Acts 7:8 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and the line ran on through Isaac and Jacob to the twelve patriarchs.
What Does Acts 7:8 Mean?
Stephen compresses Genesis 17 and the generations that follow: the covenant sign given, then Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve fathers of the tribes.
God marks his people as his own and keeps covenant from generation to generation. The promise did not rest on the strength of any single life; it was carried, hand to hand, down a family line that God refused to let go.
Acts 7:8 in the Original Language
diatheke (διαθήκη), 'covenant' -- a binding pledge by which God joins himself to his people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 7:8
What does Acts 7:8 mean?
God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and the line ran on through Isaac and Jacob to the twelve patriarchs.