Acts 7:53

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 7:53 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.
Acts 7:53 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
53ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Who have received the law, by the disposition of angels, etc.] Who attended the angel that spake to Moses on Mount Sinai, (<440738>Acts 7:38) who is the head of all principality and power, and whom he might make use of in giving the law to Moses: hence the law is said to be ordained by angels, in the hand of a Mediator, and is called the word spoken by angels, (<480319>Galatians 3:19, <580202>Hebrews 2:2) and certain it is, that there were great numbers of angels on Mount Sinai, when the law was given, (<053302>Deuteronomy 33:2, <196817>Psalm 68:17) And so the Jews say f373, that “when the holy blessed God descended on Mount Sinai, there came down with him many companies of angels, Michael…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Who have received the law by the disposition--"at the appointment" or "ordination," that is, by the ministry. of angels, and have not kept it--This closing word is designed to shut up those idolizers of the law under the guilt of high disobedience to it, aggravated by the august manner in which they had received it.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Who have received the law - The Law of Moses, given on Mount Sinai. By the disposition of angels - There has been much diversity of opinion in regard to this phrase, εἰς διαταγὰς ἀγγέλων eis diatagas angelōn. The word translated “disposition” does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It properly means the “constituting” or “arranging” of an army; disposing it into ranks and proper divisions. Hence, it has been supposed to mean that the Law was given “amidst” the various ranks of angels, being present to witness its promulgation. Others suppose that the angels were employed as agents or instruments to communicate the Law. All that the expression fairly implies is the former; that…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Who have received the law by the administration of angels - God, when he gave the law on Mount Sinai, was attended with thousands of his angels, Gal 3:19; Psa 68:17. Acts 7:55”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“have received: Exod. 19:1-20:26; Deu 33:2; Psa 68:17; Gal 3:19; Heb 2:2 and have: Eze 20:18-21; Joh 7:19; Rom 2:23-25; Gal 6:13 Acts 7:54”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification