Actes des Apôtres · LSG
Actes des Apôtres
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Le souverain sacrificateur dit: Les choses sont-elles ainsi? Voir aussi: Jean 18:19-21Matthieu 26:61-62Marc 14:58-60Étienne répondit: Hommes frères et pères, écoutez! Le Dieu de gloire apparut à notre père Abraham, lorsqu’il était en Mésopotamie, avant qu’il s’établît à Charran; et il lui dit: Voir aussi: Actes des Apôtres 22:1Genèse 11:31Psaumes 29:3Quitte ton pays et ta famille, et va dans le pays que je te montrerai. Voir aussi: Genèse 12:1Hébreux 11:8Josué 24:3Il sortit alors du pays des Chaldéens, et s’établit à Charran. De là, après la mort de son père, Dieu le fit passer dans ce pays que vous habitez maintenant; Voir aussi: Genèse 12:4-5Genèse 11:31-32Isaïe 41:9il ne lui donna aucune propriété en ce pays, pas même de quoi poser le pied, mais il promit de lui en donner la possession, et à sa postérité après lui, quoiqu’il n’eût point d’enfant. Voir aussi: Genèse 17:8Genèse 12:7Genèse 15:18Dieu parla ainsi: Sa postérité séjournera dans un pays étranger; on la réduira en servitude et on la maltraitera pendant quatre cents ans. Voir aussi: Genèse 15:13Exode 12:40-41Galates 3:17Mais la nation à laquelle ils auront été asservis, c’est moi qui la jugerai, dit Dieu. Après cela, ils sortiront, et ils me serviront dans ce lieu-ci. Voir aussi: Exode 3:12Psaumes 105:27-36Néhémie 9:9-11Puis Dieu donna à Abraham l’alliance de la circoncision; et ainsi, Abraham, ayant engendré Isaac, le circoncit le huitième jour; Isaac engendra et circoncit Jacob, et Jacob les douze patriarches. Voir aussi: Genèse 35:23-26Genèse 17:9-14Romains 9:9-13Les patriarches, jaloux de Joseph, le vendirent pour être emmené en Égypte. Voir aussi: Genèse 39:2Psaumes 105:17Isaïe 43:2Mais Dieu fut avec lui, et le délivra de toutes ses tribulations; il lui donna de la sagesse et lui fit trouver grâce devant Pharaon, roi d’Égypte, qui l’établit gouverneur d’Égypte et de toute sa maison. Voir aussi: Proverbes 3:42 Timothée 4:18Genèse 48:16Il survint une famine dans tout le pays d’Égypte, et dans celui de Canaan. La détresse était grande, et nos pères ne trouvaient pas de quoi se nourrir. Voir aussi: Genèse 41:54-57Genèse 45:5-6Genèse 45:11Jacob apprit qu’il y avait du blé en Égypte, et il y envoya nos pères une première fois. Voir aussi: Genèse 42:1-24Genèse 43:2Et la seconde fois, Joseph fut reconnu par ses frères, et Pharaon sut de quelle famille il était. Voir aussi: Genèse 46:31Genèse 45:1-18Puis Joseph envoya chercher son père Jacob, et toute sa famille, composée de soixante-quinze personnes. Voir aussi: Deutéronome 10:22Genèse 46:26-27Exode 1:5Jacob descendit en Égypte, où il mourut, ainsi que nos pères; Voir aussi: Exode 1:6Genèse 49:33Genèse 46:3-7et ils furent transportés à Sichem, et déposés dans le sépulcre qu’Abraham avait acheté, à prix d’argent, des fils d’Hémor, père de Sichem. Voir aussi: Josué 24:32Genèse 23:16Exode 13:19Le temps approchait où devait s’accomplir la promesse que Dieu avait faite à Abraham, et le peuple s’accrut et se multiplia en Égypte, Voir aussi: Exode 1:7-12Actes des Apôtres 7:6Actes des Apôtres 13:17jusqu’à ce que parut un autre roi, qui n’avait pas connu Joseph. Voir aussi: Exode 1:8Ce roi, usant d’artifice