Acts 7:53

KJV

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

Who {G3748} have received {G2983} the law {G3551} by {G1519} the disposition {G1296} of angels {G32}, and {G2532} have {G5442} not {G3756} kept {G5442} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

you! — who receive the Torah as having been delivered by angels — but do not keep it!”

Berean Standard Bible

you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

American Standard Version

ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 7:53 stands as a climactic and damning indictment delivered by Stephen during his defense before the Sanhedrin, just moments before his martyrdom. This verse encapsulates the core of his argument: that the very Jewish leaders who accused him of blasphemy against the Law were themselves guilty of a profound and persistent rebellion against God's divine revelation. It highlights the stark contrast between the majestic reception of the Law, mediated by angels, and Israel's historical and contemporary failure to obey its precepts, culminating in their rejection of God's ultimate messenger, Jesus Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 7:53 concludes Stephen's lengthy and impassioned speech, which meticulously recounts Israel's history from Abraham to Solomon. Stephen, chosen as one of the first deacons, was falsely accused of speaking against the temple and the Law, and blaspheming Moses and God, as detailed in [Acts 6:11-14](/acts/6-11-14 "Charges Against Stephen"). In his defense, Stephen masterfully reinterprets Israel's history, demonstrating a consistent pattern of resistance to God's Spirit and His chosen messengers, from Joseph and Moses to the prophets. This verse immediately follows Stephen's direct and fiery denunciation in [Acts 7:51-52](/acts/7-51-52 "Stephen's Accusation of Resistance"), where he labels his accusers as "stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears," echoing prophetic condemnations and preparing the ground for this final, devastating charge regarding their failure to keep the Law.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Stephen was addressing the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious council, composed primarily of Sadducees and Pharisees who prided themselves on their meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law. For them, the Law (Torah) was the cornerstone of their identity and covenant relationship with God, believed to have been given directly by God at Mount Sinai amidst thunder, lightning, and angelic presence ([Exodus 19-20](/exodus/19-20 "The Giving of the Law at Sinai")). The tradition of angelic mediation of the Law was a well-established Jewish belief, further emphasizing its divine origin and solemnity. Stephen's accusation in [Acts 7:53](/acts/7-53 "Stephen's Condemnation of the Sanhedrin") directly challenged their self-perception as guardians of the Law, exposing their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness in rejecting the very Messiah who embodied and fulfilled that Law.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Acts and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Revelation and Human Disobedience**, starkly contrasting the perfect, divinely delivered Law with humanity's consistent failure to obey it. Secondly, it highlights **Accountability and Hypocrisy**, as Stephen confronts the religious elite with their own profound spiritual failure, despite their outward adherence to religious practices. They were entrusted with God's perfect revelation, mediated in a majestic way, yet failed to live by its tenets, culminating in their rejection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of the Law. Finally, the mention of **Angelic Mediation of the Law** reinforces the Law's transcendent authority and the solemnity of its reception, a concept also affirmed elsewhere in the New Testament, such as in [Galatians 3:19](/galatians/3-19 "The Law Ordained by Angels") and [Hebrews 2:2](/hebrews/2-2 "The Word Spoken by Angels").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **received (Greek, _lambánō'_):** This verb signifies "to take" or "to get hold of," often implying an active reception or appropriation. In this context, it emphasizes that the Jewish people, specifically their leaders, were not merely passive recipients but actively "took hold of" or "accepted" the Law. This highlights their direct responsibility and accountability for what they had been given.
* **disposition (Greek, _diatagḗ'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to arrange" or "to order," _diatagḗ_ refers to an "arrangement," "institution," or "ordinance." Here, it specifically denotes the ordered, structured, and authoritative manner in which the Law was given. It speaks to the solemn and divinely orchestrated process of the Law's promulgation, often understood to involve the orderly ranks of angels.
* **angels (Greek, _ángelos'_):** Meaning "messenger," this term refers to celestial beings who serve as God's agents. Their presence at the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai was a traditional Jewish belief, underscoring the Law's divine origin, majesty, and the awe-inspiring circumstances of its delivery. Stephen's inclusion of "angels" here serves to heighten the gravity of the Sanhedrin's subsequent disobedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who have received the law by the disposition of angels,"**: This clause establishes the profound privilege and solemn responsibility of the Jewish people. Stephen reminds his accusers that the Law, which they claim to uphold and on which their authority rests, was not a human invention but a divine revelation. The phrase "by the disposition of angels" emphasizes the majestic, orderly, and supernatural circumstances of its delivery at Mount Sinai, mediated by God's heavenly hosts. This highlights the Law's unparalleled authority and sacredness, making the subsequent failure to keep it even more egregious.
* **"and have not kept [it]."**: This is the devastating punchline of Stephen's argument. Despite the Law's divine origin, its majestic delivery, and the solemn covenant it represented, the very people who received it, and particularly their leaders, consistently failed to obey its commands. The accusation of "not kept [it]" encompasses not merely isolated acts of transgression but a historical pattern of rebellion and a fundamental resistance to God's will, culminating in their rejection of Jesus, the Law's ultimate fulfillment. This exposes their profound hypocrisy and spiritual blindness.

