使徒行传 7
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
司提凡的申辩
7 大祭司问：“这是真的吗？” 2 司提凡说：“各位父老兄弟，请听我说！我们的祖先亚伯拉罕还未迁到哈兰之前，住在美索不达米亚，荣耀的上帝向他显现，说， 3 ‘你要离开家乡和亲族，到我要指示你的地方去。’ 4 亚伯拉罕就离开迦勒底人的地方，在哈兰住了下来。他父亲过世以后，上帝又领他到你们现在居住的这个地方。 5 当时在这片土地上，上帝没有给他任何产业，他甚至连立足之地也没有。但上帝应许要把这片土地赐给他和他的后裔作产业，尽管那时候亚伯拉罕还没有儿子。 6 上帝又说，‘你的子孙必流落异乡，受奴役、被虐待四百年。 7 但我必惩罚奴役他们的国家，之后你的子孙要离开那里，在这片土地上事奉我。’ 8 上帝又赐下割礼作为祂与亚伯拉罕立约的凭据。亚伯拉罕在以撒出生后的第八天为他行割礼。照样，以撒为他的儿子雅各行了割礼，雅各也为他的儿子——以色列十二位先祖行了割礼。[a]
9 “先祖们嫉妒自己的弟弟约瑟，把他卖到了埃及。但上帝一直与他同在， 10 救他脱离一切危难，又赐他过人的智慧，使他在埃及法老面前得到恩宠，官拜宰相治理全国，并管理王室。 11 后来，埃及和迦南全境遭遇饥荒，灾情严重，我们的先祖们断了粮。 12 雅各听说埃及有粮，就派先祖们去那里买粮，那是我们的先祖初次去埃及。 13 他们第二次去的时候，约瑟才和弟兄们相认，并且领他们拜见埃及王。 14 后来，约瑟派人去把父亲雅各和全族七十五人都接到埃及。 15 从此以后，雅各和其他先祖们便定居埃及，直到去世。 16 后来他们的遗体被带回示剑，安葬在亚伯拉罕买自哈抹子孙的墓地里。
17 “上帝对亚伯拉罕所应许的日子快到的时侯，以色列人在埃及的人口已大大增加。 18 后来埃及有一位不认识约瑟的新王登基。 19 他用毒计苦害我们的同胞，虐待我们的祖先，强令他们把婴孩抛弃，不让婴孩存活。 20 那时，摩西出生了，他长得俊美非凡。他的父母在家里偷偷地抚养了他三个月， 21 最后不得已才丢弃他。法老的女儿救了他，收为养子。
22 “摩西学会了埃及人一切的学问，成为一个说话办事很有能力的人。 23 他四十岁那年决定去探望自己的同胞以色列人。 24 他到了他们那里，看见一个埃及人正在欺负以色列人，就打抱不平，杀了那个埃及人。 25 摩西以为同胞们会明白上帝要借着他的手拯救他们，可是他们并不明白。 26 第二天，他看见两个以色列人在打架，就上前劝解说，‘大家都是同胞，为什么互相殴打呢？’ 27 不料那个欺负人的推开摩西说，‘谁立你做我们的首领和审判官？ 28 难道你要杀我，像昨天杀那个埃及人一样吗？’ 29 摩西听了这话，就逃到米甸寄居，在那里成家，生了两个儿子。
30 “过了四十年，在西奈山的旷野，上帝的天使在荆棘火焰中向摩西显现。 31 摩西见状很惊奇，正要上前看个究竟，就听见主说， 32 ‘我是你祖先的上帝，是亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝。’摩西战战兢兢，不敢观看。 33 主又说，‘脱下你脚上的鞋子，因为你所站的地方是圣地。 34 我已清楚看见我子民在埃及所受的苦难，也听见了他们的哀叹，我下来要救他们。你来，我要派你回埃及。’
