Acts 7

Acts 7:2

BRethren,] he calleth them so, by reason of the degree which they held in the Iewish Church, which was yet not altogether reproved by God, and by reason of the Communion in the same God, nation, and covenant The God,] the intention of Steven is to declare that God chose Abraham out of meere grace, seeing hee was an Idolater as the rest of the Caldeans were, Ios. 24. 2. d therefore that neither he, nor the Iewes, who were descended from him according to the flesh, had no advantage of merit before God. And that a hee had chosen them. So hee might reprove them if they went against his covenant.

Acts 7:5

Gave him more,] this seemes to be spoken to shew, the addition of grace which Abraham posterity had received above him: to bind them so much the stricter to God; and to aggravate their ingratitude.

Acts 7:8

Patriarches,] See upon Acts 2:29.

Acts 7:9

Moved with envie,] This circumstance seemes to be related to shew the conformitie of the peoples malice, that of their ancient fathers, in the aed and persecution of Gods servants sent for the correcting of vices, and the salvation of the Church as Ioseph was.

Acts 7:14

Threescore and fifteene,] See upon Genesis 4:1-26 27. the reason of the diversities of the number her and in that place.

Acts 7:16

Were carried over,] the Scripture makes no mention but only of Iosephs bones being carried into Sichem, Exodus 13:19. Ios. 24. 32. it may bee it was knowne by tradition, that the bones 〈◊〉 the bodies of the rest of Iacobs children, were also carried thither and indeed after Christs time there, monuments were yet to be seene, Abraham,] Gen. 33 19. it is said that Iacob bought that field were oseph was buried, and it is likely that this varietie proceeded from the Coppiers, it may bee by reason of the like act of Abraham, Genesis 23:1-20. 6.

Acts 7:22

Was mightie,] that is to say, he did and spake great things, and was accompanied with a 〈…〉ine Maiestie, height, and power. See Luke 24:19.

Acts 7:23

It came into,] by revelation which GOD had made unto him of his vocation, though hee had not as yet declared him the time, nor the meanes of exercising it.

Acts 7:25

Hee supposed,] it is likely that God had promised him, that hee should bee receaved, followed and obeyed by the people, yet without any prefixing of time: wherein Moses erred. See Exodus 3. 18. and 4. 1, 5. This History hath also a relation to the ordinary refusall the people had made of the instruments of their salvation.

Acts 7:30

In a flame,] Namely in a fiery and flaming bush.

Acts 7:35

They refused,] whom they ahd rejected, and with contempt refused to know By the 〈…〉ds,] Namely by the power, and authoritie and conduct of the Sonne of God. See Exodus 33. 14. and 34, 10. Isaiah 63:11-12. Habakkuk 3:13. 1 Corinthians 1:1-31. 9. Hab. 12. 25. Who in all ages hath beene the head and Seviour of his people.

Acts 7:38

In the Church,] the Italian, In the assembly,] when the people were solemnly assembled for to receave Gods Law With the,] was a messenger and mediatout betweene the Sonne of God giving his Law, and the people, Galatians 3:19.The living Oracles,] Namely the Law of God, Romans 3:2. made living by the power of the Spirit in the hearts of men, Hebrews 4:12. to produce its effects: which were, not to give spirituall and everlasting life to man. Dead in sinne, Romans 8: 3. 2 Corin. 3. 7, 9. Galath. 3. 21. But to waken the Consciences lively, to binde the hearts, and to represse sinne, &c.

Acts 7:39

Turned backe againe,] they went astray imitating the Idolatries of Aegypt in worshipping the Calfe. See upon Exodus 32:1-35. ver. 4. Other againe referre this to the great desire and designe they had to returne into Aegypt, Numbers 14:3-4.

Acts 7:42

Turned,] withdrew his grace love and spirit from them; and gave them over to the Devill, to bee led by him to Idolatrie without any stay. See Psalme 81. 12. Ezekiel 20. 25, 26 39. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 As it is,] which Idolatry committed in the desert, Amos pointeth at in this passage.

Acts 7:43

The Sare,] For BAALI represented the Planets: and Moloch according to the common opinion was Saturne, called here Rephan. The reason whereof is not certainely knowne, nor the Originall of the name Vnlesse it were the Arabian Name of that Planet used in those dayes for Rephan in the Arabian tongue signifieth most high and elevated: which belongeth to Saturne more than to any other planet, it being the highest of all the rest Beyond Babylon,] in Amos it is beyond Damascus: but Steven relates the meaning which is that the people should be scattered and dispersed into the uttermost parts of the world.

Acts 7:44

Of witnesse,] within which the principall thing that represented Gods Majestie was the Arke, wherein were the Tables of the whole Law, called the witnesse, Exodus 16:1-36. verse 34. Now it seemes the meaning is, that if the moveable Tabernacle, made by a modell receaved from God and with so much preparation might by Gods appointment bee changed into a firme, and farre more excellent Temple: it was no way beyond reason that God should change that materiall Temple into a spirituall one which is the Church: in which is the truth of all those ancient Fabrickes: and therefore that hee Steven could not be accused for impietie, for foretelling the destruction of the Temple, and the abolishing of the ceremoniall worship of it, Acts 6:14.

Acts 7:45

Of David,] who was the first that designed the Fabricke of the Temple, 2 Samuel 1:1-27. ver. 1, 2.

Acts 7:46

A Tabernacle,] The Italian, A habitation,] Namely a settled place for the ordinary signes of his presence in grace and power, and for his service and worship.

Acts 7:48

Dwelleth not,] To bee as it were fast bound unto it, or shut up in it, according to the false opinion of the IEWES. Sec Ier. 7. ver. 4.

Acts 7:51

Uncircumcised,] Namely as prophane and wicked as the Pagans themselves inwardly, though they outwardly bore in their bodies circumcision, a marke of regeneration and the Seale of Gods covenant The Holy Ghost,] by which Gods truth is not onely propounded: but the truth of it is likewise so effectually demonstrated inwardly, that you cannot contradict it but onely by obstinate malice, Genesis 6:3. Matthew 12:1-50. ver. 31. Hebrews 6:4.

Acts 7:53

By the disposition,] the Italian, The Angels, publishing of it,] the Greeke by the out cries and proclamations of Angels: Namely they being as it were the Sonne of God, the supreame Law-givers publike Criers Galath. 3. 19. Hebrews 2:2. Or in the middest of Angel standing round about them in squadrons Deuteronomy 33:2. either sence is to shew that if they had conemned the Law given with so much Majesty and terror, it was no marvaile if the rejected the Gospell, propounded unto them, in so meane, simple, and milde manner.

Acts 7:55

And sow,] this was a miraculous vision, in which Steven by a supernaturall light and vertue, did see into Heaven, and behld that splendor and Majestie with which Christ is clothed there. Vnlesse one will say that it was but a created image of of it, which was represented to Sevens inward and outward sences. See Acts 10:11.

Acts 7:58

The witnessé,] who according to the law, Deutrenomie 17. verse 7. were to throw the first stones.

Acts 7:60

Hee fell a sleepe,] he quietly, and sweetely breathed, a Scripture phrase for the assured hope of the blessed Resurrection.