The Acts of The Apostles

Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Seven
(7:1-60)

Vs. 1-7

The high priest asks Stephen if these things are so when he knows that the accusations are full of half truths and lies. Stephen, as Peter and Paul are famous for, never misses an opportunity to preach. Stephen begins on a positive note by bragging on the history of Israel starting in (Gen. 12:1).

The appearance is an appearance of the Angel of the Lord (Theophany - pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.)

Vs. 4,5

(Heb. 11:8-10; Gen. 12-15)

Vs. 6

Reference is to (Gen. 15:13) One of the Bible "contradictions" appears with reference to the 30 year discrepancy between (Acts 7:6) -(400), (Gen. 15:13) -(400) and (Gal. 3:1) -(430), (Ex. 12:40) -(430). The answer: they sojourned in Egypt for 430 years of which 400 they were entreated with evil.

Vs. 7

The plagues of Egypt are in view in judgment of the bondage Egypt required of Israel.

Vs. 9

In (vs. 9) Stephen bring up probably the best type of Christ in the O.T., Joseph. "Moved with envy", this was the crime of the Jewish leaders. "Sold for a servant." (Ps. 105:17,18)

Vs. 13

Stephen continues to brag. In (vs. 13) we have a picture of the Second Coming. Joseph was made known to his brethren the second time they saw him.

Vs. 14

In (vs. 14), "another contradiction". (Compare Acts 7:14 with Gen. 46:27; Acts 7:14) says all his kindred were 75. (Gen. 46:27) says 70 "of the house of Jacob." Again reading and believing the texts will eliminate the contradictions. All of his kindred - all relations were 75, his immediate house were 70. (See Deut. 10:22, Gen. 46:26).

Vs. 16

We come to another contradiction. We get a whole handful here in chapter (7). (Acts 7:16) seems to contradict (Gen. 23:3,10,17).
Explanation:

[1]. Shechem's father was Hamor (Gen. 33:19) Emmor (vs. 16).
[2]. An altar is erected in a "parcel of a field" (Gen. 33:19,20), no in a sepulcher that "Abraham bought for a sum of money" (Acts 7:16).
[3]. It was the bones of Joseph that were buried in Shechem (Josh. 24:32), not Jacob.
[4]. It was the bones of Jacob (not Joseph) that were buried in the cave of the field of Machpelah which Abraham bought with the field (Gen. 50:13). The field included the cave and all the trees (Gen. 23:20).
[5]. The sepulcher tells us that Abraham made a purchase from the same gentleman that Jacob dealt with; for Abraham lived for more than 15 years after Jacob was born, and the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, were contemporary with both men. Abraham made two purchases. one was from the same people Jacob dealt with in (Gen. 33:19,20).

Vs. 18-29

(Acts 7:22 and Ex. 4:10) again are not contradictory. The first gives Moses' history before coming to present himself to his brethren at 40 years of age to deliver them out of Egypt. The second, (Ex. 4:10), records Moses' excuses for trying to complete God's commission to him.

Vs. 25

Stephen continues making his point. "They understood not." The daggers begin to go deep into the hearts of the Sanhedrin...again envy.

Vs. 30-36

Stephen again points out the similarities between the rejection of the O.T. prophets and the Sanhedrin's rejection of Jesus Christ. (Mk. 15:10), "The chief priests had delivered him for envy."

Vs. 37

The whole message is pointed to the fact that these O.T. rejections were pictures of rejection and that the Messiah was prophesied to be rejected. (Vs. 37) He is the prophet Moses spoke of.

There was a church in the O.T. The meaning of church is merely "A called out assembly." The "church" which is Christ's body (Eph. 1:22,23) is a living organism., and although its members are found in local congregations (Acts 9:31; 11:22; 15:3; 4:22) it is more than an organization: It is an Organism. The O.T. Church mentioned included lost and saved together (Heb. 3:16-19), exactly as a local congregation today includes them.

Vs. 38

Lively oracles: (Rom. 3:1-3; Heb. 5:12; Ps. 147:19,20; Heb. 4:12)

Vs. 42

See (Rom. 9:19-26) - Quotes (Amos 5:25,26)

Moloch - Molech: (Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; 1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:10; Jer. 32:35)

The Star of Remphan is what is commonly called the Star of David. Biblically, Israel has three symbols in the Word of God: A burning bush, fig tree and olive tree.

