“And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,”
To this he replied: 'Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran' - Stephen begins not with the law or the temple but with Abraham and the God of glory (theos tēs doxēs). His opening moves the argument to the patriarchal period, before Mount Sinai, before the temple, before the written law. This rhetorical strategy will establish that God's purposes precede and transcend the institutions his opponents defend.
Church Fathers on Acts 7:2
said the high-priest, Are these things so? Acts 7:1 Observe, the question is put with mildness, that he may effect some great mischief. For this reason Stephen too begins his speech in a tone of gentleness, and says, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. Acts 7:2 Immediately at the outset he overthrows their conceit, and makes it appear by what he says, that the temple…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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