contre notre race, maltraita nos pères, au point de leur faire exposer leurs enfants, pour qu’ils ne vécussent pas. Voir aussi: Psaumes 105:25Exode 1:9-22Psaumes 83:4-5A cette époque, naquit Moïse, qui était beau aux yeux de Dieu. Il fut nourri trois mois dans la maison de son père; Voir aussi: Hébreux 11:23Exode 2:2-101 Samuel 16:12et, quand il eut été exposé, la fille de Pharaon le recueillit, et l’éleva comme son fils. Voir aussi: Hébreux 11:24Deutéronome 32:26Exode 2:2-10Moïse fut instruit dans toute la sagesse des Égyptiens, et il était puissant en paroles et en œuvres. Voir aussi: Isaïe 19:11Daniel 1:17-20Daniel 1:4Il avait quarante ans, lorsqu’il lui vint dans le cœur de visiter ses frères, les fils d’Israël. Voir aussi: Exode 2:11-12Hébreux 11:24-26Proverbes 21:1Il en vit un qu’on outrageait, et, prenant sa défense, il vengea celui qui était maltraité, et frappa l’Égyptien. Voir aussi: Jean 18:10-11Jean 18:25-27Actes des Apôtres 7:28Il pensait que ses frères comprendraient que Dieu leur accordait la délivrance par sa main; mais ils ne comprirent pas. Voir aussi: Luc 18:34Luc 9:451 Corinthiens 15:10Le jour suivant, il parut au milieu d’eux comme ils se battaient, et il les exhorta à la paix: Hommes, dit-il, vous êtes frères; pourquoi vous maltraitez-vous l’un l’autre? Voir aussi: Exode 2:13-151 Jean 3:11-15Genèse 13:8Mais celui qui maltraitait son prochain le repoussa, en disant: Qui t’a établi chef et juge sur nous? Voir aussi: Luc 12:14Actes des Apôtres 7:35Proverbes 9:7-8Veux-tu me tuer, comme tu as tué hier l’Égyptien? A cette parole, Moïse prit la fuite, et il alla séjourner dans le pays de Madian, où il engendra deux fils. Voir aussi: Exode 18:2-4Exode 4:19-20Exode 2:14-22Quarante ans plus tard, un ange lui apparut, au désert de la montagne de Sinaï, dans la flamme d’un buisson en feu. Voir aussi: Exode 3:1-2Actes des Apôtres 7:35Isaïe 43:2Moïse, voyant cela, fut étonné de cette apparition; et, comme il s’approchait pour examiner, la voix du Seigneur se fit entendre: Voir aussi: Exode 3:3-4Je suis le Dieu de tes pères, le Dieu d’Abraham, d’Isaac et de Jacob. Et Moïse, tout tremblant, n’osait regarder. Voir aussi: Exode 3:6Matthieu 22:32Job 42:5-6Le Seigneur lui dit: Ote tes souliers de tes pieds, car le lieu sur lequel tu te tiens est une terre sainte. Voir aussi: Exode 3:5Josué 5:15Ecclésiaste 5:1J’ai vu la souffrance de mon peuple qui est en Égypte, j’ai entendu ses gémissements, et je suis descendu pour le délivrer. Maintenant, va, je t’enverrai en Égypte. Voir aussi: Exode 3:7-10Exode 4:31Néhémie 9:9Ce Moïse, qu’ils avaient renié, en disant: Qui t’a établi chef et juge? C’est lui que Dieu envoya comme chef et comme libérateur avec l’aide de l’ange qui lui était apparu dans le buisson. Voir aussi: Psaumes 118:22-23Luc 19:14Psaumes 75:7C’est lui qui les fit sortir d’Égypte, en opérant des prodiges et des miracles au pays d’Égypte, au sein de la mer Rouge, et au désert, pendant quarante ans. Voir aussi: Exode 12:41Exode 14:21Exode 33:1C’est ce Moïse qui dit aux fils d’Israël: Dieu vous suscitera d’entre vos frères un prophète comme moi. Voir aussi: Deutéronome 18:15-19Actes des Apôtres 3:22-23Jean 18:37C’est lui qui, lors de l’assemblée au désert, étant avec l’ange qui lui parlait sur la