Acts 7:42-43. Then God turned,— See Romans 1:21-24.Psalms 81:11-12; Psalms 81:11-12. There were two sorts of idolatry; namely, the worshipping the true God by idol mediators, and terminating their worship upon false Gods. Israel began with the former; and for a punishment was permitted to fall into the latter. See on Exodus 32:1. &c. the notes on Amos 5:25; Amos 5:27. read more
42-50. gave them up—judicially. as . . . written in the book of the prophets—the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage is from Amos 5:25. have ye offered to me . . . sacrifices?—The answer is, Yes, but as if ye did it not; for "neither did ye offer to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and willing heart" [BENGEL]. read more
43. Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Molech, c.—Two kinds of idolatry are charged upon the Israelites: that of the golden calf and that of the heavenly bodies Molech and Remphan being deities, representing apparently the divine powers ascribed to nature, under different aspects. carry you beyond Babylon—the well-known region of the captivity of Judah; while "Damascus" is used by the prophet (Amos 5:27), whither the ten tribes were carried. read more
2. Stephen’s address 7:2-53As a Hellenistic Jew, Stephen possessed a clearer vision of the universal implications of the gospel than did most of the Hebraic Jews. It was this breadth of vision that drew attack from the more temple-bound Jews in Jerusalem and led to his arrest. His address was not a personal defense designed to secure his acquittal by the Sanhedrin. It was instead an apologetic for the new way of worship that Jesus taught and His followers embraced."On the surface it appears to... read more
Stephen’s view of Moses and the Law 7:17-43Stephen continued his review of Israel’s history by proceeding into the period of the Exodus. He sought to refute the charge that he was blaspheming against Moses (Acts 6:11) and was speaking against the Mosaic Law (Acts 6:13). read more
The teaching of Moses 7:37-43Stephen continued dealing with the Mosaic period of Israel’s history, but he focused more particularly next on Moses’ teaching, the Mosaic Law. This is what the Jews of his day professed to venerate and follow exactly, but Stephen showed that they really had rejected what Moses taught. read more
The Israelites turned from Moses to idolatry, and in this their high priest, Aaron, helped them. Consequently God gave them over to what they wanted (cf. Romans 1:24). He also purposed to send them into captivity as punishment (Amos 5:25-27).By implication, turning from the revelation that Jesus had given amounted to idolatry. Stephen implied that by rejecting Moses’ coming prophet, Jesus, his hearers could expect a similar fate despite the sacrifices they brought to God."Stephen’s quotation of... read more
7:42 prophets, (a-23) See Amos 5:25-27 . read more
7:43 Yea (b-1) Quoted from the LXX. 'Yea' here has the force of 'Nay, but.' read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 7:43
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... read more