeled down. Literally "placed the knees", an expression used in Luke (Acts 22:41) and Acts (here, Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5), and once in Mark (Acts 15:19). In the Epistles we read "bow the knee". Ephesians 3:14.

sin. Greek. hamartia. App-128

to their charge = to them

fell asleep. Greek. koimaomai. App-171.