montagne de Sinaï et avec nos pères, reçut des oracles vivants, pour nous les donner. Voir aussi: Romains 3:2Hébreux 5:12Deutéronome 33:4Nos pères ne voulurent pas lui obéir, ils le repoussèrent, et ils tournèrent leur cœur vers l’Égypte, Voir aussi: Nombres 14:3-4Nombres 11:5Néhémie 9:16-17en disant à Aaron: Fais-nous des dieux qui marchent devant nous; car ce Moïse qui nous a fait sortir du pays d’Égypte, nous ne savons ce qu’il est devenu. Voir aussi: Exode 32:1Exode 32:23Et, en ces jours-là, ils firent un veau, ils offrirent un sacrifice à l’idole, et se réjouirent de l’œuvre de leurs mains. Voir aussi: Psaumes 106:19-21Néhémie 9:18Osée 9:10Alors Dieu se détourna, et les livra au culte de l’armée du ciel, selon qu’il est écrit dans le livre des prophètes: M’avez-vous offert des victimes et des sacrifices Pendant quarante ans au désert, maison d’Israël?… Voir aussi: Amos 5:25-26Ézéchiel 20:39Jérémie 19:13Vous avez porté la tente de Moloch Et l’étoile du dieu Remphan, Ces images que vous avez faites pour les adorer! Aussi vous transporterai-je au-delà de Babylone. Voir aussi: Amos 5:26-27Exode 20:4-5Deutéronome 5:8-9Nos pères avaient au désert le tabernacle du témoignage, comme l’avait ordonné celui qui dit à Moïse de le faire d’après le modèle qu’il avait vu. Voir aussi: Exode 25:40Exode 38:21Hébreux 8:5Et nos pères, l’ayant reçu, l’introduisirent, sous la conduite de Josué, dans le pays qui était possédé par les nations que Dieu chassa devant eux, et il y resta jusqu’aux jours de David. Voir aussi: Psaumes 44:2Josué 23:9Josué 24:18David trouva grâce devant Dieu, et demanda d’élever une demeure pour le Dieu de Jacob; Voir aussi: Psaumes 132:1-5Actes des Apôtres 13:222 Samuel 7:1-5et ce fut Salomon qui lui bâtit une maison. Voir aussi: 1 Rois 8:201 Rois 6:37-382 Samuel 7:13Mais le Très-Haut n’habite pas dans ce qui est fait de main d’homme, comme dit le prophète: Voir aussi: Actes des Apôtres 17:24-25Isaïe 66:1-21 Rois 8:27Le ciel est mon trône, Et la terre mon marchepied. Quelle maison me bâtirez-vous, dit le Seigneur, Ou quel sera le lieu de mon repos? Voir aussi: Isaïe 66:1Psaumes 11:4Jean 4:21N’est-ce pas ma main qui a fait toutes ces choses?… Voir aussi: Jérémie 32:17Isaïe 66:2Psaumes 33:6-9Hommes au cou raide, incirconcis de cœur et d’oreilles! Vous vous opposez toujours au Saint-Esprit. Ce que vos pères ont été, vous l’êtes aussi. Voir aussi: Deutéronome 10:16Éphésiens 4:30Isaïe 63:10Lequel des prophètes vos pères n’ont-ils pas persécuté? Ils ont tué ceux qui annonçaient d’avance la venue du Juste, que vous avez livré maintenant, et dont vous avez été les meurtriers, Voir aussi: Matthieu 5:122 Chroniques 36:161 Rois 19:10vous qui avez reçu la loi d’après des commandements d’anges, et qui ne l’avez point gardée!… Voir aussi: Hébreux 2:2Galates 3:19Actes des Apôtres 7:38En entendant ces paroles, ils étaient furieux dans leur cœur, et ils grinçaient des dents contre lui. Voir aussi: Actes des Apôtres 5:33Psaumes 35:16Luc 13:28Mais Étienne, rempli du Saint-Esprit, et fixant les regards vers le ciel, vit la gloire de Dieu et Jésus debout à la droite de Dieu. Voir aussi: Marc 16:19Hébreux 1:32 Corinthiens 4:6Et il dit: Voici, je vois les cieux ouverts, et le Fils de l’homme debout à la droite de