Act 5:20, 7:38 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 20. In the temple . In a public and conspicuous place. In this way there would be a most striking exhibition of their boldness; a proof that God had delivered them; and a manifestation of their purpose to obey God rather than man. All the words . All the doctrines . Comp. , "Thou hast the words of eternal life." Of this life . Pertaining to life, to the eternal life which they taught through the resurrection and life of Jesus. The word life is used sometimes to express the whole of religion, as opposed to the spiritual death of sin. See . Their deliverance from prison was not that they might be idle, and escape to a place of safety. Again they were to engage at once in the toils and perils which they had just before encountered. God delivers us from danger sometimes, that we may plunge into new dangers; he preserves us from calamity, that we may be tried in some new furnace of affliction; and he calls us to encounter trials simply because he demands it, and as an expression of gratitude to him for his gracious interposition. (e) "all the words" (f) "of this life"

Acts 5:20

Verse 20. In the temple. In a public and conspicuous place. In this way there would be a most striking exhibition of their boldness; a proof that God had delivered them; and a manifestation of their purpose to obey God rather than man.

All the words. All the doctrines. Comp. Jn 6:68, "Thou hast the words of eternal life."

Of this life. Pertaining to life, to the eternal life which they taught through the resurrection and life of Jesus. The word life is used sometimes to express the whole of religion, as opposed to the spiritual death of sin. See Jn 1:4, 3:36. Their deliverance from prison was not that they might be idle, and escape to a place of safety. Again they were to engage at once in the toils and perils which they had just before encountered. God delivers us from danger sometimes, that we may plunge into new dangers; he preserves us from calamity, that we may be tried in some new furnace of affliction; and he calls us to encounter trials simply because he demands it, and as an expression of gratitude to him for his gracious interposition.

(e) "all the words" Ex 24:3 (f) "of this life" Jn 6:63,68, 17:8

Acts 7:38

Verse 38. In the church. The word church means, literally, the people called out; and is applied with great propriety to the assembly or multitude called out of Egypt, and separated from the world. It has not, however, of necessity our idea of a church; but means the assembly, or people called out of Egypt, and placed under the con- duct of Moses,

With the angel. In this place there is undoubted reference to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. Yet that was done by God himself, Ex 20. It is clear, therefore, that by the angel here Stephen intends to designate him who was God. It may be observed, however, that the law is represented as having been given by the ministry of an angel (in this place,) and by the ministry of angels, Acts 7:53 Heb 2:2. The essential idea is, that God did it by a messenger, or by mediators. The character and rank of the messengers, or of the principal messenger, must be learned by looking at all the circumstances of the case.

The lively oracles. See Rom 3:2. The word oracles here means commands or laws of God, The word lively, or living--ζωντα--stands in opposition to that which is dead, or useless, and means that which is vigorous, efficacious; and in this place it means that the commands were of such a nature, and given in such circumstances, as to secure attention; to produce obedience; to excite them to act for God--in opposition to laws which would fall powerless, and produce no effect.

(h) "This is he" Heb 2:2 (+) "church" "Congregation" (i) "angel" Isa 63:9, Gal 3:19 (k) "in the mount Sina" Ex 19:3,17 (l) "who received" De 5:27,31, Jn 1:17 (m) "received" Rom 3:2 (*) "lively" "Life giving"