35 “百姓曾拒绝这位摩西，说，‘谁立你做我们的首领和审判官？’上帝却借着在荆棘中显现的天使亲自差遣他，立他为首领和拯救者。 36 摩西带领以色列人出埃及，过红海，越旷野，四十年间行了许多神迹奇事。 37 就是这位摩西曾对以色列人说，‘上帝要在你们中间兴起一位像我一样的先知。’ 38 这位摩西曾在旷野与以色列的会众——我们的祖先在一起，又在西奈山上与向他传信息的天使在一起，并且领受了生命之道传给我们。
39 “可是我们的祖先不听从他，甚至弃绝他，心里对埃及恋恋不舍。 40 他们请求亚伦说，‘为我们造一些神像来带领我们吧！领我们离开埃及的那个摩西不知怎样了。’ 41 于是，他们造了一个牛犊像，向它献祭，并为自己所做的事沾沾自喜。 42 因此，上帝转脸不顾他们，任由他们祭拜日月星辰，正如先知书的记载，
“‘以色列家啊，
在旷野的四十年间，
你们向我献过祭物和供品吗？
43 你们抬着为自己所造的神像，
就是摩洛的帐篷和理番神明的星，
祭拜它们，
所以我要把你们赶到比巴比伦还远的地方去。’
44 “我们的祖先在旷野的时候，一直带着安放约柜的圣幕，这圣幕是上帝吩咐摩西照他所看见的样式造的。 45 后来我们的祖先承受了圣幕。上帝从我们祖先面前赶走外族人，使他们得到了应许之地。他们同约书亚把圣幕带到那里，一直到大卫的时代。 46 大卫蒙上帝悦纳，祈求为雅各的上帝建造一座圣殿。 47 结果是他的儿子所罗门为上帝建成了圣殿。
48 “其实至高的上帝并不住人造的殿，祂曾借着先知说， 49 ‘天是我的宝座，地是我的脚凳，你们要为我造怎样的殿宇？哪里可作我的安歇之处？ 50 这一切不都是我亲手创造的吗？’
51 “你们这些顽固不化、耳不听心不悔的人[b]，经常抗拒圣灵，所作所为和你们的祖先如出一辙！ 52 哪一位先知没有被你们祖先迫害？那些预言义者——弥赛亚要来的人也被你们的祖先杀害。如今你们竟出卖了那位公义者，杀害了祂！ 53 你们接受了上帝借天使所传的律法，竟不遵守！”
司提凡殉道
54 众人听了这番话，怒火中烧，咬牙切齿。 55 司提凡却被圣灵充满，定睛望天，看见上帝的荣耀和站在上帝右边的耶稣。 56 司提凡说：“看啊！我看见天开了，人子站在上帝的右边。”
57 众人大喊大叫，捂着耳朵，蜂拥而上， 58 把司提凡拉到城外，用石头打他。指控他的人把他们的衣服交给一个名叫扫罗的青年看管。 59 在乱石击打之下，司提凡呼求说：“主耶稣啊，接收我的灵魂吧！”然后跪下高声说： 60 “主啊，不要追究他们的罪！”说完后，就断气了。
使徒行传 7
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
司提反的申辩
7 大祭司说：“真有这些事吗？” 2 司提反说：“各位父老兄弟请听！我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕，在美索不达米亚，还没有住在哈兰的时候，荣耀的 神向他显现， 3 对他说：‘你要离开本地本族，到我指示你的地方去。’ 4 他就离开迦勒底人的地方，住在哈兰。他父亲死后， 神又叫他从那里迁到你们现在所住的地方。 5 在这里 神并没有赐他产业，连立足之地也没有。但 神应许把这地赐给他和他的后裔为业，虽然那时他还没有儿子。 6 神就这样说：‘你的后裔必在外地寄居，人要奴役、虐待他们四百年。’ 7 神又说：‘奴役他们的那个国家，我要亲自惩罚。以后，他们要出来，在这地方事奉我。’ 8 神也赐他割礼为约。这样，亚伯拉罕生了以撒，第八天就给他行了割礼。后来，以撒生雅各，雅各生了十二位祖先。
