Acts 7:49

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:49

Heaven is my throne - See the notes on Matthew 5:34.Earth is my footstool - See the notes on Matthew 5:35.What house ... - What house or temple can be large or magnificent enough for the dwelling of Him who made all things?The place of my rest - My home, my abode, my fixed seat or habitation. Compare Psalms 95:11. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 7:48-50

Acts 7:48-50 . Howbeit Αλλα , but, or yet; we are not to imagine that God permitted a temple to be built even then for his own sake: for it was acknowledged, at the same time, by Solomon himself, that the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands Be they ever so rich, splendid, and majestic. As saith the prophet Namely, Isaiah, chap. Isaiah 66:1, where, speaking in the name of God, he says, Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool; and how then should my presence be... 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 7:49

earth. Greek. ge, as in Acts 7:3 . My footstool = the footstool of my feet, as in Acts 2:35 . Compare Matthew 5:35 , and see note on Matthew 22:44 . what = what kind of. rest. Greek. katapausis. Only here; Hebrews 3:11 , Hebrews 3:18 ; Hebrews 4:1 , Hebrews 4:3 , Hebrews 4:3 , Hebrews 4:5 , Hebrews 4:10 , Hebrews 4:11 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 7:46-50

Acts 7:46-50. And desired to find a tabernacle, &c.— 'Ητησατο, made it his petition. From the account which the Scripture gives of David, it appears how greatly he longed to find out a place for the Lord,—an habitation,—which is a properer word than tabernacle in this place. Comp. 2 Samuel 7:2. &c. and Psalms 132:1-5. However, as he was a man of war, and had shed blood, he was not allowed to build the temple; which was deferred to the peaceful reign of his son; and hence the plain... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:2-53

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:44-50

Stephen’s view of the temple 7:44-50Stephen effectively refuted the general charges that he blasphemed God and Moses (Acts 6:11; cf Acts 7:2-16) and spoke against the Law (Acts 6:13; cf. Acts 7:17-43). He next addressed the charge that he spoke against the temple (Acts 6:13). The charges that he had said Jesus would destroy the temple and alter Jewish customs (Acts 6:14) were really specific accusations growing out of Stephen’s view of the temple.The Jewish leaders of Stephen’s day attached... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:48-50

Stephen hastened to clarify that the Most High God, for whom a suitable house was certainly a reasonable desire, does not restrict Himself to a habitation constructed by humans. Solomon himself had acknowledged this when he dedicated the temple (cf. 1 Kings 8:27; Isaiah 66:1-2)."Judaism never taught that God actually lived in the temple or was confined to its environs but spoke of his ’Name’ and presence as being there. In practice, however, this concept was often denied. This would especially... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 7:1-60

Defence and Martyrdom of Stephen1-53. Speech of Stephen. There is every reason to believe that this speech was really delivered by St. Stephen, and not composed by St. Luke; for, (1) the speech does not (in any direct manner) answer the charges alleged (Acts 6:14), as a speech composed by the historian himself would have done; (2) there are several erroneous references to the OT. (not all due to the use of LXX), natural enough in a speech delivered impromptu, but not natural in a speech... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 7:1-60

St. Stephen's Death Acts 7:55 Stephen is the first of whom we read that he died after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and entered into his glory. The first martyr was now to obtain his crown of life. Now it is a remarkable thing that, with the exception of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the death of St. Stephen is the only death about which we have any details in the New Testament Scriptures. We read that Stephen was filled with the Holy Ghost. Now what did the Holy Spirit do for... read more

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