Acts 7:2 kjv
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Acts 7:2 nkjv
And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
Acts 7:2 niv
To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.
Acts 7:2 esv
And Stephen said: "Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
Acts 7:2 nlt
This was Stephen's reply: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran.
Acts 7 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:28 | "...the land of his nativity, was Ur of the Chaldees." | Abraham's birthplace |
| Gen 11:31 | "And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his grandson, and Sarai his daughter in law..." | Family members with Abraham |
| Gen 12:1 | "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country..." | God's command to Abram |
| Josh 24:2 | "...your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time..." | Joshua reiterates Abraham's origin |
| Isa 48:20 | "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans..." | Echoes of Chaldean significance |
| Neh 9:7 | "Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram..." | God's choice of Abram |
| Acts 7:4 | "Then went he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran." | Abraham's initial move |
| Rom 4:1 | "What shall we then say that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh..." | Abraham as father of faith |
| Rom 4:3 | "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." | Abraham's faith |
| Gal 3:6 | "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." | Abraham's faith |
| Heb 11:8 | "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed..." | Abraham's obedience by faith |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off..." | Patriarchs' faith |
| Ps 105:6 | "O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen." | Abraham's lineage |
| Gen 15:7 | "And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees..." | God confirming his action |
| Gen 24:4, 7 | "...the LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred..." | Abraham's instruction for Isaac |
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off..." | Covenant promises |
| Luke 1:54, 55 | "He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." | God's mercy to Israel |
| 1 Chron 16:13 | "O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen." | Abraham's legacy |
| John 8:56 | "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." | Jesus referring to Abraham |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues..." | Abraham's spiritual seed |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 2 Meaning
This verse introduces Abraham's ancestral homeland as Ur of the Chaldeans. It highlights a specific point in his life where God called him to leave this established civilization and journey to an unknown land, a foundational event for the covenant with Israel.
Acts 7 2 Context
Stephen's speech in Acts chapter 7 is a defense of his faith before the Sanhedrin, meticulously tracing the history of God's interaction with Israel from Abraham. In this specific verse, he is establishing the divine origins of God's covenant, starting with Abraham's calling from Ur. This is crucial for his argument that God's chosen people and their covenant are not bound by location or ritual alone, but by God's sovereign initiation and Abraham's subsequent obedience. The broader context is Stephen's courageous testimony despite facing imminent persecution and false accusations of blasphemy against Moses and the Law. He aims to show that the Gospel is the continuation and fulfillment of God's promises to their forefathers, demonstrating historical precedent and divine continuity.
Acts 7 2 Word analysis
When: Marks a specific temporal point in Abraham's life, emphasizing the beginning of God's direct intervention and call.
God: The supreme being, the covenant-making deity who initiates and directs Abraham's journey.
Of: Indicates origin and possession.
Glory: Refers to divine presence, majesty, and manifest power. The appearance is described as glorious, underscoring God's divine manifestation.
Appeared: Signifies a visible manifestation or revelation of God.
Unto: Indicates direction towards.
Our: Connects Abraham's experience directly to the Jewish audience Stephen is addressing, establishing shared ancestry and heritage.
Father Abraham: A significant designation highlighting Abraham as the progenitor of the Israelite nation and the father of faith. This directly appeals to their lineage and spiritual heritage.
To: Denotes direction and destination.
Meskia: (Meso-pot-a-mi-a) Though not a word in the Greek, this refers to the geographical region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, a fertile crescent known for early civilizations. "Ur of the Chaldeans" specifies the exact location within this broader region.
Ur: The city from which Abraham was called. Historically identified with Tell el-Muqayyar in modern-day Iraq, it was a significant Sumerian city, a center of culture, trade, and idolatry.
Of the Chaldeans: Refers to the inhabitants of Chaldea, a southern region of Mesopotamia, or it could describe the geographical locality associated with Chaldean influence. This specificity anchors Abraham's origin in a known historical and geographical context.
Did dwell: Indicates a period of residence.
Meskia and dwelt in Charran: This phrase implies not just that Abraham lived in Ur, but also that his family later moved to Haran (Charran in Greek), another significant stage before reaching Canaan. This establishes a sequence of geographical movements integral to the unfolding of God's plan.
God of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham: This phrase emphasizes God's self-manifestation to Abraham. The "Glory of God" (Greek: doxa tou Theou) often refers to God's radiant presence, such as seen at the burning bush or the shekinah cloud. Stephen's use here points to a direct, personal encounter with the divine that initiated Abraham's pivotal journey. This supernatural encounter underscores the divine origin of the Abrahamic covenant and, by extension, the Israelite nation.
Acts 7 2 Bonus Section
The identification of "Ur of the Chaldees" is historically significant. Archaeological discoveries at Tell el-Muqayyar provide evidence of a major Mesopotamian city with a rich civilization, including temples dedicated to moon gods, suggesting a context where polytheistic worship was prevalent. Abraham's call from this environment underscores his radical separation and distinctive faith. The concept of the "Glory of God" appearing to Abraham signifies a moment of divine encounter that profoundly shaped his destiny and that of his descendants. This theme of God's visible glory preceding His salvific actions is a recurring motif in biblical history, establishing a pattern of divine revelation leading to obedient response. The mention of dwelling in Charran is important because it was there that Abraham's father, Terah, died (Gen 11:32), implying Abraham lingered in Charran possibly until his father’s passing, before fully obeying the command to go to the land God would show him. This adds a layer of human interaction with divine directives that is often present in the unfolding of God's plans.
Acts 7 2 Commentary
Stephen's opening salvo is designed to root the audience in their own history, beginning with the revered patriarch Abraham. He states plainly that God's glorious presence manifested itself to Abraham while he was still in Ur of the Chaldeans. This fact serves to underscore that Abraham's obedience was a response to God's direct call and radiant revelation, not a spontaneous decision. The implication for Stephen's audience is that just as God initiated the covenant with Abraham, so too the new covenant in Jesus Christ is initiated by God. Furthermore, Abraham's move from Ur and eventual dwelling in Charran before reaching the Promised Land illustrates a pattern of God leading His people through significant transitions and unfamiliar territories. This sets the stage for Stephen to argue that the Gospel movement is similarly orchestrated by God, even if it involves leaving behind familiar traditions and religious structures.