9 “祖先妒忌约瑟，把他卖到埃及去，然而 神与他同在， 10 救他脱离一切苦难，使他在埃及王法老面前，有智慧、得恩宠。法老立他为首相，管理埃及和法老的全家。 11 后来埃及和迦南全地遭遇饥荒、大灾难，我们的祖先找不到粮食。 12 雅各听见埃及有谷粮，就派我们的祖先去，这是第一次。 13 第二次的时候，约瑟就向哥哥们表露自己的身世，法老才知道约瑟的家世。 14 约瑟就派人去把他父亲雅各和全家七十五人都接来。 15 于是雅各下了埃及。后来他和我们祖先都死了， 16 运到示剑，埋葬在亚伯拉罕用银子向哈抹子孙买来的坟地里。
17 “ 神给亚伯拉罕的应许快要实现的时候，以色列人在埃及人口繁盛增多； 18 但是，到了另一位不认识约瑟的君王兴起统治埃及的时候， 19 他就谋害我们的同胞，虐待我们的祖先，逼他们拋弃自己的婴孩，不容婴孩存活。 20 就在那时候，摩西出生了，他非常俊美，在父亲的家中抚养了三个月。 21 他被拋弃的时候，法老的女儿把他拾起来，当作儿子抚养。 22 摩西学尽了埃及人的一切学问，说话行事都有能力。
23 “到了四十岁，他心中起了一个念头，要去看望自己的同胞以色列人。 24 当他看见有一个人受欺负，就去护卫，为那受屈的抱不平，打死了那个埃及人。 25 他以为同胞们都必知道 神要借着他的手拯救他们，事实上他们却不知道。 26 第二天，有人在打架，摩西就出面调解，说：‘你们是弟兄，为甚么彼此欺负呢？’ 27 那欺负邻舍的把他推开，说：‘谁立了你作我们的领袖和审判官呢？ 28 难道你想杀我，像昨天杀那个埃及人一样吗？’ 29 摩西因为这句话，就逃到米甸地寄居，在那里生了两个儿子。
30 “过了四十年，在西奈山的旷野，有一位使者，在荆棘中的火焰里，向摩西显现。 31 他见了这个异象，十分惊奇；他正上前察看的时候，就有主的声音说： 32 ‘我是你祖宗的 神，就是亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的 神。’摩西战战兢兢，不敢观看。 33 主对他说：‘把你脚上的鞋脱掉，因为你所站的地方是圣地。 34 我的子民在埃及所受的痛苦，我实在看见了；他们的叹息我也听见了，我下来是要救他们。你来，我要派你到埃及去。’ 35 他们拒绝了这位摩西，说：‘谁立了你作领袖和审判官呢？’但 神借着在荆棘中向他显现的使者的手，派他作领袖和救赎者。 36 这人领他们出来，并且在埃及地、红海和旷野，行奇事神迹四十年。 37 以前那位对以色列人说‘ 神要从你们弟兄中间，给你们兴起一位先知像我’的，就是这摩西。 38 那曾经在旷野的大会中，和那在西奈山上对他说话的使者同在，也与我们的祖先同在的，就是他。他领受了活的圣言，传给我们。 39 我们的祖先不肯听从他，反而把他推开，他们的心已经转向了埃及， 40 就对亚伦说：‘给我们做一些神像，可以走在我们前头。因为把我们从埃及地领出来的那个摩西，我们不知道他遭遇了甚么事。’ 41 在那些日子里，他们做了一个牛犊，把祭物献给那偶像，并且因自己手所做的而欢乐。 42 于是 神转身离开，任凭他们事奉天象，正如先知书所说：
‘以色列家啊，
你们在旷野四十年，
岂是将祭牲和祭物献给我呢？
43 你们抬着摩洛的帐幕，
和理番神的星，
就是你们做来敬拜的像。
所以我要把你们放逐到巴比伦那一边去。’
44 “我们的祖先在旷野有作证的帐幕，就是跟摩西谈话的那位指示他，依照他看见的样式做的。 45 我们的祖先相继承受了这帐幕， 神把外族人从他们面前赶走以后，他们就同约书亚把帐幕带进所得为业的地方，直到大卫的日子。 46 大卫在 神面前蒙了恩，就求为雅各的 神找个居所， 47 而由所罗门为他建造殿宇。 48 其实至高者并不住人手所造的，正如先知说：
