“And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.”
'But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,' God said, 'and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place' - Genesis 15:14 promises judgment on the oppressor nation and exodus. The phrase 'worship me in this place' (latreusousin moi en tō topō toutō) is ambiguous in Stephen's use: it refers initially to Mount Sinai (the place where they would worship after exodus), but Stephen may be preparing his audience to hear 'this place' reinterpreted as something other than the temple.
Church Fathers on Acts 7:6
See, what a number of years the Promise has been given, and the manner of the Promise, and nowhere sacrifice, nowhere circumcision! He here shows, how God Himself suffered them to be afflicted, not that He had anything to lay to their charge. And they shall bring them into bondage, etc. But nevertheless, they did not these things with impunity. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage I will judge, said God. For, "Seest thou?" So Edd.}}--> to show that they are not to…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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