Marching Folly

At least I assume this is stupid/ignorant. Nevertheless, knowing next to nothing about the bible, I ask...

Acts 13:26 says:

What does "children of the stock of Abraham" mean? Does it mean every human being, or just people who are Abrahamic Monotheists (Jews/Christians/Muslims?) Or something else?

Agemegos

It means 'biological descendants of Abraham'. Both Jews and Arabs claim to be descended from Abraham (separately through his sons Isaac and Ishmael*, but given inter-breeding his descendants must (if in fact any such person actually lived) by now be found in many other populations as well. I don't think that Abraham lived long enough ago that he is likely to be a universal ancestor yet, but the chances are that with his descendants already very numerous in time he will become a unversal ancestor of living people.

* Compare Genesis 22:2 with Genesis 16:15 and Genesis 25:1-2.

Anat

That of course assumes Abraham existed, as well as his various alleged sons.

Marching Folly

Thanks for the help.

Toto

In context, "children of the stock of Abraham" were Jews. There were no Muslims until about 6 centuries later, and it is questionable if there were "Christians" when Paul was alive.

If you read the surrounding verses, Paul was speaking in a synagogue, so it is natural that he would be addressing Jews and "god-fearers" - gentiles who were attracted to Judaism, but had not gone all the way towards conversion.

LeeBuhrul

which of course, thanks to that corner stone of Christianity, incest, is everybody

spin

Perhaps the moderators might split the Amedeo related tangent and let posters get back to the "stupid/ignorant question".

Done

DtC, Moderator, BCH