Dieu. Voir aussi: Matthieu 26:64-65Apocalypse 11:19Actes des Apôtres 10:11Ils poussèrent alors de grands cris, en se bouchant les oreilles, et ils se précipitèrent tous ensemble sur lui, Voir aussi: Zacharie 7:11Actes des Apôtres 23:27Psaumes 58:4le traînèrent hors de la ville, et le lapidèrent. Les témoins déposèrent leurs vêtements aux pieds d’un jeune homme nommé Saul. Voir aussi: Actes des Apôtres 22:20Actes des Apôtres 8:1Actes des Apôtres 6:13Et ils lapidaient Étienne, qui priait et disait: Seigneur Jésus, reçois mon esprit! Voir aussi: Luc 23:46Psaumes 31:5Actes des Apôtres 22:16Puis, s’étant mis à genoux, il s’écria d’une voix forte: Seigneur, ne leur impute pas ce péché! Et, après ces paroles, il s’endormit. Voir aussi: Matthieu 5:44Luc 23:341 Corinthiens 15:20
Voir aussi: Références croisées d'OpenBible.info (CC BY), dérivées en partie du Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (domaine public).
Réflexions
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Notes · Haydock (1859, domaine public)Notes : 27
Notes en anglais Commentaire catholique du XIXᵉ siècle du P. George Leo Haydock, tel qu’il a été publié.
Ces notes gardent les polémiques de leur époque : certaines parlent durement du peuple juif ou d'autres chrétiens. L'Église enseigne autrement aujourd'hui. On ne peut imputer au peuple juif la mort du Christ (Nostra Aetate 4 ; Catéchisme 597–598), et les chrétiens des autres communautés sont nos frères dans le Seigneur (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). L'unité des chrétiens
Actes des Apôtres 7:1
Ver. 1. Are these things so? The high priest speaks after this mild manner, being either terrified, or charmed with his angelical countenance. S. Stephen's design in this discourse, was to shew them, first, that he was falsely accused of speaking either against Moses, or the law, for which he shews so great a veneration. 2. He puts them in mind, that the true worship of God may subsist without a temple, as it did in the time of Abraham, and the patriarchs, before the law was given, or the temple built. 3. That as their forefathers had been rebellious to Moses, and disobedient to the prophets, whom they many times persecuted even to death, so they had lately resisted, persecuted, and crucified their Messias. Wi.
↑ 1Actes des Apôtres 7:5
Ver. 5. Not the pace of a foot; not so much as a foot of land, that is, to dwell in, though he bought there a place to bury in. Gen. xxiii. 9. Wi.
↑ 5Actes des Apôtres 7:6
Ver. 6. For four hundred years, counting from the birth of Isaac, which was twenty-five years after the call and promises made to Abraham. It is certain the Israelites were not four hundred years in Egypt. Wi. — Four hundred. These words are taken from the fifteenth chapter of Genesis, in which Moses mentions the same number of years. This calculation is made from the entry of Abraham into Chanaan, to the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt. Strictly, the Israelites did not remain in Egypt more than two hundred and fifteen years.
↑ 6Actes des Apôtres 7:7
Ver. 7. The nation which they shall serve, I will judge. The meaning is, that God would afflict the Egyptians with divers plagues, or visible punishments, before they dismissed the Israelites. Wi.
