And he gave him the covenant of circumcision,.... Or the covenant, of which circumcision was a sign or token, Genesis 17:11. Stephen speaks here in the language of the Jews, who are wont to speak of circumcision after this manner; hence in the Jewish liturgy, there is a collect, לברית מילה, "for the covenant of circumcision" h; and so it is said i,
"when Joseph died, they made void the "covenant of circumcision":''
and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; according to the express command in Genesis 17:12
and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs; the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.
h Seder Tephillot, fol. 197. 1. Ed. Basil. Vid. Kimchi in Mal. iii. 1. i Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 90. 1.