Words like these could not be forgiven. The growing irritation of the audience seems to have extorted those burning remonstrances, and to have hastened the final scene. But the storm that burst around Christ's faithful confessor and first martyr could not disturb his serenity. His heart was fixed, trusting in God, Psalms 108:1. The peace of God garrisoned his heart and mind. At the moment when his foes were fiercest, the presence of Jesus, who had risen from sitting to standing, in order to encourage and welcome him, was most vital. It will always be even so. You will never know the completeness of Christ's comradeship till you have weathered a storm in His company.
They were particular not to violate the sanctity of the Temple, but not so in respect to the pure temple of the young martyr's body. The dying Stephen did not forget the Lord's prayer for those who crucified Him, and he followed his Master's steps in this also. Amid the murderous flight of stones, he slept as a tired child on his mother's breast; and from that hour his patience, gentleness, and strength became as pricking goads in the heart of Saul of Tarsus. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 7
1Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy, 2shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers, 20before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built; 37that Moses himself witnessed of Christ; 44and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time; 51reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold 54Whereupon they stone Stephen to death, 59who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them
Greek Commentary for Acts 7:48
Howbeit [αλλ] By contrast with what Solomon did and David planned. Note emphatic position of “not” (αλλ ουχ all' ouch), “But not does the Most High dwell.” The presence of the Most High is not confined in any building, even one so splendid as Solomon‘s Temple as Solomon himself foresaw and acknowledged in his prayer (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18). [source]
In houses made with hands [εν χειροποιητοις] No word here for “houses” or “temples” in correct text Literally, “In things made with hands” It occurs in Mark 14:58 of the temple and of the sanctuary of Moab (Isaiah 16:12). It occurs also in Acts 7:24; Hebrews 9:11,Hebrews 9:24; Ephesians 2:11. Common in the old Greek. The prophet (ο προπητης ho prophētēs). Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah taught plainly that heaven is God‘s throne. [source]
The prophet [ο προπητης] Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah taught plainly that heaven is God‘s throne. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 7:48
Acts 17:24Made with hands [χιεροποιήτοις] Probably pointing to the magnificent temples above and around him. Paul's epistles abound in architectural metaphors. He here employs the very words of Stephen, in his address to the Sanhedrim, which he very probably heard. See Acts 7:48. [source]
Colossians 2:11Not made with hands [αχειροποιητωι] This late and rare negative compound verbal occurs only in the N.T. (Mark 14:58; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Colossians 2:11) by merely adding α a privative to the old verbal χειροποιητος cheiropoiētos (Acts 7:48; Ephesians 2:11), possibly first in Mark 14:58 where both words occur concerning the temple. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 the reference is to the resurrection body. The feminine form of this compound adjective is the same as the masculine. In the putting off (εν τηι απεκδυσει en tēi apekdusei). As if an old garment (the fleshly body). From απεκδυομαι apekduomai (Colossians 2:15, possibly also coined by Paul) and occurring nowhere else so far as known. The word is made in a perfectly normal way by the perfective use of the two Greek prepositions (απο εκ apoτου Χριστου ek), “a resource available for and generally used by any real thinker writing Greek” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). Paul had as much right to mint a Greek compound as any one and surely no one ever had more ideas to express and more power in doing it. Of Christ Specifying genitive, the kind of circumcision that belongs to Christ, that of the heart. [source]
Hebrews 9:11Having come [παραγενομενος] Second aorist middle participle of παραγινομαι paraginomai This is the great historic event that is the crux of history. “Christ came on the scene, and all was changed” (Moffatt). Of the good things to come But B D read γενομενων genomenōn (that are come). It is a nice question which is the true text. Both aspects are true, for Christ is High Priest of good things that have already come as well as of the glorious future of hope. Westcott prefers γενομενων genomenōn Moffatt μελλοντων mellontōn Through the greater and more perfect tabernacle Probably the instrumental use of δια dia (2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 2:27; Romans 14:20) as accompaniment, not the local idea (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:20). Christ as High Priest employed in his work the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2) after which the earthly was patterned (Hebrews 9:24). Not made with hands Old compound verbal for which see Mark 14:58; Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24. Cf. Hebrews 8:2. Here in the predicate position. Not of this creation Explanation of ου χιεροποιητου ou chieropoiētou For κτισις ktisis see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:19. For the idea see 2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 8:2. This greater and more perfect tabernacle is heaven itself (Hebrews 9:24). [source]