49 ‘主说：天是我的宝座，
地是我的脚凳，
你们要为我建造怎样的殿呢？
哪里是我安息的地方呢？
50 这一切不都是我手所造的吗？’
51 “你们颈项刚硬、心和耳都未受割礼的人哪！你们时常抗拒圣灵，你们的祖先怎样，你们也怎样。 52 有哪一个先知，你们的祖先不迫害呢？你们杀了那些预先宣告那义者要来的人，现在又把那义者出卖了，杀害了。 53 你们领受了由天使传达的律法，却不遵守。”
司提反被石头打死
54 众人听了这些话，心中非常恼怒，就向着司提反咬牙切齿。 55 但司提反被圣灵充满，定睛望着天，看见 神的荣耀，并且看见耶稣站在 神的右边， 56 就说：“看哪！我看见天开了，人子站在 神的右边。” 57 众人大声喊叫，掩着耳朵，一齐向他冲过去， 58 把他推出城外，用石头打他。那些证人把自己的衣服，放在一个名叫扫罗的青年人脚前。 59 他们用石头打司提反的时候，他呼求说：“主耶稣啊，求你接收我的灵魂！” 60 然后跪下来大声喊着说：“主啊，不要把这罪归给他们！”说了这话，就睡了。
使徒行傳 7
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
司提凡的申辯
7 大祭司問：「這是真的嗎？」 2 司提凡說：「各位父老兄弟，請聽我說！我們的祖先亞伯拉罕還未遷到哈蘭之前，住在美索不達米亞，榮耀的上帝向他顯現，說， 3 『你要離開家鄉和親族，到我要指示你的地方去。』 4 亞伯拉罕就離開迦勒底人的地方，在哈蘭住了下來。他父親過世以後，上帝又領他到你們現在居住的這個地方。 5 當時在這片土地上，上帝沒有給他任何產業，他甚至連立足之地也沒有。但上帝應許要把這片土地賜給他和他的後裔作產業，儘管那時候亞伯拉罕還沒有兒子。 6 上帝又說，『你的子孫必流落異鄉，受奴役、被虐待四百年。 7 但我必懲罰奴役他們的國家，之後你的子孫要離開那裡，在這片土地上事奉我。』 8 上帝又賜下割禮作為祂與亞伯拉罕立約的憑據。亞伯拉罕在以撒出生後的第八天為他行割禮。照樣，以撒為他的兒子雅各行了割禮，雅各也為他的兒子——以色列十二位先祖行了割禮。[a]
9 「先祖們嫉妒自己的弟弟約瑟，把他賣到了埃及。但上帝一直與他同在， 10 救他脫離一切危難，又賜他過人的智慧，使他在埃及法老面前得到恩寵，官拜宰相治理全國，並管理王室。 11 後來，埃及和迦南全境遭遇饑荒，災情嚴重，我們的先祖們斷了糧。 12 雅各聽說埃及有糧，就派先祖們去那裡買糧，那是我們的先祖初次去埃及。 13 他們第二次去的時候，約瑟才和弟兄們相認，並且領他們拜見埃及王。 14 後來，約瑟派人去把父親雅各和全族七十五人都接到埃及。 15 從此以後，雅各和其他先祖們便定居埃及，直到去世。 16 後來他們的遺體被帶回示劍，安葬在亞伯拉罕買自哈抹子孫的墓地裡。
17 「上帝對亞伯拉罕所應許的日子快到的時侯，以色列人在埃及的人口已大大增加。 18 後來埃及有一位不認識約瑟的新王登基。 19 他用毒計苦害我們的同胞，虐待我們的祖先，強令他們把嬰孩拋棄，不讓嬰孩存活。 20 那時，摩西出生了，他長得俊美非凡。他的父母在家裡偷偷地撫養了他三個月， 21 最後不得已才丟棄他。法老的女兒救了他，收為養子。
