Notes and Jottings
Acts 7
(7:1). high priest. This was Caiaphas.
(7:2). And he said. The sermon Stephen preached is the longest in the Book of Acts.
(7:2). he was in. God called Abraham first when he was in Mesopotamia (Gen 15:7).
(7:2). Mesopotamia. The English word Mesopotamia comes from the Greek phrase meaning “between the rivers,” which refers to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In the Old Testament, this word appears only five times.
(7:2). Charran. Also known as Haran. A significant junction and trading hub in Syria, located approximately 20 miles south of Edessa along the Belias (currently Belikh) River, along the primary route that connected Nineveh to Carchemish and further to the Mediterranean coastline. The name (Heb. ḥārān, Akkad. ḥarrānu) translates to “road, route, caravan.” In Hittite, it evolved into Havana, which is the root of the English word caravan. Haran is first referenced in the Bible as the destination Terah travelled to from Ur of the Chaldeans.
(7:6). four hundred years. Likely a round figure indicating 430 years (Gal. 3:17).
(7:14). The House of Jacob were seventy, with the wives of Jacob’s sons there were seventy five persons.
(7:15). Jacob went down into Egypt and died. Jacob was buried in a cave at Hebron.
(7:38). the assembly in the wilderness. Assembly/church. Israel in the land is never called a church. In the wilderness Israel was a true church, but in contrast with the New Testament assembly/church. (Gr. ecclesia = called out assembly).
(7:43). Moloch. Associated with pagan worship and human sacrifices.
(7:43). Remphan. A false god associated with the planet Saturn.
(7:44). testimony in the wilderness. Testament to the presence of God.
(7:55). Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus completed His sacrificial role for sin on the cross; hence, He is occasionally depicted as sitting at God’s right hand (Heb. 1:3). However, His ongoing role in supporting His people persists (as seen with Stephen); thus, He is shown as standing to serve (Rev. 2:1).
(7:58). And the witnesses. The reference to witnesses indicates that they performed the actions of a legal execution (Lev. 24:14), likely without obtaining Pilate’s formal consent. During stoning, the first official witness would push the unclothed victim from a nine-foot platform. Following that, the second official witness would drop a heavy stone onto the victim’s head or chest, while others threw stones at the man as he lay dying.
(7:58). Saul of Tarsus/Paul the Apostle. A Roman citizen, Pharisee, and persecutor of the church, he played a role in endorsing Stephen’s martyrdom. Nevertheless, he underwent a profound conversion on the road to Damascus when he experienced a vision of the resurrected Christ and became blind. He began spreading the gospel in Galatia, Damascus, and Jerusalem before embarking on various missionary journeys. To sustain himself, he worked as a tentmaker. He established numerous churches along the Mediterranean and wrote many letters (Romans–Philemon) to maintain contact with the congregations he had founded and the individuals he had entrusted with responsibilities. He felt a particular calling for ministry among the Gentiles. He was imprisoned in Caesarea and later sent to Rome for trial, where he faced additional imprisonment and house arrest. It is believed that he was martyred during Nero’s reign.
(7:60). fell asleep. This phrase refers to the physical passing of believers (John 11:11; 1 Thess. 4:13, 15). They are said to sleep in Jesus because one day they will rise again.
Leave a Reply