Acts 7:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:2

Brethren and fathers for men, brethren, and fathers, A.V. Haran for Charran, A.V. Brethren and fathers . The Greek is ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ ( i.e. "men who are also my brethren") καὶ πατέρες . He adds "and fathers" out of respect to the elder and more dignified portion of the Sanhedrim. It seems probable that Stephen, as a Hellenist Jew, spoke in Greek, which is borne out by the quotations being from the LXX . (see Alford), though Meyer and others think he spoke in Hebrew.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:2-53

Stephen's defense. It was usual in the court of the Sanhedrim to allow an accused person to plead guilty or not guilty, and to speak in his own defense. As this address of Stephen's is his defense, we must know of what he was accused. Generally it may be said that he was a blasphemer of God and the Law; but, to understand how such a charge could possibly be made, we must appreciate the intense and superstitious feeling concerning Mosaism which characterized the rulers of that day. The more... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:2

Men, brethren, and fathers - These were the usual titles by which the Sanhedrin was addressed. In all this Stephen was perfectly respectful, and showed that he was disposed to render due honor to the institutions of the nation.The God of glory - This is a Hebrew form of expression denoting “the glorious God.” It properly denotes His “majesty, or splendor, or magnificence”; and the word “glory” is often applied to the splendid appearances in which God has manifested Himself to people,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 7:1-3

Acts 7:1-3. Then said the high-priest Who was president of the council, and, as such, the mouth of the court; Are these things so? Are they as these witnesses have deposed? for thou art permitted to speak for thyself, and make thy defence. And he said Stephen had been accused of blasphemy against Moses, and even against God; and of speaking against the temple and the law, threatening that Jesus would destroy the one and change the other. In answer to this accusation, rehearsing, as it... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 7:1-60

Stephen before the Sanhedrin (7:1-60)The defence that Stephen made before the Sanhedrin was not designed to win its approval. He outlined Israel’s history to demonstrate two main points. First, God had never shown himself to be limited to one dwelling place, or even one locality (therefore the Jews were mistaken in attaching such importance to the temple in Jerusalem). Second, the people of Israel had always rejected the messengers of God (therefore their rejection of the Messiah Jesus was not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 7:2

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 =... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 7:2

And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.Get thee out of thy land ... The young church was about to be scattered;... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 7:2

Acts 7:2. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers,— Dr. Benson has illustrated this speech of St. Stephen in a large and very judicious manner, to whom we shall be frequently obliged; and the following introductory remarks from Dr. Ward's 39th Dissertation will serve to shew its general propriety. The charge brought against Stephen, says he, consisted of two parts: that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple where they were then assembled, and change the rites of Moses, Ch. Acts 6:14. The... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:2

2-5. The God of glory—A magnificent appellation, fitted at the very outset to rivet the devout attention of his audience; denoting not that visible glory which attended many of the divine manifestations, but the glory of those manifestations themselves, of which this was regarded by every Jew as the fundamental one. It is the glory of absolutely free grace. appeared unto our father Abraham before he dwelt in Charran, and said, c.—Though this first call is not expressly recorded in Genesis, it... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:2-3

Stephen called for the Sanhedrin’s attention, addressing his hearers respectfully as "brethren and fathers" (cf. Acts 22:1). These men were his brethren, in that they were fellow Jews, and fathers, in that they were older leaders of the nation.He took the title "God of glory" from Psalms 29:2 where it occurs in a context of God revealing His glory by speaking powerfully and majestically. God had revealed His glory by speaking this way to their father (ancestor) Abraham when he was in... read more

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