Contradictions and Paradoxes in Acts 7:2

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Acts 7:2 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Acts 7:2. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Luke, God, who is full of glory, showed Himself to Abraham a long time ago when Abraham lived in a faraway place called Mesopotamia. This was before Abraham moved to another place called Charran.

Acts 7:2: 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,

Contradiction with Genesis 12:1

Acts 7:2 states that God appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Haran, whereas Genesis 12:1 suggests the call came after Terah's death and when Abraham was already in Haran.

Genesis 12:1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Contradiction with Genesis 11:31-32

Acts 7:2 implies that the call to Abraham happened before his father Terah died, yet Genesis 11:31-32 indicates that Terah led the family to Haran and died there before the call in Genesis 12:1.

Genesis 11:31-32: And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Contradiction with Joshua 24:3

Acts 7:2 mentions God appearing to Abraham before he entered Canaan, but Joshua 24:3 indicates that God took their father Abraham from beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan, which could imply a different sequence.

Joshua 24:3: And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

Contradiction with Nehemiah 9:7

Acts 7:2 specifies that God’s appearance was in Mesopotamia, but Nehemiah 9:7 mentions God's choice of Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees, aligned more closely with Genesis accounts rather than Stephen's speech in Acts.

Nehemiah 9:7: Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

Paradox #1

Acts 7:2 contains Stephen's speech where he mentions Abraham's call from God happening in Mesopotamia. The potential contradiction is with Genesis 12:1, which suggests that Abraham was called after he had moved to Haran. This inconsistency arises due to different accounts of when and where Abraham received his call.

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