Act 7:59-60 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 7:59-60: 7:59-60 Stephen’s prayer, Lord, don’t charge them with this sin , is strikingly similar to Jesus’ prayer at his crucifixion (Luke 23:34 ). Jesus clearly taught his followers the importance of both forgiveness (Matt 6:14-15 ; Mark 11:25 ; see Luke 11:4 ; 17:3-4 ) and prayer (Luke 11:5-10 ; 18:1-8 ; see also Acts 1:12-15 ; 4:23-31 ; 12:5 ; Jas 5:16-18 ). The Lord answered Stephen’s prayer affirmatively in the case of Saul (Acts 9:1-43 ). Thematic note: Circumcision in the New Testament Circumcision (cutting off the male foreskin) was widely practiced in the ancient Near East (see Jer 9:25-26 ). For Jews, it had religious significance as the sign of the covenant that God had established with the people of Israel (Gen 17:9-14 ; Josh 5:2 ; John 7:22 ; Acts 7:8 ; Sirach 44:20). It was normally performed on the eighth day of a male infant’s life (Gen 17:12 ; Lev 12:3 ; Luke 1:59 ; Acts 7:8 ). The New Testament notes the circumcision of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and Timothy (Luke 1:59 ; 2:21 ; Acts 16:2-3 ; Phil 3:5 ). Circumcision became a metaphor for the renewal of a person’s relationship with God (Deut 10:16 ; 30:6 ; Jer 4:4 ; Rom 2:28-29 ). In the late 40s AD , some Jewish Christians tried to require Gentile Christians to undergo circumcision (Acts 15:1 , 5 ; see 21:20-21 ; Gal 2:4 , 11-13 ), to which Paul and Barnabas objected (Acts 15:2 ). The ensuing church council at Jerusalem settled the matter in favor of not requiring Gentiles to be circumcised (15:19-21 , 28-29 ). Paul insisted that “it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised” (1 Cor 7:19 ). “What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal 5:6 ). In Galatians, Paul argued against vigorous Jewish opponents and insisted that everyone enters God’s family simply through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:14-21 ). Circumcision is not required for acceptance by God (Gal 5:6 ). The cross of Christ is the way that sinners enter into covenant with God (Gal 2:14-21 ; Col 2:11-15 ). Passages for Further Study Gen 17:9-14 ; Lev 12:3 ; Josh 5:2-9 ; Jer 9:25-26 ; Luke 1:59 ; 2:21 ; John 7:22-24 ; Acts 7:8 ; 15:1-5 , 19-21 , 28-31 ; 16:2-3 ; 21:18-24 ; Rom 2:25-29 ; 1 Cor 7:17-19 ; Gal 2:3-5 , 11-21 ; 5:6 ; 6:15 ; Phil 3:5-9 ; Col 2:11-23

Summary for Acts 7:59-60: 7:59-60 ^a Stephen’s prayer, Lord, don’t charge them with this sin, is strikingly similar to Jesus’ prayer at his crucifixion (Luke 23:34 ^b). Jesus clearly taught his followers the importance of both forgiveness (Matt 6:14-15 ^c; Mark 11:25 ^d; see Luke 11:4 ^e; 17:3-4 ^f) and prayer (Luke 11:5-10 ^g; 18:1-8 ^h; see also Acts 1:12-15 ⁱ; 4:23-31 ^j; 12:5 ^k; Jas 5:16-18 ^l). The Lord answered Stephen’s prayer affirmatively in the case of Saul (Acts 9:1-43 ^m).

Thematic note: Circumcision in the New Testament
Circumcision (cutting off the male foreskin) was widely practiced in the ancient Near East (see Jer 9:25-26 ⁿ). For Jews, it had religious significance as the sign of the covenant that God had established with the people of Israel (Gen 17:9-14 ^o; Josh 5:2 ^p; John 7:22 ^q; Acts 7:8 ^r; Sirach 44:20). It was normally performed on the eighth day of a male infant’s life (Gen 17:12 ^s; Lev 12:3 ^t; Luke 1:59 ^u; Acts 7:8 ^v). The New Testament notes the circumcision of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and Timothy (Luke 1:59 ^w; 2:21 ^x; Acts 16:2-3 ^y; Phil 3:5 ^z). Circumcision became a metaphor for the renewal of a person’s relationship with God (Deut 10:16 ^aa; 30:6 ^ab; Jer 4:4 ^ac; Rom 2:28-29 ^ad). In the late 40s AD, some Jewish Christians tried to require Gentile Christians to undergo circumcision (Acts 15:1 ^ae, 5 ^af; see 21:20-21 ^ag; Gal 2:4 ^ah, 11-13 ^ai), to which Paul and Barnabas objected (Acts 15:2 ^aj). The ensuing church council at Jerusalem settled the matter in favor of not requiring Gentiles to be circumcised (15:19-21 ^ak, 28-29 ^al).
Paul insisted that “it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised” (1 Cor 7:19 ^am). “What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal 5:6 ^an). In Galatians, Paul argued against vigorous Jewish opponents and insisted that everyone enters God’s family simply through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:14-21 ^ao). Circumcision is not required for acceptance by God (Gal 5:6 ^ap). The cross of Christ is the way that sinners enter into covenant with God (Gal 2:14-21 ^aq; Col 2:11-15 ^ar).

Passages for Further Study
Gen 17:9-14 ^as; Lev 12:3 ^at; Josh 5:2-9 ^au; Jer 9:25-26 ^av; Luke 1:59 ^aw; 2:21 ^ax; John 7:22-24 ^ay; Acts 7:8 ^az; 15:1-5 ^ba, 19-21 ^bb, 28-31 ^bc; 16:2-3 ^bd; 21:18-24 ^be; Rom 2:25-29 ^bf; 1 Cor 7:17-19 ^bg; Gal 2:3-5 ^bh, 11-21 ^bi; 5:6 ^bj; 6:15 ^bk; Phil 3:5-9 ^bl; Col 2:11-23 ^bm