John Gill Commentary Acts 7:8

"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 the twelve patriarchs." — Acts 7:8 (ASV)

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision.

Stephen speaks here in the language of the Jews, who are wont to speak of circumcision after this manner; hence in the Jewish liturgy, there is a collect, (hlym tyrbl) , "for the covenant of circumcision" ^F8 ; and so it is said ^F9 , "when Joseph died, they made void the "covenant of circumcision":

and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day ; according to the express command in (Genesis 17:12) (See Gill on Philippians 3:5).

and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs ; the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: Seder Tephillot, fol. 197. 1. Ed. Basil. Vid. Kimchi in Mal. iii. 1.
• F9: Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 90. 1.