And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
And they made a calf in those days - in imitation of the ox and bull in Egypt, and indeed generally in the East; as appears by the Nineveh sculptures. The ox, as the symbol of agriculture, and so of all that supports human life, was naturally selected for special honour in the idolatry of symbols. As one of the cherubic forms in the holy of holies, it was employed in the tabernacle and temple service, not as an object of worship, but to convey symbolic instruction, and so exalt the conceptions of the worshippers. It is worthy of notice, that whereas the Old Testament historian ascribes the making of this image to Aaron, Stephen ascribes it to the people; and indeed no one can read the history without perceiving that Aaron merely yielded to the clamour of a people maddened at that moment with idolatrous inclinations, to the dishonour alike of Him who had brought them out of Egyptian bondage, and of Moses, His instrument in this great deliverance.
And offered sacrifice unto the idol, х too (G3588) eidooloo (G1497)]. In the strictest sense it was not an idol, but intended as a visible representation of Yahweh; but it was regarded as nothing less than idolatry by Him who, in the second commandment, had condemned not only the worshipping but even the making for purposes of worship, of any graven image, and had told them how jealous He was on this subject. And no wonder, because all worship by the aid of, or through the medium of, visible representations of created objects has sooner or later degenerated into the worship of the objects themselves; and even where it does not reach to naked idolatry, it tends to materialize and debase the worship of Him who is a spirit.
And rejoined in the works of their own hands. Thus does Stephen hold forth the deep degradation into which the nation had sunk, when after all that the Lord had done for them, they became intoxicated with idolatrous joy in a thing of their own handiwork.