Atos 7

Atos 7

Utley says "In the context of the quote from Ex 3:12, this refers to Mt. Sinai, which is also outside the Promised Land." Chris Vogel adds that "Stephen then makes a play on words in Acts 7:7. Quoting from Exodus 3:12 he refers to “this place.” Up to this point “this place” in the discussion of Acts refers to the temple on Mt. Zion, but the context of Exodus refers to Mt. Sinai. The goal of God’s promise was not the land, but the relationship. The place that is important to God is the place where God meets his people. Acts 7:8 "And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. (NASB: Lockman) KJV Acts 7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. the covenant of circumcision Ge 17:9-14; John 7:22; Ro 4:10; Gal 3:15,17 and so Abraham became the father of Isaac Ge 17:12; 21:1-4 and Isaac became the father of Jacob Ge 25:21-26; 1 Chr 1:34; Mt 1:2; Ro 9:9-13 and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs Ge 29:31-35; 30:1-24; 35:16,23-26; Ex 1:1-4; 1 Chr 2:1,2 patriarchs Acts 2:29; Heb 7:4 Acts 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT EXTERNAL CIRCUMCISION Circumcision was a token or reminder of the promise God had given to Abraham and the implication was that it was passed on to his son Isaac, then to Jacob and then to the 12 sons of Jacob. But it was a promise which was based on faith, faith just as Abraham had manifested in leaving his home and going to Canaan. It was not based on works nor on keeping the Mosaic Law (as the Sanhedrin taught would gain righteousness) because there was no Mosaic Law in existence for Abraham to keep. And He gave him the covenant of circumcision - Why does Stephen review this OT teaching? What is the covenant of circumcision a sign of? If one reads the immediate preceding context (in Genesis 17) of God's command to Abraham to circumcise himself and his offspring, it is clear that the covenant referred to is God's promises in the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 17 recounts the Abrahamic covenant and its relation to the covenant of circumcision (note the repetition of "I will") I (JEHOVAH) will make you (ABRAHAM) exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (NOTE SWITCH FROM "I WILL" GOD'S PROVISION TO "YOU SHALL" MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY) 9 God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. (Ge 17:6-10) Criswell comments that "Circumcision, i.e., the removal of the foreskin from the male sexual organ, had several purposes. It distinguished the seed of Abraham from the Gentiles, reminded Israel of their covenant with God, and represented purification and putting away of evil (cf. Deut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4; Rom. 2:26; Col. 2:11, 12). Thus, the Abrahamic covenant, although conveying unconditional promises to Abraham, also included obligations by which individual descendants would express their faith and enjoy the blessings. Circumcision was an act of obedience and faith." Paul elaborates on this foundational truth in Romans 4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Ge 15:6+)...10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised (THIS WOULD APPLY TO ACTS 7:8 - ISAAC, JACOB, THE 12 PATRIARCHS). 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Ro 4:1-3, 10-13+) The Nelson Study Bible on covenant of circumcision - The covenant of circumcision was the symbol given to Abraham that he might never forget that God had promised to bless him. The sign of this promise was transmitted from generation to generation, from Genesis 17 to the time of Stephen’s confrontation with the Sanhedrin. Abraham was saved by faith (Ge 15:6+), and the symbol of circumcision was an outward sign demonstrating the genuineness of his faith. Similarly, God would bless Stephen’s audience not because of their circumcision, but because of their faith (like Abraham). Bruce Barton on covenant of circumcision - Stephen pointed out that God always had kept his side of the promise (ED: SEE THE "I WILL'S IN Ge 17:6-10), but Israel had failed, again and again, to keep its side. Although the Jews in Stephen's day still circumcised their baby boys, they failed to obey God. The people's hearts were far from him. Their lack of faith and lack of obedience meant that they had failed to keep their part of the covenant (ED: SEE Ro 2:28, 29+). (Life Application Commentary) Simon Kistemaker - Stephen’s purpose for introducing the concept covenant at this juncture is to show that it precedes the Temple and Law and therefore is basic to Israel’s religion. Thus he clears himself of the accusation that he has blasphemed against the Law and against God. By establishing a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, God declares His enduring love toward His people. In the historical account of God confirming His covenant with Abraham, God calls this covenant “My covenant” nine times (Ge 17:2–21). God initiates and maintains it throughout the generations as an everlasting covenant. Related Resources: Abrahamic versus Mosaic Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New What is the Abrahamic Covenant? Although this does not seem to be Stephen's main emphasis, it is still worth noting that another point his statement in Acts 7:8 would make with the Sanhedrin is that God had many dealings with Abraham before the commanding the covenant of circumcision. To the Jew it was the rite of circumcision what made a man acceptable to God. They had distorted the clear teaching of Scripture. How? They they failed to read that God gave circumcision only as a sign of the covenant (Ge 17:11). In other words, circumcision was always meant to be an external sign of an internal work of grace by faith. Recall that sometime between age 75-86 (Cannot date from Scripture) Abraham believed God's promise and was justified (declared righteous) before God (Ge 15:5,6+). But he was not circumcised until 10 to 20 years later at the age 99! What the Sanhedrin and the majority of Jews had failed to understand was that the circumcision that God was interested in was Circumcision of their Heart. Paul Apple notes that "Jewish leaders loved everything that their circumcision represented – their connection to Abraham and the patriarchs; their connection to Moses and the law; their connection to Jerusalem and the temple – Circumcision was a badge of great honor; spoke of God’s loyal covenant love to His chosen people; but they missed the point of all of God’s revelation which pointed to the fulfillment of everything in the person of the promised Messiah Jesus Christ. No individual blessing apart from faith in God and His promises. (The Spread of the Gospel) And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs - Why does Stephen mention Isaac and Jacob and then the 12 patriarchs (not 12 sons but 12 patriarchs)? Yes all of Stephen's hearers had been circumcised like Isaac and Jacob and the 12 patriarchs, but covenant of circumcision had a different meaning to the Sanhedrin then it did to their esteemed patriarchs. To the patriarchs circumcision was a sign of their faith in the Abrahamic Covenant. To the Sanhedrin it was a sign of their being chosen by God for heaven, and no longer was a marker of their faith in the Abrahamic Covenant. They put their faith (so to speak) in the sign, the physical circumcision, not in the unconditional covenant of grace that the sign was meant to point to. Such is the danger of ritual, which may have at one time had a valid meaning pointing to a spiritual reality, but over time losing that meaning and no longer pointing to the spiritual reality. The danger of ritual is to replace the relationship to which the ritual was meant to point. That is exactly what happened to the Jews and their understanding of the covenant of circumcision. It was no longer about their covenant relationship to Jehovah. It is notable that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the "founding fathers" of the nation of Israel and so it is fitting that God is often referred to as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (see Exodus 3:16). Circumcised him on the eighth day - As a side note - I have a background in the medical field of blood coagulation and the Biblical charge to circumcise on the 8th day is scientifically accurate. It is based on the fact that prothombin levels are low in the first 8 days of an infant's life and circumcision could potentially result in exsanguination because of inability to clot. Derek Thomas on circumcision - The Sanhedrin felt safe and secure because they had the outward symbols (CIRCUMCISION). Abraham lived sub specie aeternitatis—in the light of eternity. Having the outward symbols of church membership is no guarantee whatsoever of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. Only faith alone in Jesus Christ alone can assure us of that. Warren