Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 7:2

"And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran," — Acts 7:2 (ASV)

Men, brethren, and fathers. These were the usual titles by which the Sanhedrin was addressed. In all this Stephen was perfectly respectful and showed that he was disposed to give due honor to the institutions of the nation.

The God of glory. This is a Hebrew form of expression denoting the glorious God. It properly denotes his majesty, splendor, or magnificence; and the word glory is often applied to the splendid appearances in which God has manifested himself to men (Deuteronomy 5:24; Exodus 33:18; Exodus 16:7, 10; Leviticus 9:23; Numbers 14:10).

Perhaps Stephen meant to affirm that God appeared to Abraham in some such glorious or splendid manifestation, by which he would know that he was addressed by God. Stephen, moreover, evidently uses the word glory to repel the charge of blasphemy against God and to show that he regarded him as worthy of honor and praise.

Appeared, etc. In what manner he appeared is not said. In Genesis 12:1, it is simply recorded that God had said to Abraham, etc.

To our father. The Jews placed great value on being the children of Abraham. See Barnes' notes on Matthew 3:9.

This expression was therefore well calculated to conciliate their minds.

When he was in Mesopotamia. In Genesis 11:31, it is said that Abraham dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees. The word Mesopotamia properly denotes the region between the two rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. See Barnes' notes on Acts 2:9.

The name is Greek, and the region also had other names before the Greek name was given to it. In Genesis 11:31 and Genesis 15:7, it is called Ur of the Chaldees. Mesopotamia and Chaldea might not exactly coincide, but it is evident that Stephen meant to say that Ur was in the country afterwards called Mesopotamia.

Its precise situation is unknown. A Persian fortress of this name is mentioned by Ammianus (xxv. 8) between Nesibis and the Tigris.

Before he dwelt in Charran. From Genesis 11:31, it would seem that Terah took his son Abraham of his own accord and removed to Haran.

But from Genesis 12:1 and Genesis 15:7, it appears that God had commanded Abraham to remove, and he so ordered it in his providence that Terah was disposed to remove his family with an intention of going into the land of Canaan (Charran).

This is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Haran (Genesis 11:31). This place was also in Mesopotamia, at 36°52' North latitude and 39°5' East longitude.

Here Terah died (Genesis 11:32), and to this place Jacob retired when he fled from his brother Esau (Genesis 27:43). It is situated "in a flat and sandy plain, and is inhabited by a few wandering Arabs, who select it for the delicious water which it contains."—Robinson's Calmet.