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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 7:33

Verse 33 33.Because the place wherein. The Lord meant by this commendation which he giveth to the place, to lift up the mind of Moses into heaven, that he might not think upon any earthly thing. And if so be that Moses was to be pricked forward with so many pricks, that having forgotten the earth, he might hearken to God, must not we have our sides even, as it were, digged through, (433) seeing we are an hundred times more slow than he? Notwithstanding, here may a question be asked, how this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:1-53

The recital of a nation's spiritual pedigree—its leading suggestions. Technically the description of a defense may very justly be applied to the long stretch of these verses. They no doubt do stand for Stephen's formal defense. He has been very mildly challenged by the high priest to say whether the "things" laid to his charge "are so." And he loses not a minute in replying. He replies, however, in his own way. That way is somewhat indirect. His tone betrays some sense of his being in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:1-60

The first martyrdom. When we look at the Lord Jesus as our Exemplar, though we are conscious that all his excellences of life and character were strictly human, and within the range of those human faculties which we possess in common with our Lord, yet are we also conscious that the transcendent perfection of his human life is what we can never reach. Our Lord's goodness was the goodness of man, and yet it is a goodness that we never can attain to. Where his feet stood firm, our feet will... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:20-39

The Divine and the human. I. DIVINE INTERVENTION . The hand of God is sometimes visible though it is usually unseen. We see the Divine working in II. HUMAN NOBLENESS . ( Acts 7:23-28 ; see Hebrews 11:24-26 .) It was" in Moses' heart to visit his brethren," and he took their cause in hand in a very practical and decisive way ( Acts 7:24 ). He may have been mistaken in the method which he adopted, but that is of very small moment. The great thing is that it was in his heart... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:30

Fulfilled for expired, A.V. ; an angel appeared for there appeared … an angel, A.V.; an angel for an angel of the Lord, A.V. and T.R.; Sinai for Sina, A.V. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:30-34

The call of Moses. I. THE MESSAGE BY FIRE . Fire is the sign of the presence of Jehovah. It denotes spiritual agency in its intensity. Fire penetrates and it purifies. It is, therefore, inimical to evil and conservative of good. Darkness of mystery is round about God, and when he comes forth from it to reveal himself to men it is in the form of fire. It is an emblem of the Holy Spirit. In the bosoms of men he glows, and the musing poet bursts forth into inspired song, and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:31

And when for when, A.V.; behold for behold it, A.V. ; there came a voice of the Lord for the voice of the Lord came unto him, A.V. There came a voice. The A.V. is surely right. The Lord has only one voice; and φωνὴ κυρίου is that voice. The grammatical effect of κυρίου upon φωνὴ is to make it definite, as in ἄγγελος κυρίου (see Acts 5:19 , note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:32

Saying, A.V., is omitted; of Isaac and of Jacob for the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, A.V. and T.R.; and for then, A.V. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:33

And the Lord said unto him for then said the Lord to him, A.V.; loose the shoes for put off by shoes, A.V. Loose the shoes , etc. In Exodus 3:5 it is λύσαι … ἐκ τῶν ποδῶν σου . Iamblichus, quoted by Meyer, refers the Pythagorean precept, "Sacrifice and worship with thy shoes off," to an Egyptian custom. The custom of Orientals to take off their sandals on entering mosques or other sacred places, as existing to the present day, is noticed by many travelers (see also ... read more

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