Acts 7:19

Modern

He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

Traditional

The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

Literal

Having dealt treacherously with our kindred, this one mistreated our fathers, making them expose their infants, that they would not live.

Latin

Hic circumveniens genus nostrum, afflixit patres nostros ut exponerent infantes suos, ne vivificarentur.

Greek

English

He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

Stephen answered the accusations by speaking about his Lord (see Luke 21:12–17). Instead of defending himself, he became a witness in God's legal case against them. This revealed how contrary they were and their lack of loyalty. Stephen gave a history of Israel's past and reminded them of their repeated rejections of those who announced God's messages.
Stephen's review of Israel's history has three main parts:
1. The work of the patriarchs. This refers to Abraham and those descended from him who founded the nation of Israel (Acts 7:2–16).
2. The ministry of Moses (7:17–43).
3. The role of the tabernacle and the temple (7:44–50).
  Stephen ended his historical survey with a strong criticism of his people's lack of obedience. Like a prophet, he challenged them to stop resisting the Holy Spirit. He told them to turn to God with grief for their sins (repentance) and faith.

Theme notes and profiles

Psalm 105:25
…whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.
Exodus 1:9–22
“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
Psalm 83:4–5
…saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
Revelation 12:4–5
His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.
Psalm 129:1–3
A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—