Acts 7 53

Acts 7:53 kjv

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Acts 7:53 nkjv

who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."

Acts 7:53 niv

you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it."

Acts 7:53 esv

you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."

Acts 7:53 nlt

You deliberately disobeyed God's law, even though you received it from the hands of angels."

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 53 Meaning

This verse describes the accusations leveled against Stephen, highlighting his perceived transgressions against the Law, the Temple, and Jesus. It portrays him as a blasphemer who threatened the established religious order of his time.

Acts 7 53 Context

Stephen, a Hellenistic Jew and one of the first seven deacons chosen by the apostles, delivered a powerful sermon in Jerusalem (Acts 7). His speech meticulously traced the history of Israel, emphasizing God's faithfulness and Israel's persistent rebellion, including their rejection and killing of the Messiah. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, found Stephen's words a direct affront to their authority and traditions. They were particularly incensed by his historical narrative, which they interpreted as an attack on the Law, the Temple, and the very foundations of their faith. This verse marks the peak of their outrage, leading directly to his stoning.

Acts 7 53 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and" - Connects this accusation to the previous one.
• κατηγοροῦμεν (kategoroumen): "we accuse" - Present tense, indicating their ongoing conviction and prosecution. This highlights their active role as accusers.
• ὅτι (hoti): "that" - Introduces the content of their accusation.
• τοῦτον (touton): "this man" - Refers directly to Stephen, emphasizing his presence and the target of their condemnation.
• τοὺς λόγους (tous logous): "the words" - Specifically refers to Stephen's utterances.
• τῆς βλασφημίας (tes blasphemias): "of blasphemy" - Greek for blasphemy; speaking profanely or disrespectfully against God, sacred things, or persons. This is a grave charge under Jewish law.
• τοῦ Ἰησοῦ (tou Iēsou): "of Jesus" - Directly implicates Jesus as the subject of Stephen's alleged blasphemy.
• τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἁγίου (tou topou tou hagiou): "of the holy place" - Refers to the Jerusalem Temple, considered the dwelling place of God. Stephen is accused of disrespecting it.
• τοῦ νόμου (tou nomou): "of the Law" - The Mosaic Law, central to Jewish identity and religious practice. Stephen's sermon is interpreted as an attack on it.
• καθὼς (kathōs): "as" - Indicates how they have heard and understood his speech.
• ἡμεῖς (hēmeis): "we" - The accusers, representing the religious establishment.
• ἤκουσαμεν (ēkousamen): "we heard" - Their alleged firsthand account, which was based on misinterpretations or fabrications by false witnesses.
• οὗτος (houtos): "this man" - A strong demonstrative pronoun pointing to Stephen.
• λέγων (legōn): "saying" - Present participle, suggesting continuous speech or a characteristic manner of speaking attributed to Stephen.
• ὅτι (hoti): "that" - Introduces the specific blasphemous statements attributed to Stephen.
• Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος (Iēsous ho Nazōraios): "Jesus of Nazareth" - Identifies Jesus. The inclusion of "of Nazareth" often carried a dismissive or contemptuous tone.
• οὗτος ὁ Ἰησοῦς (houtos ho Iēsous): "this Jesus" - Further emphasizes and points to Jesus, linking Stephen's blasphemy directly to Jesus.
• καταλύσει (katalysei): "will destroy" - Greek for to break down, dissolve, demolish, or overthrow. It implies radical demolition.
• τὸν τόπον τοῦτον (ton topon touton): "this place" - Referring to the Jerusalem Temple.
• καὶ (kai): "and" - Connects the destruction with the subsequent rebuilding.
• ἀλλάξει (allaxei): "will change" or "will alter" - This could imply changing customs or traditions associated with the Temple.
• τὰ ἔθη (ta ethē): "the customs" or "the traditions" - Refers to the practices and regulations connected with the Law and Temple worship.
• οἷς παρέδωκεν (hois paredōken): "which He gave" - Implies Moses, linking the customs to divine authority given through Moses.
• ἡμῖν (hēmin): "to us" - The recipients of the Law and customs.
• Word Group - "blasphemous words against Jesus": The core of the accusation is that Stephen insulted Jesus, a charge rooted in the deep veneration the religious leaders had for their traditions and their rejection of Jesus' messianic claims.
• Word Group - "destroy this holy place... change the customs": This accusation misrepresents Stephen's broader theological points about the obsolescence of the physical Temple and the Law in light of Christ. Stephen's historical review actually highlighted how Israel repeatedly failed to uphold the Law and that God's presence was not confined to the Temple. The leaders twisted this into an accusation of deliberate destruction.

Acts 7 53 Bonus Section

Stephen’s martyrdom serves as a pivotal moment, bridging the apostolic era and the Gentile mission. His speech, meticulously documented in Acts 7, is the longest recorded sermon by any figure other than Peter or Paul in the book of Acts. The accusations hurled at Stephen, particularly regarding the Temple and the Law, prefigure the intense debates and eventual theological redefinition that occurred within early Christianity regarding the continuations and discontinuities between the Old and New Covenants. The phrase "this holy place" and "the customs" clearly refers to the Jerusalem Temple and its associated practices, which Jesus also declared would be superseded, and which Stephen understood fulfilled in Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and ongoing ministry. Stephen’s final words, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" and "Lord, do not hold this sin against them," directly mirror Christ’s own words from the cross, illustrating a profound Christlikeness and unwavering faith in his own execution.

Acts 7 53 Commentary

The accusers’ charges against Stephen in Acts 7:53 were a deliberate distortion and vilification of his speech. They mischaracterized his theological arguments about Jesus' exaltation and the transition away from Mosaic ritualistic law to a spiritual fulfillment in Christ. His message, rooted in the Old Testament narrative of Israel’s faithfulness and unfaithfulness, was perceived as an attack on sacred institutions. The accusation that he spoke against the holy place and the Law echoes charges leveled against Jesus Himself, highlighting the Sanhedrin’s consistent pattern of rejecting God’s redemptive work in Jesus and His followers. They heard blasphemy because Stephen proclaimed Jesus as the true interpreter and fulfiller of the Law and Temple worship, rendering the physical structures and ceremonial laws secondary to the person and work of Christ.