22 And G2532 Moses G3475 was learned G3811 in all G3956 the wisdom G4678 of the Egyptians, G124 and G1161 was G2258 mighty G1415 in G1722 words G3056 and G2532 in G1722 deeds. G2041
Surely the princes H8269 of Zoan H6814 are fools, H191 the counsel H6098 of the wise H2450 counsellors H3289 of Pharaoh H6547 is become brutish: H1197 how say H559 ye unto Pharaoh, H6547 I am the son H1121 of the wise, H2450 the son H1121 of ancient H6924 kings? H4428
Children H3206 in whom was no blemish, H3971 H3971 but well H2896 favoured, H4758 and skilful H7919 in all wisdom, H2451 and cunning H3045 in knowledge, H1847 and understanding H995 science, H4093 and such as had ability H3581 in them to stand H5975 in the king's H4428 palace, H1964 and whom they might teach H3925 the learning H5612 and the tongue H3956 of the Chaldeans. H3778
And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 What things? G4169 And G1161 they said G2036 unto him, G846 Concerning G4012 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth, G3480 which G3739 was G1096 a prophet G4396 mighty G1415 in G1722 G435 deed G2041 and G2532 word G3056 before G1726 God G2316 and G2532 all G3956 the people: G2992
And God H430 gave H5414 Solomon H8010 wisdom H2451 and understanding H8394 exceeding H3966 much, H7235 and largeness H7341 of heart, H3820 even as the sand H2344 that is on the sea H3220 shore. H8193 And Solomon's H8010 wisdom H2451 excelled H7235 the wisdom H2451 of all the children H1121 of the east country, H6924 and all the wisdom H2451 of Egypt. H4714
And king H4428 Solomon H8010 passed H1431 all the kings H4428 of the earth H776 in riches H6239 and wisdom. H2451
As for these four H702 children, H3206 God H430 gave H5414 them knowledge H4093 and skill H7919 in all learning H5612 and wisdom: H2451 and Daniel H1840 had understanding H995 in all visions H2377 and dreams. H2472 Now at the end H7117 of the days H3117 that the king H4428 had said H559 he should bring H935 them in, then the prince H8269 of the eunuchs H5631 brought H935 them in before H6440 Nebuchadnezzar. H5019 And the king H4428 communed H1696 with them; and among them all was found H4672 none like Daniel, H1840 Hananiah, H2608 Mishael, H4332 and Azariah: H5838 therefore stood H5975 they before H6440 the king. H4428 And in all matters H1697 of wisdom H2451 and understanding, H998 that the king H4428 enquired H1245 of them, he found H4672 them ten times H6235 better H3027 than all the magicians H2748 and astrologers H825 that were in all his realm. H4438
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 7
Commentary on Acts 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
When our Lord Jesus called his apostles out to be employed in services and sufferings for him, he told them that yet the last should be first, and the first last, which was remarkably fulfilled in St. Stephen and St. Paul, who were both of them late converts, in comparison of the apostles, and yet got the start of them both in services and sufferings; for God, in conferring honours and favours, often crosses hands. In this chapter we have the martyrdom of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, who led the van in the noble army. And therefore his sufferings and death are more largely related than those of any other, for direction and encouragement to all those who are called out to resist unto blood, as he did. Here is,
Act 7:1-16
Stephen is now at the bar before the great council of the nation, indicted for blasphemy: what the witnesses swore against him we had an account of in the foregoing chapter, that he spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God; for he spoke against this holy place and the law. Now here,
But let us see how this serves Stephen's purpose.
Let us now see what this is to Stephen's purpose.
Act 7:17-29
Stephen here goes on to relate,
Now let us see how this serves Stephen's purpose.
Act 7:30-41
Stephen here proceeds in his story of Moses; and let any one judge whether these are the words of one that was a blasphemer of Moses or no; nothing could be spoken more honourably of him. Here is,
Act 7:42-50
Two things we have in these verses:-
Act 7:51-53
Stephen was going on in his discourse (as it should seem by the thread of it) to show that, as the temple, so the temple-service must come to an end, and it would be the glory of both to give way to that worship of the Father in spirit and in truth which was to be established in the kingdom of the Messiah, stripped of the pompous ceremonies of the old law, and so he was going to apply all this which he had said more closely to his present purpose; but he perceived they could not bear it. They could patiently hear the history of the Old Testament told (it was a piece of learning which they themselves dealt much in); but if Stephen go about to tell them that their power and tyranny must come down, and that the church must be governed by a spirit of holiness and love, and heavenly-mindedness, they will not so much as give him the hearing. It is probable that he perceived this, and that they were going to silence him; and therefore he breaks off abruptly in the midst of his discourse, and by that spirit of wisdom, courage, and power, wherewith he was filled, he sharply rebuked his persecutors, and exposed their true character; for, if they will not admit the testimony of the gospel to them, it shall become a testimony against them.
We have reason to think Stephen had a great deal more to say, and would have said it if they would have suffered him; but they were wicked and unreasonable men with whom he had to do, that could no more hear reason than they could speak it.
Act 7:54-60
We have here the death of the first martyr of the Christian church, and there is in this story a lively instance of the outrage and fury of the persecutors (such as we may expect to meet with if we are called out to suffer for Christ), and of the courage and comfort of the persecuted, that are thus called out. Here is hell in its fire and darkness, and heaven in its light and brightness; and these serve as foils to set off each other. It is not here said that the votes of the council were taken upon his case, and that by the majority he was found guilty, and then condemned and ordered to be stoned to death, according to the law, as a blasphemer; but, it is likely, so it was, and that it was not by the violence of the people, without order of the council, that he was put to death; for here is the usual ceremony of regular executions-he was cast out of the city, and the hands of the witnesses were first upon him.
Let us observe here the wonderful discomposure of the spirits of his enemies and persecutors, and the wonderful composure of his spirit.