30 And G2532 when forty G5062 years G2094 were expired, G4137 there appeared G3700 to him G846 in G1722 the wilderness G2048 of mount G3735 Sina G4614 an angel G32 of the Lord G2962 in G1722 a flame G5395 of fire G4442 in a bush. G942
This G5126 Moses G3475 whom G3739 they refused, G720 saying, G2036 Who G5101 made G2525 thee G4571 a ruler G758 and G2532 a judge? G1348 the same G5126 did God G2316 send G649 to be a ruler G758 and G2532 a deliverer G3086 by G1722 the hand G5495 of the angel G32 which G3588 appeared G3700 to him G846 in G1722 the bush. G942
Now Moses H4872 kept H1961 H7462 the flock H6629 of Jethro H3503 his father in law, H2859 the priest H3548 of Midian: H4080 and he led H5090 the flock H6629 to the backside H310 of the desert, H4057 and came H935 to the mountain H2022 of God, H430 even to Horeb. H2722 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto him in a flame H3827 of fire H784 out of the midst H8432 of a bush: H5572 and he looked, H7200 and, behold, the bush H5572 burned H1197 with fire, H784 and the bush H5572 was not consumed. H398
When thou passest through H5674 the waters, H4325 I will be with thee; and through the rivers, H5104 they shall not overflow H7857 thee: when thou walkest H3212 through H1119 the fire, H784 thou shalt not be burned; H3554 neither shall the flame H3852 kindle H1197 upon thee.
But G1161 when G2531 the time G5550 of the promise G1860 drew nigh, G1448 which G3739 God G2316 had sworn G3660 to Abraham, G11 the people G2992 grew G837 and G2532 multiplied G4129 in G1722 Egypt, G125
Now G1161 that G3754 the dead G3498 are raised, G1453 even G2532 Moses G3475 shewed G3377 at G1909 the bush, G942 when G5613 he calleth G3004 the Lord G2962 the God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 the God G2316 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 the God G2316 of Jacob. G2384
And G1161 as touching G4012 the dead, G3498 that G3754 they rise: G1453 have ye G314 not G3756 read G314 in G1722 the book G976 of Moses, G3475 how G5613 in G1909 the bush G942 God G2316 spake G2036 unto him, G846 saying, G3004 I G1473 am the God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 the God G2316 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 the God G2316 of Jacob? G2384
Behold, I will send H7971 my messenger, H4397 and he shall prepare H6437 the way H1870 before H6440 me: and the Lord, H113 whom ye seek, H1245 shall suddenly H6597 come H935 to his temple, H1964 even the messenger H4397 of the covenant, H1285 whom ye delight H2655 in: behold, he shall come, H935 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
He took his brother H251 by the heel H6117 in the womb, H990 and by his strength H202 he had power H8280 with God: H430 Yea, he had power H7786 over the angel, H4397 and prevailed: H3201 he wept, H1058 and made supplication H2603 unto him: he found H4672 him in Bethel, H1008 and there he spake H1696 with us; Even the LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts; H6635 the LORD H3068 is his memorial. H2143
And the princes, H324 governors, H5460 and captains, H6347 and the king's H4430 counsellors, H1907 being gathered together, H3673 saw H2370 these H479 men, H1400 upon whose bodies H1655 the fire H5135 had no H3809 power, H7981 nor H3809 was an hair H8177 of their head H7217 singed, H2761 neither H3809 were their coats H5622 changed, H8133 nor H3809 the smell H7382 of fire H5135 had passed H5709 on them.