There are also two tabernacles in the wilderness, not one (Num. 16:24,27; Ex. 33:7, 10,11). You are told that a tabernacle was standing before the tabernacle of (Ex. 35-37) The first tabernacle became a symbol of the "god" of (1 Kings 11:1).

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that Remphan = Rephan = Chium = Saturn. Dr. Ruckman in his commentary on Acts, Page 250, says that Remphan represents Jupiter, which can be cross-referenced with (Acts 14:12; 19:35). In the Bible context, this would make more sense. The "Star of David" is two pyramids...one inverted and then overlapped (vs. 43). The Babylonian god of fortune was Jupiter. Babylon is very significant contextually at the Second Coming. (Dan. 1-3; Rev. 17,18)

Vs. 44-53

In (vs. 45), your AV reads "Jesus." Many new printings of the AV 1611 have subtly changed, this reading to Joshua. Compare this with (Heb. 4:8) where this also happens. The insertion of Jesus points out the fact that the book of Joshua is a type of the Second Coming of Christ as Joshua himself is a type of Christ. After all, Jesus did accompany the Jews as they went through the land of Canaan ... (Josh. 5:13,14), the captain of the host (Heb. 2:10).

Vs. 46,47

David desired to build the temple (2 Sam. 7:1-3) but because he was a man of war (1 Chron. 28:3), the Lord passed the work onto his son Solomon (1 Chron. 28, 1 Kings 3-10).

Vs. 48,49

Stephen tells the Sanhedrin that God is not A God that can be contained in a building. Some people would like to think that this was possible so they could control Him. (See 1 Kings 8:27; 1 Cor. 6:19,20). (Verse. 49) Quotes (Ps. 11:4). The irony of the situation is that Stephen himself is a temple here (vs. 55).

Vs. 51-53

Stephen sounds much like the Lord Jesus. He does not use tact but gives the Sanhedrin an "honest" objective evaluation (Matt. 23:33). "Irresistible grace" is resisted and the Sanhedrin successfully resists the Holy Ghost as He tears away at their hearts and consciences.

He then says that you religious folks have a bad track record. You have persecuted all the prophets.

"The Just One." See comments on (Acts 3:14 and 22:14).

The disposition of angels: (Heb. 2:2; 13:2; Ex. 14:19; 24:9-12; 23:20; 32:34; Judg. 2:1,4; 1 Chron. 20:21,27; Acts 7:30,35). Angels are used throughout the Word of God as messengers to reveal God's will to certain individuals.

Vs. 54-60

The invitation is a tremendous failure. The people coming forward begin biting the preacher (vs. 54). The cutting to the heart is done by the Word of God (Heb. 4:12). Stephen is the first Christian martyr. His name means "crown", a prophecy of the death he would die as he wins the Crown of Life (Rev. 2:10).

Vs. 55

Here Jesus is standing on the right hand of God. The commentators make many inspirational statements concerning the meaning of Christ's standing, such as: Jesus was standing to welcome one of his own home, etc.

Jesus was seated in Acts 2:34 and he is seated now (Heb. 8:1). Why was Jesus-standing? There is a tremendous doctrinal implication here. The whole proper system of theology in Acts is built around the fact that a kingdom message is being preached and the Second Coming of Christ is imminent.

What is the "Son of Man" doing that he said He would not do until the Second Coming? (Mk. 14:62; Matt. 26:64) The heavens open at the Second Coming (Rev. 4 and 19) just like they do at Christ's first coming (Matt. 3:16).

Immediately following this event the apostle to the Gentiles is brought into focus. From this time forward miracles are ceased in Jerusalem. The Holy Ghost is not received one time through a water baptism after Acts 7 (Acts 8:16, 10:44). If the Sanhedrin would have accepted the message preached to Israel by Stephen, all was ready to trigger Daniel's Seventieth Week (Acts 3:19).

Vs. 58

Saul's first appearance. Notice the similarities of Stephen's attitude and that of Christ at the crucifixion.

"Receive my spirit", and "lay not this sin to their charge." Many get upset with the insertion of "God" in italics in (vs. 59). If Jesus is God, why get upset. At least the AV is honest in putting the word in italics.

Vs. 60

"He fell asleep." Death to the Christian is spoken of as sleep in (11:13; 1 Cor. 15:20; 1 Thess. 4:14; 1 Cor. 11:30).

 

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