↑ 7Actes des Apôtres 7:8
Ver. 8. The covenant, or the testament,[1] and alliance of circumcision, by which the Israelites should be known to be the elect people of God. Wi. —
Literally, he gave them the alliance of circumcision; he made with him an alliance, of which circumcision was the seal. V.
↑ 8Actes des Apôtres 7:10
Ver. 10. Gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao. Some understand divine graces, and gifts of prophecy, and the like: others, that he made him find favour in the sight of king Pharao, who appointed him to be governor of Egypt. Wi.
↑ 10Actes des Apôtres 7:16
Ver. 16. Which Abraham bought . . . of the sons of Hemor, the son of Sichem.
This purchase made by Abraham must be different from the purchase of a field made afterwards by Jacob. Gen. xxxiii. 19. See a Lapide, the author of the Analysis, dissert. 23. P. Alleman, &c. Wi. — Abraham bought. There must be an error of the copyist in this verse. Either the word Abraham ought to be omitted, or changed into Jacob. For it is plain, from Gen. xxxiii. 19. that the latter bought the land from the sons of Hemor. The Hebrew says, he bought it for one hundred kesitha, which some translate pieces of silver; others, lambs. As for Abraham, and Jacob, they were buried in the cavern of Mambre, which Abraham had purchased from the children of Heth. Gen. xxiii. Calmet. — It is supposed that originally the name of Jacob was given, abridged JAB, and that the first letter having disappeared, the two remaining letters were taken by misprision, for the abridgment of the name of Abraham. Hemor was the father of Sichem, and here the Greek text simply calls him Hemor of Sichem. V.
↑ 16Actes des Apôtres 7:19
Ver. 19. Dealing craftily, circumventing craftily, afflicting, and endeavouring to extirpate the race of the Israelites. Wi.
↑ 19Actes des Apôtres 7:20
Ver. 20. Moses . . . was acceptable to God.[2] Greatly favoured both with gifts of nature and grace. Some expound it, was extremely fair or beautiful. Wi.
↑ 20Actes des Apôtres 7:21
Ver. 21. Philo believes that the princess feigned him to be her own child; Moses denied that he was, and would not take advantage of this adoption.
Heb. xi. 24.
↑ 21Actes des Apôtres 7:22
Ver. 22. In words and in deeds. Moses was persuasive and powerful in reasoning; but had an impediment in his speech, as we know from Exod. iv. 10.
and vi. 12. He possessed, moreover, strength, energy, and grandeur, in his discourse. Of this we have abundant proofs in his books. He is inimitable in narrating, as often as he writes laws, composes canticles, or makes harangues. He is simple, clear, sublime, vehement, concise, prolix, and rapid, in turns, as the nature of his subject requires. He was likewise powerful in work. All his conduct was wise, virtuous, enlightened, as well in affairs of policy, as in war. He was an able captain, before he put himself at the head of the Israelites. Calmet. — Josephus assures us that he became a great conqueror.
↑ 22Actes des Apôtres 7:29
Ver. 29. Moses fled upon this word; because he perceived the murder he had committed was become public, though he thought it to be secret. Menochius.
He fled, to avoid the anger of the king, into Madian, where during his sojourning, he had two sons of Sephora, whom he married there. V. — Moses of Moyses, in the Egyptian dialect, means, saved from water. He slew the Egyptian by particular inspiration of God, as a prelude to his delivering the people from oppression and bondage. v. 25. supra. — But such particular and extraordinary examples are not to be imitated. Ch. — He was inspired to stand up, as the Egyptian law required, in defence of the innocent. S. Thom. ii. 2. q.
60.
↑ 29Actes des Apôtres 7:30
Ver. 30. In a flame of fire, in a bush.[3] Lit. in the fire of a flame of the bush. The sense must be, that the bush seemed on fire, and in a flame, and yet was not consumed. Wi.
↑ 30Actes des Apôtres 7:33
Ver. 33. Loose the shoes. This was a method of testifying respect among the eastern nations. The Mahometans do not wear their shoes in their mosques.
