“God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.
Parallel translations
- WEB He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
- KJV And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
- BSB Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
- NKJV Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.
- NASB And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham fathered Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God gave the covenant of circumcision, and the line ran through Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs. God's covenant promises advance through the generations.
Overview
Circumcision marked the covenant people, and Stephen traces the promised line to the twelve tribes' founders. He affirms the covenant heritage his accusers claim, showing he honors it rightly. The faithful unfolding of the line testifies to God's reliability in keeping His word across generations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Gen 17:9–14God said to Abraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
- Gen 35:23–26The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
- Rom 9:9–13For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”
- 1 Chr 2:1–2These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
- Gal 3:17Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
- Gal 3:15Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.
- 1 Chr 1:34Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
- Gen 35:16They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
- Matt 1:2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
- Gen 35:18As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
- Acts 2:29“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
- Heb 7:4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best plunder.
- Gen 25:21–26Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
- Exod 1:1–4Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):
- Gen 21:1–4Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.
- Rom 4:10How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
- Gen 29:31Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
- John 7:22Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 7:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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