Acts 7

Acts 7:2

IN Mesopotamia] He speaketh here of Mesopotamia as comprehending Babylon and Chaldea in it.

Acts 7:3

Get thee out of thy Countrey] Genesis 12:1.

Acts 7:4

he removed him into this land] Or, removing caused him to dwell; or, gave him possession in this land. See on Genesis 11:26.

Acts 7:6

foure hundred yeeres] Genesis 15:13. Beginning to reckon the yeeres from the time that Isaac was born.

Acts 7:7

will I judge] Or, take vengeance of them, and deliver my people by a mighty hand.

Acts 7:8

And he gave] Genesis 17:9.

and so Abraham begat Isaac] Genesis 21:3.

and Isaac begat Jacob] Genesis 25:26.

and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs] Genesis 29:31, &c.

Acts 7:9

And the patriarchs moved with envy] Genesis 37:28.

God was with him] He favored him, blessed & delivered him.

Acts 7:10

and gave him favour] Genesis 41:37.

Acts 7:12

But when Jacob heard] Genesis 42:1.

Acts 7:13

And at the second time] Genesis 45:4.

Acts 7:14

threescore and fifteen soules] Whereas these persons are variably reckoned 66. 70. 75. we may conceive, that this varietie proceedeth from the severall accompts; in one accompt they onely are reckoned who lineally descended from Jacob to be 66. persons, Genesis 46:26. In a second accompt, the whole number of the promised seed going into, or being in Egypt, are reckoned 70. persons; for so, if we accompt Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim & Manasses with the 66. the number Isaiah 70. Ge. 46. 27. In a third accompt are eckoned Jacobs sonnes wives (excepted in the former reckoning, Genesis 46:26.) to make up the 75. persons here mentioned, in this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying as well affinitie (or kindred by marriage) as consanguinitie or kindred by bloud. One thing in this and the like places, is necessary to remember, that the Apostle did not in vaine warn us of too much curiositie about Genealogies and fruitlesse questions. See 1 Timothy 1:4. Titus 3:10.

Acts 7:15

So Jacob went down into Egypt] Genesis 46:5.

and dyed] Genesis 49:33.

Acts 7:16

And were carryed over] Meaning Jacob and Joseph at least, if not all the rest of the Patriarchs.

into Sychem] Understand this distributively, as if he said, some were buried in Sychem, which Jacob bought, Genesis 33:19. as Joseph, which fell to his lot in his sonne Ephraim, Joshua 24:32. and some (as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Genesis 50:13.) were buried in Hebron, the field that Abraham bought for money of Ephron (Genesis 23:17.) See Matthew 26:8. John 12:4.

of the sonnes of Emmor] Or, besides that of the sonnes of Emmor of Sychem. Besides that place, or sepulchre which Jacob bought of the sonnes of Emmor of Sychem, where Josephs bones were buried. Here is set 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, praeter illud sepulchrum filiorum Emmor.

Acts 7:20

In which time Moses was born] Exodus 2:2.

was exceeding faire] Hebrews 11:23. Or, fair to God. That is, divinely beautifull, or such as by the providence of God was very beautifull.

Acts 7:21

for her own sonne] As if he had been her own.

Acts 7:22

in all the wisdome of the Egyptians] In Philosophy and all the liberall Sciences of the Egyptians.

Acts 7:24

And seeing one] Exodus 2:11.

Acts 7:26

And the next day] Exodus 2:13.

Acts 7:30

And when fortie yeares were expired] Exodus 3:2.

an angel] The angel of the covenant, Christ; as appeares, v. 32.

Acts 7:33

Put off thy shoes from thy feet] In sign of reverence, John 5:15. and resignation of thy self to my providence. See Ruth 4:7.

is holy ground] In respect of Gods present manifestation of his majesty there.

Acts 7:36

shewed wonders] Exodus 7:9.

and in the wildernesse] Exodus 16:1.

Acts 7:37

A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up] Deuteronomy 18:15.

like unto me] Or, as my selfe.

Acts 7:38

This is he that was] Exodus 19:3.

church in the wildernesse] Or, Congregation.

lively oracles] The powerful words which God spake to Moses.

Acts 7:40

Saying unto Aaron] Exodus 32:1.

Acts 7:42

the host of heaven] The Sun, Moon and Stars, Deu. 17. 3.

O ye house of Israel] Amos 5:25.

Acts 7:43

ye tooke up the tabernacle of Moloch] Moloch, or Melchom, which some call Saturn, others Mars, the abomination of the children of Ammon, 1 King. 11. 5, 7. to whom they sacrificed their sonnes and daughters.

god Remphan] That which the Prophet Amos 5:26. calleth the starre of their god.

and] Or, therefore.

Acts 7:44

the tabernacle of witnesse] Where God principally witnessed or shewed his glory, and where the Arke of the Covenant was, and the law and testimonies.

that he should make] Exodus 25:40.

Acts 7:45

in with Jesus] With Joshua, who bare both name and type of Jesus Christ, in that he brought Israel into the promised rest.

Acts 7:47

But Solomon built him an house] 1 Chron. 17. 12.

Acts 7:48

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in Temples made with hands] Chap. 17. 24. Is not comprehended in any place, though he will be worshipped in place. He taxeth the impiety of them, who trusted in an imaginary sanctitie, which they pretended they had from the Temple, when yet they neglected the true worship of God therein. See Jeremiah 4:5.

Acts 7:49

Heaven is my throne] Isa. 66. 1, 2.

Acts 7:51

and uncircumcised in heart and eares] Who carry the externall sign of the circumcision in the flesh, but have not the effect thereof and inward regeneration of the heart. See Rom. 2. 28, 29. Jeremiah 9:26.

Acts 7:52

of the just one] That is, Christ, 1 John 2:1. Acts 22:14.

Acts 7:53

by the disposition of Angels] Or, ministery of Angels: or, by the proclaiming of Angels, Galat. 3. 19. Hebrews 2:2. Deuteronomy 33:2. The meaning is, if ye despise the Law given by so glorious and dreadfull a Ministery; no marvell if you despite the Gospel proposed to you in so simple and mean a maner.

Acts 7:54

were cut to the heart] See Chap. 5. 33.

Acts 7:55

and saw the glory of God] In this extraordinary vision he saw the admirable glory of Christ in heaven, as farre as mortall man could apprehend, to strengthen him in his tryall.

Acts 7:58

was Saul] Chap. 22. 20.

Acts 7:60

he fell asleep] That is, quietly dyed, as if he had faln into a sweet sleep; which tearme the Scripture often useth, to give us secure & certain hope of the resurrection from the dead.