#### Literary Devices
Stephen employs several powerful literary devices in Acts 7:53. The most prominent is **Antithesis**, creating a stark contrast between the majestic, divine origin of the Law ("received the law by the disposition of angels") and the human failure to obey it ("and have not kept [it]"). This juxtaposition highlights the profound spiritual disconnect of his audience. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as Stephen turns the accusation of blasphemy against the Law back onto his accusers, demonstrating that those who pride themselves on upholding the Law are its true transgressors. Furthermore, the verse functions as a climactic **Accusation**, a direct and unsparing indictment that seals Stephen's fate but powerfully conveys his message of Israel's persistent rebellion against God's Spirit and His messengers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 7:53 profoundly underscores the consistent tension between divine revelation and human response throughout salvation history. God graciously reveals His will and truth, whether through the Law given at Sinai, the prophets, or ultimately through His Son, Jesus Christ. Yet, humanity, particularly those in positions of religious authority, often demonstrates a hardened heart and a resistance to truly embrace and obey that revelation. This verse highlights that mere possession of divine truth or participation in religious rituals is insufficient; true faith demands a transformed heart that yields to God's commands. It also foreshadows the New Covenant, where the Law is written on hearts by the Spirit, enabling genuine obedience that the Old Covenant, despite its divine origin, could not fully achieve due to human sinfulness.

* [Galatians 3:19](/galatians/3-19 "The Law Given Through Angels"): Paul similarly notes that the Law "was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator," emphasizing its temporary and preparatory role until the coming of Christ.
* [Hebrews 2:2](/hebrews/2-2 "The Word Spoken by Angels"): This verse speaks of "the word spoken by angels" as being firm, drawing a contrast with the even greater authority of the salvation spoken by the Lord Himself.
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "The Law Reveals Sin"): Paul explains that "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin," showing that the Law's primary purpose was to reveal sin, not to provide a means of justification.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 7:53 serves as a timeless and sobering warning against spiritual hypocrisy and the profound danger of merely possessing divine truth without embodying it. It challenges us to move beyond intellectual assent or outward religious observance to a genuine, heart-level obedience to God's Word. It's not enough to know what God commands; true faith is demonstrated by our diligent striving, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to live according to His will. We are called to examine our own hearts for areas of resistance, stubbornness, or unwillingness to fully submit to God's leading, just as Stephen accused the Sanhedrin of being "stiffnecked." This verse reminds us that the ultimate test of our faith is not our knowledge of God's commands, but our willingness to keep them, recognizing that our inability to perfectly do so points us to our desperate need for Christ's grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be guilty of "receiving the law" (knowing God's commands) but "not keeping it" in my daily life?**
* **How does my understanding of the Law's divine origin and purpose influence my commitment to obedience?**
* **What areas of my heart or life might be resistant to the Holy Spirit's guidance, similar to the "stiffnecked" accusation Stephen made?**

### FAQ

**Why does Stephen emphasize that the Law was received "by the disposition of angels"?**

Answer: Stephen's emphasis on the angelic mediation of the Law serves a crucial rhetorical and theological purpose. Firstly, it highlights the immense dignity, authority, and divine origin of the Mosaic Law. For the Jewish leaders, the Law was their most sacred possession, given directly by God in a spectacular display at Mount Sinai. The tradition that angels were present and instrumental in this delivery (as also seen in [Galatians 3:19](/galatians/3-19 "The Law Ordained by Angels") and [Hebrews 2:2](/hebrews/2-2 "The Word Spoken by Angels")) underscored its profound sanctity. By reminding them of this majestic reception, Stephen heightens the gravity of their subsequent failure to keep it. It makes their disobedience, and especially their rejection of Jesus, the ultimate divine messenger, all the more inexcusable and hypocritical. He is essentially saying, "You received this most sacred, divinely-delivered Law with great pomp and circumstance, yet you have consistently failed to obey it."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 7:53, while a severe indictment of Israel's failure to keep the Law, ultimately points to the profound necessity and triumph of Christ. The Law, given with such divine majesty and angelic accompaniment, was perfect in its revelation of God's holy standards, yet it proved utterly insufficient to save humanity because of the inherent sinfulness of the human heart. Stephen's accusation that "you have not kept [it]" underscores humanity's universal inability to perfectly fulfill the Law's demands, a truth powerfully articulated by Paul in [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "The Law Reveals Sin"), where he states that "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified." This failure of the Law to bring righteousness, not due to any deficiency in the Law itself but in human nature, sets the stage for the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the one who perfectly fulfilled the Law, not by abolishing it but by completing its purpose ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection, Christ accomplished what the Law could not ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "The Law's Weakness and Christ's Provision")), offering grace and truth that supersede the Law's condemnation ([John 1:17](/john/1-17 "Grace and Truth Through Jesus")). Thus, Acts 7:53, in exposing the Law's inability to save due to human disobedience, powerfully magnifies the grace of God found in Christ, who is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Christ, the End of the Law")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 2:2

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Galatians 3:19

¶ Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Acts 7:38

This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Deuteronomy 33:2

And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them.

John 7:19

Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Galatians 6:13

For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Ezekiel 20:18

But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: