Atos 7
James Montgomery Boice · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 7
Boice notes that Stephen's "speech is a transition speech that paves the way for presenting the gospel to the Gentiles, which begins in the very next chapter of Acts." Baxter - We see, then, that the outrage against Stephen is, in a fourfold way, a pivotal event in the Acts. It marks (1) the final trial of the nation at the capital, (2) the official Jewish rejection of the renewed offer of the kingdom, (3) the first outward movement of evangelism, (4) the emerging of a new strategic centre. George Ladd - The purpose of this speech was to show from Israel’s history that the possession of the Temple had been neither a necessity for nor a guarantee of the true worship of God. And this served to substantiate Stephen’s main point that now that Messiah had come the Jewish worship in the Temple in Jerusalem was superseded. Warren
Atos 7
Boice observes that "This statement [that Abraham remained a pilgrim in Canaan] must have been meant as a rebuke to these settled leaders of the people. They were in the land God had given. It was a blessing. But they were too much at home in the land. They had forgotten that, wonderful as possession of the land of promise was, they were nevertheless only to be pilgrims in it as Abraham had been. Without this orientation, they lacked the spiritual depth that characterized their ancestor. Abraham, we are told in Hebrews, was not looking for an earthly city, but “to the city with foundations [the heavenly city], whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). These rulers had ceased to look forward. They were looking back, and they had taken the things of the world and the blessings of the world to be permanent. They had allowed God’s temporal blessings to eclipse their sense of God’s presence."
Atos 7
Boice: This speech has prominence in Acts because it marks the closing of the Jewish mission and is an indication of the opening to the Gentile communities. Acts 7:54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. (NASB: Lockman) KJV Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. they were cut Acts 5:33; 22:22,23 they began gnashing their teeth Job 16:9; Ps 35:16; 112:10; Lam 2:16; Mt 8:12; 13:42,50; 22:13; 24:51; Mt 25:30; Luke 13:28 Acts 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CUT TO THE HEART GNASHING THE TEETH Now when they heard this - Some commentators think that with Stephen's last words about not keeping the Law, it was more than they could bear and so they suddenly interpreted his discourse.