Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 7:2

2 And he said, Men , brethren, and fathers hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

To take away any prejudice they might have conceived against him; and to recommend, not his person so much, as his Doctrine to them; he calls them Brethren, 1. As hoping in the same promises with them. 2. Observing the same Law. 3. Worshipping the same God.

A word of respect (especially) the elder amongst them, or his Judges: thus the Roman Senators were called Fathers, and Magistrates ought to be reverenced as the Fathers of their Countrey.

Who is also called. Psal. 24.7. The King of glory, from whom all glory descends to Angels or Men. By this and what follows, St. Stephen would shew that he honoured the true God, and thought respectfully of the Law, the Temple, and the Patriarchs, whom he was accused to contemn and disgrace.

He names Abraham, because he was accounted the first Father, and Patriarch of the Iews, and had the first clear promise, that the Messiah should come of his Seed.

Mesopotamia is sometimes taken strictly for that Countrey, which lies betwixt the two Rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, from whence it had its name; sometimes more largely, including Chalde, and so 'tis taken here.

A City of the Parthians, in the borders of Mesopotamia, towards the Land of Canaan.