And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 found her H4672 by a fountain H5869 of water H4325 in the wilderness, H4057 by the fountain H5869 in the way H1870 to Shur. H7793 And he said, H559 Hagar, H1904 Sarai's H8297 maid, H8198 whence H335 camest thou? H935 and whither wilt thou go? H3212 And she said, H559 I flee H1272 from the face H6440 of my mistress H1404 Sarai. H8297 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto her, Return H7725 to thy mistress, H1404 and submit H6031 thyself under her hands. H3027 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto her, I will multiply H7235 thy seed H2233 exceedingly, H7235 that it shall not be numbered H5608 for multitude. H7230 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto her, Behold, H2009 thou art with child, H2030 and shalt bear H3205 a son, H1121 and shalt call H7121 his name H8034 Ishmael; H3458 because the LORD H3068 hath heard H8085 thy affliction. H6040 And he will be a wild H6501 man; H120 his hand H3027 will be against every man, and every man's hand H3027 against him; and he shall dwell H7931 in the presence H6440 of all his brethren. H251 And she called H7121 the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 that spake H1696 unto her, Thou God H410 seest me: H7210 for she said, H559 Have I also here H1988 looked H7200 after him H310 that seeth me? H7210
And for the precious things H4022 of the earth H776 and fulness H4393 thereof, and for the good will H7522 of him that dwelt H7931 in the bush: H5572 let the blessing come H935 upon the head H7218 of Joseph, H3130 and upon the top of the head H6936 of him that was separated H5139 from his brethren. H251
But the LORD H3068 hath taken H3947 you, and brought you forth H3318 out of the iron H1270 furnace, H3564 even out of Egypt, H4714 to be unto him a people H5971 of inheritance, H5159 as ye are this day. H3117
In the third H7992 month, H2320 when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gone forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 the same day H3117 came H935 they into the wilderness H4057 of Sinai. H5514 For they were departed H5265 from Rephidim, H7508 and were come H935 to the desert H4057 of Sinai, H5514 and had pitched H2583 in the wilderness; H4057 and there Israel H3478 camped H2583 before the mount. H2022
And Moses H4872 was fourscore H8084 years H8141 old, H1121 and Aaron H175 fourscore H8084 and three H7969 years H8141 old, H1121 when they spake H1696 unto Pharaoh. H6547
Moreover he said, H559 I am the God H430 of thy father, H1 the God H430 of Abraham, H85 the God H430 of Isaac, H3327 and the God H430 of Jacob. H3290 And Moses H4872 hid H5641 his face; H6440 for he was afraid H3372 to look H5027 upon God. H430
And he blessed H1288 Joseph, H3130 and said, H559 God, H430 before H6440 whom my fathers H1 Abraham H85 and Isaac H3327 did walk, H1980 the God H430 which fed H7462 me all my life long H5750 unto this day, H3117 The Angel H4397 which redeemed H1350 me from all evil, H7451 bless H1288 the lads; H5288 and let my name H8034 be named H7121 on them, and the name H8034 of my fathers H1 Abraham H85 and Isaac; H3327 and let them grow H1711 into a multitude H7230 in the midst H7130 of the earth. H776
And Jacob H3290 was left H3498 alone; and there wrestled H79 a man H376 with him until the breaking H5927 of the day. H7837 And when he saw H7200 that he prevailed H3201 not against him, he touched H5060 the hollow of his thigh; H3409 and the hollow H3709 of Jacob's H3290 thigh H3409 was out of joint, H3363 as he wrestled H79 with him. And he said, H559 Let me go, H7971 for the day H7837 breaketh. H5927 And he said, H559 I will not let thee go, H7971 except H518 thou bless H1288 me. And he said H559 unto him, What is thy name? H8034 And he said, H559 Jacob. H3290 And he said, H559 Thy name H8034 shall be called H559 no more Jacob, H3290 but Israel: H3478 for as a prince hast thou power H8280 with God H430 and with men, H582 and hast prevailed. H3201 And Jacob H3290 asked H7592 him, and said, H559 Tell H5046 me, I pray thee, thy name. H8034 And he said, H559 Wherefore is it H2088 that thou dost ask H7592 after my name? H8034 And he blessed H1288 him there. And Jacob H3290 called H7121 the name H8034 of the place H4725 Peniel: H6439 for I have seen H7200 God H430 face H6440 to face, H6440 and my life H5315 is preserved. H5337