Greek Commentary for Acts 7:48
By contrast with what Solomon did and David planned. Note emphatic position of “not” (αλλ ουχ all' ouch), “But not does the Most High dwell.” The presence of the Most High is not confined in any building, even one so splendid as Solomon‘s Temple as Solomon himself foresaw and acknowledged in his prayer (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18). [source]
No word here for “houses” or “temples” in correct text Literally, “In things made with hands” It occurs in Mark 14:58 of the temple and of the sanctuary of Moab (Isaiah 16:12). It occurs also in Acts 7:24; Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:24; Ephesians 2:11. Common in the old Greek. The prophet (ο προπητης ho prophētēs). Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah taught plainly that heaven is God‘s throne. [source]
Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah taught plainly that heaven is God‘s throne. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 7:48
Probably pointing to the magnificent temples above and around him. Paul's epistles abound in architectural metaphors. He here employs the very words of Stephen, in his address to the Sanhedrim, which he very probably heard. See Acts 7:48. [source]
The Spirit of God makes his home (οικει oikei) in us, not in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24). [source]
We, not temples (Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19). As God said (κατως ειπεν ο τεος kathōs eipen ho theos). A paraphrase and catena of quotations, what J. Rendel Harris calls Testimonia (from Leviticus 26:11.; Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34; Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Samuel 7:8, 2 Samuel 7:14). Plummer notes that at the beginning “I will dwell in them” (ενοικησω εν αυτοις enoikēsō en autois) is not in any of them. “As God said” points to Leviticus 26:12; Ezekiel 37:27. [source]
This late and rare negative compound verbal occurs only in the N.T. (Mark 14:58; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Colossians 2:11) by merely adding α a privative to the old verbal χειροποιητος cheiropoiētos (Acts 7:48; Ephesians 2:11), possibly first in Mark 14:58 where both words occur concerning the temple. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 the reference is to the resurrection body. The feminine form of this compound adjective is the same as the masculine. In the putting off (εν τηι απεκδυσει en tēi apekdusei). As if an old garment (the fleshly body). From απεκδυομαι apekduomai (Colossians 2:15, possibly also coined by Paul) and occurring nowhere else so far as known. The word is made in a perfectly normal way by the perfective use of the two Greek prepositions (απο εκ apoτου Χριστου ek), “a resource available for and generally used by any real thinker writing Greek” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). Paul had as much right to mint a Greek compound as any one and surely no one ever had more ideas to express and more power in doing it. Of Christ Specifying genitive, the kind of circumcision that belongs to Christ, that of the heart. [source]
Second aorist middle participle of παραγινομαι paraginomai This is the great historic event that is the crux of history. “Christ came on the scene, and all was changed” (Moffatt). Of the good things to come But B D read γενομενων genomenōn (that are come). It is a nice question which is the true text. Both aspects are true, for Christ is High Priest of good things that have already come as well as of the glorious future of hope. Westcott prefers γενομενων genomenōn Moffatt μελλοντων mellontōn Through the greater and more perfect tabernacle Probably the instrumental use of δια dia (2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 2:27; Romans 14:20) as accompaniment, not the local idea (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:20). Christ as High Priest employed in his work the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2) after which the earthly was patterned (Hebrews 9:24). Not made with hands Old compound verbal for which see Mark 14:58; Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24. Cf. Hebrews 8:2. Here in the predicate position. Not of this creation Explanation of ου χιεροποιητου ou chieropoiētou For κτισις ktisis see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:19. For the idea see 2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 8:2. This greater and more perfect tabernacle is heaven itself (Hebrews 9:24). [source]