(Verse 1) - Then said the high priest - (See Matt. 2:4). In this case the high priest seems to have presided in the council.  As such, he spoke for the council and all that were in it.  All present lend their approval to the decisions and actions taken by the council.  This is a difficult position for many of those present to be in.  Some, of a certainty, had sympathies for the Christianity, that is apparent from other passages of Scripture.  There comes a time when separation is needful because of the tremendous conflict in values and priorities that are present in civil and religious service.  Not all that professes religion, or even the common good, truly serves the good.

Are these things so? - To wit, the charge alleged against him of blasphemy against Moses and the temple, (Acts 6:13-14).  In context, we must see that this is not an honest question so much as it is an attempt on the part of the high Priest to get Stephen to incriminate himself before the council.  Stephen, we assume, must have known this clearly, as it is not the first time (nor the last) that the Jewish leaders have acted in this fashion.  It makes is all the more amazing that Stephen spoke up and gave testimony as clearly as he indeed does.  He knew what the deal was, and yet he spoke up anyway.  He understood that there was no chance of converting the leaders, they ahd made that clear.  His intent was to present a clear testimony to the Gospel

(Verse 2) - Men, brethren, and fathers - These were the usual titles by which the Sanhedrin was addressed. In all this Stephen was perfectly respectful, and showed that he was disposed to render due honor to the institutions of the nation.  There is no intent on his part of addressing them as spiritual brethren, as they were not, but as national brethren, with the same ethnic heritage and history.

The God of glory - This is a Hebrew form of expression denoting “the glorious God.” It properly denotes His “majesty, or splendor, or magnificence”; and the word “glory” is often applied to the splendid appearances in which God has manifested Himself to people, (Deut. 5:24; Exo. 33:18; 16:7, 10; Lev. 9:23; Num. 14:10). Perhaps Stephen meant to affirm that God appeared to Abraham in some such glorious or splendid manifestation, by which he would know that he was addressed by God. Stephen, moreover, evidently uses the word “glory” to repel the charge of “blasphemy” against God, and to show that he regarded him as worthy of honor and praise.  It seems more likely that Stephen is referring to God as glorious in His generous character and in His gracious action towards Abraham as over and above all others.

Appeared  - In what manner he appeared is not said. In Gen. 12:1, it is simply recorded that God “had said” unto Abraham, etc.

Unto our father - The Jews valued themselves much on being the children of Abraham. (See Matt. 3:9). The expression was therefore well calculated to conciliate their minds.  Stephen is establishing what they have in common, a physical history and lineage, so that he can point out what they have that is disparate - that is, the lack of spiritual life.

When he was in Mesopotamia - In Gen. 11:31, it is said that Abraham dwelt “in Ur of the Chaldees.” The word “Mesopotamia” properly denotes the region between the two rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. (See notes on Acts 2:9). The name is Greek, and the region had also other names before the Greek name was given to it. In Gen. 11:31; 15:7, it is called Ur of the Chaldees. Mesopotamia and Chaldea might not exactly coincide; but it is evident that Stephen meant to say that “Ur” was in the country afterward called Mesopotamia. Its precise situation is unknown. A Persian fortress of this name is mentioned by an ancient writer between modern Nisibis and the Tigris.

Before he dwelt in Charran - From Gen. 11:31, it would seem that Terah took his son Abraham of his own accord, and removed to Haran. But from Gen. 12:1; 15:7, it appears that God had commanded “Abraham” to remove, and so he ordered it in his providence that “Terah” was disposed to remove his family with an intention of going into the land of Canaan. The word “Charran” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Haran,” (Gen. 11:31). This place was also in Mesopotamia, in 36 degrees 52 minutes north latitude and 39 degrees 5 minutes east longitude. Here Terah died (Gen. 11:32); and to this place Jacob retired when he fled from his brother Esau, (Gen. 27:43). It is situated “in a flat and sandy plain, and is inhabited by a few wandering Arabs, who select it for the delicious water which it contains”.