The Jewish priests served in the temple with their shoes off. The angel who appeared to Josue ordered him also to take off his shoes. Jos. v. 16. If the apparition of an angel, or of God himself, could make the place and ground holy so as to deserve external signs of respect, and veneration from Moses; how much more the corporal birth, abode, and miracles of the Son of God in Jewry, and the blessed Sacrament, must make that country, and all Catholic chapels and altars, holy? Is it not then the height of blindness to tax with superstition, the reverence Christians pay to things or places, rendered holy by the presence, or wonderful operations of God.
↑ 33Actes des Apôtres 7:35
Cette note du XIXᵉ siècle emploie un langage polémique ; lisez-la à la lumière de la note en haut de ce panneau.
Ver. 35. Moses, whom they refused. Lit. denied. So have you rejected, and denied Jesus, of whom Moses prophesied, when he said that God would raise up to them a prophet like to himself, and commanded them to hear him. Wi. —
Redeemer. In the Greek Lutroten; Protestant version, Deliverer; though the learned Polus, in his Synopsis Criticorum, on this place, says, "that no greater injury is done to God, by calling Moses a Redeemer, in this place, than by calling him a Mediator, in Gal. iii. 19. He is called a Redeemer, says this learned Protestant commentator, in as much as he led forth, and preserved the people of God safe by the blood of a lamb, and thus exhibited a figure of the true redemption, through the blood of Christ." We all own that Jesus Christ, as having paid the ransom of our delivery with his own blood, is, strictly speaking, our only true Redeemer, and Advocate with his Father, who asks and obtains all things immediately by his own merit; but this does not exclude the prayers of the saints, both alive and dead. Did not the apostles pray for the people, and desire the people to pray for them? "Our Lord Jesus Christ still intercedes for us, and all the martyrs that are with him, pray for us: nor will their intercession cease, till we cease our groanings," says S. Augustin, in Ps.
lxxxv. in fine.
↑ 35Actes des Apôtres 7:38
Ver. 38. This is he who was in the Church[4] in the wilderness, after God had by him delivered their Fathers out of their slavery in Egypt. — An angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. By this S. Stephen owns that the law was given by an angel to Moses: and also shews how falsely he was accused to have spoken against Moses, or against the law.
↑ 38Actes des Apôtres 7:39
Ver. 39. Whom our Fathers would not obey, murmuring, and rebelling from time to time. And in their hearts turned back into Egypt, as they shewed, by wishing themselves there again. Wi.
↑ 39Actes des Apôtres 7:40
Ver. 40. Saying to Aaron, make us gods: forcing him, in a manner, to make them the golden calf, while Moses was receiving the law from God. Wi.
↑ 40Actes des Apôtres 7:42
Ver. 42. And God turned. Turned as it were from them, punishing them, by permitting them to serve the host of heaven, the sun, moon, and stars. Wi.
↑ 42Actes des Apôtres 7:43
Ver. 43. And you, that is, your forefathers, took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch. He reproaches the Jews with their idolatry and worship of different false gods, from time to time, notwithstanding God's comminations by the prophets, of which he puts them in mind by these words, and I will translate you beyond Babylon. The prophet Amos, c. v, v. 27. out of whom S. Stephen takes this citation, says, beyond Damascus, but the sense is the same, being a prediction, that the ten tribes of Israel should be carried away captives beyond Damascus by the Assyrians, and even beyond Babylon into Media, Persia, &c.
Wi.
↑ 43Actes des Apôtres 7:44
Ver. 44. The tabernacle of the testimony, in which was the ark of the covenant, as they were made by Moses, which were moved from place to place with the Israelites in the wilderness; and which Jesus, or Josue, brought with the people, into the possessions of the Gentiles, that is, into the land of Chanaan, which had been before possessed by the Gentiles. — This tabernacle, in which was kept the ark, remained with the Israelites till the time of David, or rather of Solomon, who built the temple. Wi.