22 「摩西學會了埃及人一切的學問，成為一個說話辦事很有能力的人。 23 他四十歲那年決定去探望自己的同胞以色列人。 24 他到了他們那裡，看見一個埃及人正在欺負以色列人，就打抱不平，殺了那個埃及人。 25 摩西以為同胞們會明白上帝要藉著他的手拯救他們，可是他們並不明白。 26 第二天，他看見兩個以色列人在打架，就上前勸解說，『大家都是同胞，為什麼互相毆打呢？』 27 不料那個欺負人的推開摩西說，『誰立你作我們的首領和審判官？ 28 難道你要殺我，像昨天殺那個埃及人一樣嗎？』 29 摩西聽了這話，就逃到米甸寄居，在那裡成家，生了兩個兒子。
30 「過了四十年，在西奈山的曠野，上帝的天使在荊棘火焰中向摩西顯現。 31 摩西見狀很驚奇，正要上前看個究竟，就聽見主說， 32 『我是你祖先的上帝，是亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝。』摩西戰戰兢兢，不敢觀看。 33 主又說，『脫下你腳上的鞋子，因為你所站的地方是聖地。 34 我已清楚看見我子民在埃及所受的苦難，也聽見了他們的哀歎，我下來要救他們。你來，我要派你回埃及。』
35 「百姓曾拒絕這位摩西，說，『誰立你作我們的首領和審判官？』上帝卻藉著在荊棘中顯現的天使親自差遣他，立他為首領和拯救者。 36 摩西帶領以色列人出埃及，過紅海，越曠野，四十年間行了許多神蹟奇事。 37 就是這位摩西曾對以色列人說，『上帝要在你們中間興起一位像我一樣的先知。』 38 這位摩西曾在曠野與以色列的會眾——我們的祖先在一起，又在西奈山上與向他傳信息的天使在一起，並且領受了生命之道傳給我們。
39 「可是我們的祖先不聽從他，甚至棄絕他，心裡對埃及戀戀不捨。 40 他們請求亞倫說，『為我們造一些神像來帶領我們吧！領我們離開埃及的那個摩西不知怎樣了。』 41 於是，他們造了一個牛犢像，向它獻祭，並為自己所做的事沾沾自喜。 42 因此，上帝轉臉不顧他們，任由他們祭拜日月星辰，正如先知書的記載，
『以色列家啊，
在曠野的四十年間，
你們向我獻過祭物和供品嗎？
43 你們抬著為自己所造的神像，
就是摩洛的帳篷和理番神明的星，
祭拜它們，
所以我要把你們趕到比巴比倫還遠的地方去。』
44 「我們的祖先在曠野的時候，一直帶著安放約櫃的聖幕，這聖幕是上帝吩咐摩西照他所看見的樣式造的。 45 後來我們的祖先承受了聖幕。上帝從我們祖先面前趕走外族人，使他們得到了應許之地。他們同約書亞把聖幕帶到那裡，一直到大衛的時代。 46 大衛蒙上帝悅納，祈求為雅各的上帝建造一座聖殿。 47 結果是他的兒子所羅門為上帝建成了聖殿。
48 「其實至高的上帝並不住人造的殿，祂曾藉著先知說， 49 『天是我的寶座，地是我的腳凳，你們要為我造怎樣的殿宇？哪裡可作我的安歇之處？ 50 這一切不都是我親手創造的嗎？』
51 「你們這些頑固不化、耳不聽心不悔的人[b]，經常抗拒聖靈，所作所為和你們的祖先如出一轍！ 52 哪一位先知沒有被你們祖先迫害？那些預言義者——彌賽亞要來的人也被你們的祖先殺害。如今你們竟出賣了那位公義者，殺害了祂！ 53 你們接受了上帝藉天使所傳的律法，竟不遵守！」
司提凡殉道
54 眾人聽了這番話，怒火中燒，咬牙切齒。 55 司提凡卻被聖靈充滿，定睛望天，看見上帝的榮耀和站在上帝右邊的耶穌。 56 司提凡說：「看啊！我看見天開了，人子站在上帝的右邊。」
57 眾人大喊大叫，捂著耳朵，蜂擁而上， 58 把司提凡拉到城外，用石頭打他。指控他的人把他們的衣服交給一個名叫掃羅的青年看管。 59 在亂石擊打之下，司提凡呼求說：「主耶穌啊，接收我的靈魂吧！」然後跪下高聲說： 60 「主啊，不要追究他們的罪！」說完後，就斷氣了。
