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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