Note 14 at Acts 7:43: Moloch was one of the names given to the idol-god of the Ammonites (1 Ki. 11:7). This idol was also called Milcom (1 Ki. 11:5, 33 with verse 7). The worship of Moloch was also a part of the worship of Baal (Jer. 32:35). In the worship of Moloch, children were burnt as sacrifices. The Lord expressly forbade His people to do this (Lev. 18:21; Dt. 18:10) and prescribed the death penalty for anyone who disobeyed this commandment (Lev. 20:2).

According to some ancient descriptions, the image of Moloch was a hollow brazen figure with a human body and a head of an ox. The arms were outstretched. The image would be heated red hot by fires from within and then the children would be placed in the arms of Moloch to slowly burn. The priests would beat drums to drown out the cries of the infants. Solomon worshiped Moloch although it is not recorded that he sacrificed any of his children. However, it is recorded that both Ahaz and Manasseh, both kings of Judah, made their children to pass through the fire to Moloch (2 Chr. 28:3; 2 Ki. 21:6). Other Israelites also offered their children as sacrifices to this god (Jer. 7:31; 19:4-5; Ezek. 16:21; 23:37, 39).

Note 15 at Acts 7:43: This same pagan deity is called Chiun in Amos 5:26, which is the scripture Stephen is quoting here (see O.T. Scriptures Cited in Acts 7:42-43). Most scholars believe that this was the Coptic name for Saturn, the star-god of Babylon, and hence, the Lord's mention of carrying them "away beyond Babylon" (v. 43).