Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 18, Acts 7

DateVersionReading Plan
December 22, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

1 Chronicles 18

Observation & Interpretation

1 Chron. 18:11 – When David received articles of gold, silver and bronze from Hadoram (son of Tou, king of Hamath), he dedicated it to the LORD, together with everything he had carried off from all the nations.

  • David’s faithfulness to the LORD was seen in his dedication of these things to Him.
  • David did not add all these things to his personal wealth, but he placed them into a treasury that was dedicated…to the LORD. Later on, much of it would go into the building of the temple. (CSB Notes)

1 Chron. 18:13 – The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

  • The LORD was faithful in His promise to David.

1 Chron. 18:17 – David’s sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.

1 Chron. 18:1-6 – In all these battles the key element is that “the LORD gave them victory [Hb. verb yasha’] to David wherever he went.” God’s actions through David provide for postexilic hearers an example of his answer to the cry of 1 Chronicls 16:35: “Save (yasha’) us…from…the nations.” (ESVEC – Comment)

Acts 7

Observation & Interpretation

Acts 7:24-25 – Moses defended the oppressed man and supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation, but they did not understand.

  • (v. 24-28) Perhaps Stephen brought this up to provoke reconsideration of Israel’s assessment and rejection of Jesus. They had been wrong about Moses. Might they have been wrong about Jesus too? (CSB Notes)

Acts 7:57 – In response to Stephen’s speech, the Jews cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears and rushed together at Stephen.

  • Their crying out and stopping their ears prevented them from hearing and considering what Stephen was saying.
  • In response to what the religious leaders see as the height of blasphemy—exalting Jesus alongside God—the trial becomes a mob scene. (FSB)

Acts 7:60 – Luke describes Stephen’s death by stoning that “he fell asleep”.

  • he fell asleep A euphemism often used in the NT to describe the death of the faithful (e.g. Acts 13:36; 1 Cor. 15:6, 51; 1 Thess. 4:13-5). (FSB)

Acts 7:1-53 – Promise and fulfillment is arguably the most fundamental interpretive paradigm linking the OT and NT and is the driving element in Stephen’s speech. (ESVEC – Response)

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