“They Made a Calf”: Idolatry and Temple in Acts 7

Abstract

Within the narrative of Luke-Acts, the (golden) calf is mentioned only once, in Stephen’s famed speech in Acts 7, where it plays a pivotal role in Stephen’s recounting of Israel’s story.1 In this chapter, I will argue that Stephen uses the calf episode in a programmatic way to counter the charges brought against him and, indeed, to redirect those charges on to those who sit in judgment over him. This will require that I attend to the nature of the indictments on the basis of which Stephen is brought before the Jerusalem council and then to the overall development of his speech. I will then be in a position to urge that Stephen uses the calf incident to speak to both charges, the one concerning his position vis-à-vis Moses and the law and the other concerning “this holy place,” the temple (Acts 6:13).