And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 called H7121 unto Abraham H85 out of heaven H8064 the second time, H8145 And said, H559 By myself have I sworn, H7650 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 for because H3282 H834 thou hast done H6213 this thing, H1697 and hast not H3808 withheld H2820 thy son, H1121 thine only H3173 son: That in blessing H1288 I will bless H1288 thee, and in multiplying H7235 I will multiply H7235 thy seed H2233 as the stars H3556 of the heaven, H8064 and as the sand H2344 which is upon the sea H3220 shore; H8193 and thy seed H2233 shall possess H3423 the gate H8179 of his enemies; H341 And in thy seed H2233 shall all the nations H1471 of the earth H776 be blessed; H1288 because H834 H6118 thou hast obeyed H8085 my voice. H6963
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 7
Commentary on Acts 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
When our Lord Jesus called his apostles out to be employed in services and sufferings for him, he told them that yet the last should be first, and the first last, which was remarkably fulfilled in St. Stephen and St. Paul, who were both of them late converts, in comparison of the apostles, and yet got the start of them both in services and sufferings; for God, in conferring honours and favours, often crosses hands. In this chapter we have the martyrdom of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, who led the van in the noble army. And therefore his sufferings and death are more largely related than those of any other, for direction and encouragement to all those who are called out to resist unto blood, as he did. Here is,
Act 7:1-16
Stephen is now at the bar before the great council of the nation, indicted for blasphemy: what the witnesses swore against him we had an account of in the foregoing chapter, that he spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God; for he spoke against this holy place and the law. Now here,
But let us see how this serves Stephen's purpose.
Let us now see what this is to Stephen's purpose.
Act 7:17-29
Stephen here goes on to relate,
Now let us see how this serves Stephen's purpose.
Act 7:30-41
Stephen here proceeds in his story of Moses; and let any one judge whether these are the words of one that was a blasphemer of Moses or no; nothing could be spoken more honourably of him. Here is,
Act 7:42-50
Two things we have in these verses:-
Act 7:51-53
Stephen was going on in his discourse (as it should seem by the thread of it) to show that, as the temple, so the temple-service must come to an end, and it would be the glory of both to give way to that worship of the Father in spirit and in truth which was to be established in the kingdom of the Messiah, stripped of the pompous ceremonies of the old law, and so he was going to apply all this which he had said more closely to his present purpose; but he perceived they could not bear it. They could patiently hear the history of the Old Testament told (it was a piece of learning which they themselves dealt much in); but if Stephen go about to tell them that their power and tyranny must come down, and that the church must be governed by a spirit of holiness and love, and heavenly-mindedness, they will not so much as give him the hearing. It is probable that he perceived this, and that they were going to silence him; and therefore he breaks off abruptly in the midst of his discourse, and by that spirit of wisdom, courage, and power, wherewith he was filled, he sharply rebuked his persecutors, and exposed their true character; for, if they will not admit the testimony of the gospel to them, it shall become a testimony against them.
We have reason to think Stephen had a great deal more to say, and would have said it if they would have suffered him; but they were wicked and unreasonable men with whom he had to do, that could no more hear reason than they could speak it.
Act 7:54-60
We have here the death of the first martyr of the Christian church, and there is in this story a lively instance of the outrage and fury of the persecutors (such as we may expect to meet with if we are called out to suffer for Christ), and of the courage and comfort of the persecuted, that are thus called out. Here is hell in its fire and darkness, and heaven in its light and brightness; and these serve as foils to set off each other. It is not here said that the votes of the council were taken upon his case, and that by the majority he was found guilty, and then condemned and ordered to be stoned to death, according to the law, as a blasphemer; but, it is likely, so it was, and that it was not by the violence of the people, without order of the council, that he was put to death; for here is the usual ceremony of regular executions-he was cast out of the city, and the hands of the witnesses were first upon him.
Let us observe here the wonderful discomposure of the spirits of his enemies and persecutors, and the wonderful composure of his spirit.