a7:59-60
bLuke 23:34
cMatt 6:14-15
dMark 11:25
eLuke 11:4
f17:3-4
gLuke 11:5-10
h18:1-8
iActs 1:12-15
j4:23-31
k12:5
lJas 5:16-18
mActs 9:1-43
nJer 9:25-26
oGen 17:9-14
pJosh 5:2
qJohn 7:22
rActs 7:8
sGen 17:12
tLev 12:3
uLuke 1:59
vActs 7:8
wLuke 1:59
x2:21
yActs 16:2-3
zPhil 3:5
aaDeut 10:16
ab30:6
acJer 4:4
adRom 2:28-29
aeActs 15:1
ag21:20-21
ahGal 2:4
ai11-13
ajActs 15:2
ak15:19-21
al28-29
am1 Cor 7:19
anGal 5:6
aoGal 2:14-21
apGal 5:6
aqGal 2:14-21
arCol 2:11-15
asGen 17:9-14
atLev 12:3
auJosh 5:2-9
avJer 9:25-26
awLuke 1:59
ax2:21
ayJohn 7:22-24
azActs 7:8
ba15:1-5
bb19-21
bc28-31
bd16:2-3
be21:18-24
bfRom 2:25-29
bg1 Cor 7:17-19
bhGal 2:3-5
bi11-21
bk6:15
blPhil 3:5-9
bmCol 2:11-23

‏ Acts 7:59-60

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
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