THE CONTINUING DISOBEDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: ACTS 7:42-50

In verse 42, Stephen refers back to the prophet Amos. He says that God gave them up to the hosts of heaven. Concerning this verse, William Neil had this to say about verse 42-43,

 “The host of heaven: the narrative of the Exodus in the Ο. T. makes no reference to the Israelites having worshipped sun, moon and stars during their wanderings, but Jeremiah (19:13) accuses the people of his day of having been guilty of this type of idolatry. Paul also echoes this Jewish idea, that the punishment for sin is that the sinner is allow ed to sink into even deeper sinfulness (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28).

          The book of the prophets: is the collection of the oracles of the twelve minor prophets. The quotation is from Amos 5:25-27, where the prophet, denouncing the traffic in religion in his day, points to the contrast between the austere, simple faith and practice of the Exodus wanderings and the elaborate sacrificial rites that became the essence of Israel’s worship. The second half of the quotation in Amos is a prophecy that the Israelites will be banished beyond Damascus, carrying their Assyrian idols with them. Stephen, however, takes the Amos passage to mean a condemnation of Israel for not worshipping the true God in the wilderness as Moses had enjoined them, but for practicing idolatry instead.”

Concerning the two gods mentioned, James Burton Coffman, in his commentary on Acts, published by Firm Foundation, has this to say,

‘Moloch’—This old god of the Ammonites was worshipped at Mari about 1800 B.C. and was associated with the sacrifice of children in the fire. Solomon built a high place for this god on a hill east of Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:7); Ahafi burned his children (2 Chron. 28:3), and Manasseh did the same (2 Kings 21:6); and Samaria was judged for this sin (2 Kings 17:17).

Concerning verse 44, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, in the Ryrie Study Bible, has this to say, “Tabernacle of testimony, i. e. the tabernacle was a testimony to the presence of God in their midst.”

Verse 45 continues the rebellion of the Children of Israel from the time of Joshua, who led the people into the land, to the time of King David.

Verse 46 informs us that King David found favor in God’s sight and desired to build a permanent dwelling place for the God of Jacob. We know that according to verse 47, that it was Soloman who built the temple. Verse 48 brings out the fact that God is not bound by time and space. He is not confined to a certain locale. He does not dwell in houses made by human hands. Stephen, in verse 49, quotes from Is. 66:1. In verse 50 God says “Was it not My Hand which made all these things.” This is from Isa. 66:2. Stephen has completed most of the lesson. He has brought the Sanhedrin through the history of the Jewish people. He has shown, in this last section, that -they were continually being rebellious.

-Larry Miles lives in Louisville, KY and is a member at Cherry Street Church of Christ in Louisville, KY He is Co-Editor of Word & Work Online