Acts 7:35-60

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:38

This is he that was in the church in the wilderness ,.... Which must be understood of the children of Israel, who were the then church of God, whom he had chosen and separated from the rest of the world, to be a peculiar people to himself, to whom were given the word and ordinances, the service of God, and the promises; and God always had, and will have a church, though that is sometimes in the wilderness; which has been the case under the Gospel dispensation, as well as before; Revelation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:39

To whom our fathers would not obey ,.... But often murmured against him, and were disobedient to him, and to the oracles he delivered to them, and so to God, whose oracles they were: but thrust him from them ; as one of the two Hebrews did, when he interposed to make up the difference between them; and which was an emblem and presage of what that people would afterwards do; Acts 7:27 and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt ; they wished themselves there again, they lusted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:40

Saying unto Aaron, make us gods to go before us ,.... This is a proof of their disobedience to the law of Moses, and of their rejection of him, and of the inclination of their hearts to the idolatry of the Egyptians; which shows the gross stupidity, as well as ingratitude of this people, to think that gods could be made; and that those that are made could go before them, be guides unto them, and protectors of them; when they have eyes, but see not, and hands, but handle not, and feet, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:41

And they made a calf in those days ,.... Whilst Moses was in the mount; this was done in imitation of the Egyptian idol Apis or Serapis, which was an ox or a bullock; and it was made of the golden earnings of the people, which were melted down, and cast into the form of a calf, and graved by Aaron with a graving tool, Exodus 32:2 And so the Syriac version here reads in the singular number, "and he made them a calf"; this was a most shameful and scandalous piece of idolatry. The Jews... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:42

Then God turned ,.... Away from them, withdrew his presence, and his favours from them: and gave them up to worship the host of heaven ; not angels, but the sun, moon, and stars; for since they liked not to retain the knowledge and worship of the true God, who made the heavens, and the earth, God in righteous judgment, in a judicial way, gave them up to a reprobate mind, to commit all the idolatry of the Gentiles, as a punishment of their former sin in making and worshipping the calf: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:43

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Mo ,.... Sometimes called Molech, and sometimes Milcorn; it was the god of the Ammonites, and the same with Baal: the one signifies king, and the other lord; and was, no doubt, the same with the Apis or Serapis of the Egyptians, and the calf of the Israelites. Frequent mention is made of giving seed to Molech, and causing the children to pass through fire to him. The account the Jews give of this image, and of the barbarous worship of it, is this F6 R.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:44

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness ,.... The Ethiopic version adds, "of Sinai"; there it was that the tabernacle was first ordered to be built, and there it was built, and set up; which was a sort of a portable temple, in which Jehovah took up his residence, and which was carried from place to place: of it, and its several parts and furniture, there is a large account in Exodus 25:1 . It is sometimes called Ohel Moed, or "the tabernacle of the congregation",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:45

Which also our fathers that came after ,.... Who came after those that died in the wilderness, and never saw nor entered into the land of Canaan; the children of that generation whose carcasses fell in the wilderness, who sprung from them, came up in their room, and succeeded them: brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles ; that is, they having received the tabernacle from their fathers, brought it into the land of Canaan, which was possessed by the Gentiles, when they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:46

Who found favour before God ,.... That is, David, who had an interest in the free favour and love of God, was chosen of God, a man after his own heart, and raised up to do his will; and who had the grace of God implanted in him, and was acceptable, and well pleasing to God through Christ; the same is said of Noah, Genesis 6:8 and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob ; from whom the Israelites descended: David having a deep sense of the love of God to him, and the grace of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:47

But Solomon built him an house. Though David was so set upon it, and made such large provisions for it, he was not to be the man that should build it, he having been greatly concerned in wars, and in the effusion of blood; but Solomon his son, who enjoyed much peace, was the person designed for this work, and who did accomplish it; of which there is a large account in the 1 Kings 6:1 . read more

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