↑ 44Actes des Apôtres 7:48
Ver. 48. But the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands. God is every where, nor is his presence confined to the temple, which was already once destroyed; and what if it be destroyed again, as Christ foretold? God must still be adored, worshipped and served, as he was before the temple was first built, which was only by Solomon. Wi. — Dwelleth not in houses. That is, so as to stand in need of earthly dwellings, or to be contained or circumscribed by them. Though otherwise, by his immense divinity, he is in our houses, and every where else; and Christ in his humanity dwelt in houses: and is now on our altars. Ch. —It is not so much for God, as for ourselves, that we build temples, and it is a pure effect of his goodness and mercy, that he permits us to build them to him. Places consecrated in a particular manner to his service, where he gives the most sensible marks of his presence, are of assistance to us, when we render our homage, address our vows, and offer our prayers to the Deity. S. Stephen's design in this part of his discourse, is to prove that the true religion may subsist without the temple; therefore, that he could not be guilty of blasphemy, supposing he had even used the words which the malice of the Jews put into his mouth, that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy this place. Chap. vi. 14.
↑ 48Actes des Apôtres 7:51
Ver. 51. Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart. S. Stephen, inspired by the Holy Ghost, knowing he should die a martyr, boldly reproaches them for persecuting the prophets, for putting to death the just one, that is, the Messias, foretold by the prophets. Wi. — Observe the holy indignation of S.
Stephen at the obduracy of the incredulous Jews!
↑ 51Actes des Apôtres 7:54
Ver. 54. They were cut to the heart: exasperated even to rage and madness.
See c. v, v. 33. gnashing their teeth with indignation. Wi.
↑ 54Actes des Apôtres 7:55
Ver. 55. This is the comfort of all martyrs. B. — This the support of every Christian under the severest trials of either mind or body: this the sweetener of every burthen and cross.
↑ 55Actes des Apôtres 7:56
Ver. 56. Stopped their ears, crying out, blasphemy: and they stoned him to death. He praying for them, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, in imitation of his Lord and Master, our Saviour Christ. And[5] reposed in the Lord. Lit. slept. In most Greek copies, are now wanting, in the Lord; but it is no doubt the sense. Wi. — Rushed in violently upon him. This proceeding, without any sentence, or form of law, was altogether irregular; and never used in the better times of the Jewish government. This was called, judgment of zeal, and only allowed in one instance, viz. when any one came to draw the people to idolatry. Afterwards, this kind of proceeding was extended to other crimes. See Deut. xiii. 6. Num. xxiv. 1 Mac. xi. 24, &c.
↑ 56Actes des Apôtres 7:58
Ver. 58. Invoking. See with what arms S. Stephen defended himself against the fury of his enemies. He puts on charity for a breast-plate, and by that came off victorious. By his love of God, he resisted the enraged Jews; by the love he bore his neighbour, he prayed for those that stoned him. Through charity, he admonished them of their errors, in order to their amendment; through charity, he besought the divine goodness not to punish their crimes against him.
Leaning on charity, he overcame the cruelty of Saul, and merited to have him a companion in heaven, who had been his chief persecutor on earth. S.
Fulgentius, Serm. de S. Steph. — We here again see the powerful intercession of the saints; "for," says S. Augustin, "if Stephen had not thus prayed, the Church would not have to glory in a S. Paul. Si Stephanus non sic orasset, Ecclesia Paulum non haberet." Serm. i. de S. Steph.
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[1] V. 8. Testamentum, ten diatheken. See Heb. ix. 16.
[2] V. 20. Gratus Deo, asteios to theo. Acceptable to God. It may also signify, beautiful in the sight of God, that is, in the style of the Scriptures, very beautiful.
[3] V. 30. In igne flammæ rubi, en phlogi puros batou. In flamma ignis rubi.
[4] V. 38. In the assembly. Lit. in Ecclesia, en te ekklesia.
[5] V. 56. Obdormivit in Domino, ekoimethe.
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↑ 58Licence: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Crédits et licences