The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 219

CHAPTER vn value;" "a speech containing mo.ny things which don't seem much to the point;" "a Ver. 1.-.And the hi!}h priest ,aid for then powerful speech;" a speech combining "the gaid the hi.gh priel;t, A. V. The high priest address of the advocate and the boldness of spoke as president of the Sanhedriru (see eh. the martyr; "-are some or the estimates ix.. 1 and Matt. xxvi. 62). Theophilus the that have been formed of it by modern com- eon of Annas or his brother J ouathan is mentators. As regards its scope o.nd object, probably meant. the two main clues to it a.re the accusation Ver. 2.-Brethren and fatJier, for men, which Stephen rose to rebut, and the appli- brd}mm, and faflterB, A. V. Haran for cation with which he ended in vers. 51-53. (J/iarran, A. V. :Brethren and fathers. The If we keep these two things ste11dily in Greek is livop,s a.o<Af/)ol (i.e. "men who a.re view, we shall not be very far wrong if we al.Bo my brethren") ,cal waT•p•s. He adds say that Stephen sought to clear himself by "and fathers" out of respect to the elder showing, (I) by his historical summary, whot and more digui.fied portion of the Sanheclrim. a true and thorough Israelite he wo.s in It seems probable that Stephen. as a Hel- heart and feeling and fellowship with the lenist Jew, spoke in Greek, which is borne fathers of his r11ce, and therefore how un- out by the quotations being from the LXX. likely to speak blasphemous words against (see .Alford), though Meyer and other6 either Moses or the temple; (2) how Moses thillk he spoke in Hebrew. Greek was himself had foretold tile coming of Chl"ist o.s generally understood at this time by all a prophet like himself, to enunciate soma educated persons (see Roberta, • Discussions new doctrines; (3) how at every stage of their un Gospels,' eh. ii.-vii.). The speech itself hiBtory their fathen had resisteu those who is almost universally admitted to bear strong were sent to them by God, and thut now i;:iternal marks of genuineness and origin- hiB judges were playing the same part. .. uty. But different estimates hil.ve been Perhaps it may be furtuer true, as Chrysos- formed of it.I excellence, and different ex- tom explains it (Hom. xv., xvi., xvii.), that planations given of its BCOpe and object. his intention in the early part of the speech "Di11i.cult but lltriking;" "long and prolix;" was to show "that the promise was made " 11.t first sight absurd and out of place; " before the place, before ciroumciBlon, before " wonderful but diJlioult;" "of ineet.ima.ble B&Crifice, before the temple," in accordance CH, VII, 1-60.] 'l'HE ACTS 01!' 'l'HE APOSTLES. 215