Acts 7:1
Then the high priest said: Are these things so?
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Dixit autem princeps sacerdotum : Si hæc ita se habent ?
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς· Εἰ ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει;
Haydock's commentary
Are these things so? The high priest speaks after this mild manner, being either terrified, or charmed with his angelical countenance. St. Stephen's design in this discourse, was to shew them, first, that he was falsely accused of speaking either against Moses, or the law, for which he shews so great a veneration. 2. He puts them in mind, that the true worship of God may subsist without a temple, as it did in the time of Abraham, and the patriarchs, before the law was given, or the temple built. 3. That as their forefathers had been rebellious to Moses, and disobedient to the prophets, whom they many times persecuted even to death, so they had lately resisted, persecuted, and crucified their Messias. (Witham)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XV on Acts vi. 8
See how even among the seven one was preëminent, and won the first prize. For though the ordination was common to him and them, yet he drew upon himself greater grace. And observe, how he wrought no (signs and wonders) before this time, but only when he became publicly known; to show that grace alone is not sufficient, but there must be ordination also; so that there was a further access of the Spirit. For if they were full of the Spirit, it was of that which is from the Laver of Baptism. “Then there arose certain of them of the synagogue.” ( v. 9 .) Again he uses the phrase of “rising up” ( ἀνάστασιν , Hom. xiii. p. 81), to denote their exasperation and wrath. Here we have a great multitude. And observe the difference in the form of accusation: for since Gamaliel had stopped them from finding fault on the former plea, they bring in another charge. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XV on Acts vi. 8
Whence, I pray you, did that grace bloom upon the countenance of Stephen? (Recapitulation.) The writer gives him this report above, that he was “full of faith.” ( ch. vi. 8 ). For it is possible to have a grace that does not consist in works of healing: “For to one is given the grace of the Spirit ( 1 Cor. xii. 8, 9 ) in such and such wise ( τοιὣσδε ). But here, it seems to me, it says that he was also gracious to look at: “They saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” “Full of faith and of power”: ( v. 15 ) which is also the character given of Barnabas “he was a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” ( ch. xi. 24 .) Whence we learn that the sincere and innocent are, above all others, the men to be saved, and that these same are also more gracious. “Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words.” ( v. …