And he gave him the covenant of circumcision,.... Or the covenant, of which circumcision was a sign or token, Ge 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, hlym tyrbl, "for the covenant of circumcision" ; and so it is said ,"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 Ge 17:12and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs; the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Seder Tephillot, fol. 197. 1. Ed. Basil. Vid. Kimchi in Mal. iii. 1. Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 90.