Acts 7
Amplified Bible
Stephen’s Defense
7 Now the [a]high priest asked [Stephen], “Are these charges true?”
2 And he answered, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory [the Shekinah, the radiance of God] appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,(A) 3 and He said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.’(B) 4 Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God sent him to this country in which you now live.(C) 5 But He did not give him inheritable property, not even enough ground to take a step on, yet He promised that He would give it to Him as a possession, and to his descendants after him.(D) 6 And this is, in effect, what God spoke [to him]: That his descendants would be aliens (strangers) in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘And I will judge any nation to whom they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me [in worship] in this place.’(E) 8 And God gave Abraham a covenant [a formal agreement to be strictly observed] of [which] circumcision [was the sign]; and so [under these circumstances] Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac [became the father] of [b]Jacob, and Jacob [became the father] of the [c]twelve patriarchs.(F)
9 “The [ten elder] patriarchs, overwhelmed with jealousy, sold [their younger brother] Joseph into [slavery in] Egypt; but God was with him,(G) 10 and He rescued him from all his suffering, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made Joseph governor over Egypt and over his entire household.(H)
11 “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great distress and our fathers could not find food [for their households and livestock].(I) 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.(J) 13 And on the second visit Joseph identified himself to his brothers, and Joseph’s family and background were revealed to Pharaoh.(K) 14 Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.(L) 15 And Jacob (Israel) went down into Egypt, and [d]there he died, as did our fathers;(M) 16 and [from Egypt] [e]their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.(N)
17 “But as the time [for the fulfillment] of the promise which God had made to Abraham was approaching, the [Hebrew] people increased and multiplied in Egypt,(O) 18 until [the time when] there arose another king over egypt who did not know joseph [nor his history and the merit of his service to Egypt].(P) 19 He shrewdly exploited our race and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their [male] babies so that they would die.(Q) 20 It was at this [critical] time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and for three months he was nourished in his father’s house.(R) 21 Then when he was set outside [to die], Pharaoh’s daughter rescued him and claimed him for herself, and cared for him as her own son.(S) 22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. 23 But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one [of them] being treated unfairly, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking and killing the Egyptian. 25 He expected his countrymen to understand that God was granting them freedom through him [assuming that they would accept him], but they did not understand. 26 Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But the man who was injuring his neighbor pushed Moses away, saying, ‘Who appointed you ruler and judge over us? 28 Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this remark Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons.(T)
30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount [f]Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; but as he went near to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came [to him, saying]: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground [worthy of reverence and respect]. 34 I have most certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, and I will send you to Egypt [as My messenger].’(U)
35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the very one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, with the [protecting and helping] hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush.(V) 36 This man led them out [of Egypt] after performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.(W) 37 This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet [g]like me from your countrymen.’(X) 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles [divine words that still live] to be handed down to you.(Y) 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be subject to him [and refused to listen to him]. They rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.(Z) 40 They said to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’(AA) 41 In those days they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced and celebrated over the works of their hands.(AB) 42 But God turned away [from them] and handed them over to serve the [h]host of heaven. As it is written and forever remains written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not [really] to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel?(AC) 43 You also took along the tabernacle (portable temple) of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship; and I will remove you beyond Babylon [carrying you away into exile].’(AD)
44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.(AE) 45 Our fathers also brought it in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed the [i]nations whom God drove out before our fathers, [and so it remained here] until the time of David,(AF) 46 who found favor (grace, spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and asked that he might [be allowed to] find a dwelling place for the [j]God of Jacob.(AG) 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.(AH) 48 However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,(AI)
49
‘Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool for My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?
50
‘Was it not My hand that made all these things?’(AJ)
51 “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.(AK) 52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained and delivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!”
Stephen Put to Death
54 Now when [k]they heard this [accusation and understood its implication], they were cut to the heart, and they began grinding their teeth [in rage] at him. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] and [l]the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and together rushed at him [considering him guilty of blasphemy]. 58 Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man named [m]Saul.(AL) 59 They continued stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees [in worship], he cried out loudly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them [do not charge them]!” When he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].
Footnotes
- Acts 7:1 Probably Caiaphas. See 4:6.
- Acts 7:8 Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Gen 32:28).
- Acts 7:8 Ancestral fathers of the twelve tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.
- Acts 7:15 Jacob was buried in Abraham’s tomb at Machpelah in Canaan.
- Acts 7:16 Lit they, i.e. the bodies of Joseph and his brothers.
- Acts 7:30 Horeb is the range of mountains of which Sinai is a peak (Ex 3:1).
- Acts 7:37 Or as He raised up me.
- Acts 7:42 A mythological group of gods represented by the heavenly bodies and constellations.
- Acts 7:45 Or Gentiles.
- Acts 7:46 The earliest mss read house instead of “God”; the Septuagint reads God.
- Acts 7:54 This would include the members of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and those witnessing the proceedings.
- Acts 7:56 The vision acknowledged Stephen’s right standing with God.
- Acts 7:58 At this time Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) was an active and devoted Pharisee.
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