司提凡的申辩

大祭司问:“这是真的吗?” 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, ‘你要离开家乡和亲族,到我要指示你的地方去。’ 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。 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。 上帝又说,‘你的子孙必流落异乡,受奴役、被虐待四百年。 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。’ 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]

“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。

Footnotes

  1. 7:8 第八节后半部分或译“以撒生雅各,雅各生以色列十二位先祖。”
  2. 7:51 耳不听心不悔的人”希腊文是“心与耳未受割礼的人”。

司提反的申辩

大祭司说:“真有这些事吗?” 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, 对他说:‘你要离开本地本族,到我指示你的地方去。’ 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。 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。  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。’  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。’  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。

“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。

司提反的申辯

大祭司說:“真有這些事嗎?” 司提反說:“各位父老兄弟請聽!我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕,在美索不達米亞,還沒有住在哈蘭的時候,榮耀的 神向他顯現, 對他說:‘你要離開本地本族,到我指示你的地方去。’ 他就離開迦勒底人的地方,住在哈蘭。他父親死後, 神又叫他從那裡遷到你們現在所住的地方。 在這裡 神並沒有賜他產業,連立足之地也沒有。但 神應許把這地賜給他和他的後裔為業,雖然那時他還沒有兒子。  神就這樣說:‘你的後裔必在外地寄居,人要奴役、虐待他們四百年。’  神又說:‘奴役他們的那個國家,我要親自懲罰。以後,他們要出來,在這地方事奉我。’  神也賜他割禮為約。這樣,亞伯拉罕生了以撒,第八天就給他行了割禮。後來,以撒生雅各,雅各生了十二位祖先。

“祖先妒忌約瑟,把他賣到埃及去,然而 神與他同在, 10 救他脫離一切苦難,使他在埃及王法老面前,有智慧、得恩寵。法老立他為首相,管理埃及和法老的全家。 11 後來埃及和迦南全地遭遇饑荒、大災難,我們的祖先找不到糧食。 12 雅各聽見埃及有穀糧,就派我們的祖先去,這是第一次。 13 第二次的時候,約瑟就向哥哥們表露自己的身世,法老才知道約瑟的家世。 14 約瑟就派人去把他父親雅各和全家七十五人都接來。 15 於是雅各下了埃及。後來他和我們祖先都死了, 16 運到示劍,埋葬在亞伯拉罕用銀子向哈抹子孫買來的墳地裡。

17 “ 神給亞伯拉罕的應許快要實現的時候,以色列人在埃及人口繁盛增多; 18 但是,到了另一位不認識約瑟的君王興起統治埃及的時候, 19 他就謀害我們的同胞,虐待我們的祖先,逼他們拋棄自己的嬰孩,不容嬰孩存活。 20 就在那時候,摩西出生了,他非常俊美,在父親的家中撫養了三個月。 21 他被拋棄的時候,法老的女兒把他拾起來,當作兒子撫養。 22 摩西學盡了埃及人的一切學問,說話行事都有能力。

23 “到了四十歲,他心中起了一個念頭,要去看望自己的同胞以色列人。 24 當他看見有一個人受欺負,就去護衛,為那受屈的抱不平,打死了那個埃及人。 25 他以為同胞們都必知道 神要藉著他的手拯救他們,事實上他們卻不知道。 26 第二天,有人在打架,摩西就出面調解,說:‘你們是弟兄,為甚麼彼此欺負呢?’ 27 那欺負鄰舍的把他推開,說:‘誰立了你作我們的領袖和審判官呢? 28 難道你想殺我,像昨天殺那個埃及人一樣嗎?’ 29 摩西因為這句話,就逃到米甸地寄居,在那裡生了兩個兒子。

30 “過了四十年,在西奈山的曠野,有一位使者,在荊棘中的火燄裡,向摩西顯現。 31 他見了這個異象,十分驚奇;他正上前察看的時候,就有主的聲音說: 32 ‘我是你祖宗的 神,就是亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的 神。’摩西戰戰兢兢,不敢觀看。 33 主對他說:‘把你腳上的鞋脫掉,因為你所站的地方是聖地。 34 我的子民在埃及所受的痛苦,我實在看見了;他們的歎息我也聽見了,我下來是要救他們。你來,我要派你到埃及去。’ 35 他們拒絕了這位摩西,說:‘誰立了你作領袖和審判官呢?’但 神藉著在荊棘中向他顯現的使者的手,派他作領袖和救贖者。 36 這人領他們出來,並且在埃及地、紅海和曠野,行奇事神蹟四十年。 37 以前那位對以色列人說‘ 神要從你們弟兄中間,給你們興起一位先知像我’的,就是這摩西。 38 那曾經在曠野的大會中,和那在西奈山上對他說話的使者同在,也與我們的祖先同在的,就是他。他領受了活的聖言,傳給我們。 39 我們的祖先不肯聽從他,反而把他推開,他們的心已經轉向了埃及, 40 就對亞倫說:‘給我們做一些神像,可以走在我們前頭。因為把我們從埃及地領出來的那個摩西,我們不知道他遭遇了甚麼事。’ 41 在那些日子裡,他們做了一個牛犢,把祭物獻給那偶像,並且因自己手所做的而歡樂。 42 於是 神轉身離開,任憑他們事奉天象,正如先知書所說:

‘以色列家啊,

你們在曠野四十年,

豈是將祭牲和祭物獻給我呢?

43 你們抬著摩洛的帳幕,

和理番神的星,

就是你們做來敬拜的像。

所以我要把你們放逐到巴比倫那一邊去。’

44 “我們的祖先在曠野有作證的帳幕,就是跟摩西談話的那位指示他,依照他看見的樣式做的。 45 我們的祖先相繼承受了這帳幕, 神把外族人從他們面前趕走以後,他們就同約書亞把帳幕帶進所得為業的地方,直到大衛的日子。 46 大衛在 神面前蒙了恩,就求為雅各的 神找個居所, 47 而由所羅門為他建造殿宇。 48 其實至高者並不住人手所造的,正如先知說:

49 ‘主說:天是我的寶座,

地是我的腳凳,

你們要為我建造怎樣的殿呢?

哪裡是我安息的地方呢?

50 這一切不都是我手所造的嗎?’

51 “你們頸項剛硬、心和耳都未受割禮的人哪!你們時常抗拒聖靈,你們的祖先怎樣,你們也怎樣。 52 有哪一個先知,你們的祖先不迫害呢?你們殺了那些預先宣告那義者要來的人,現在又把那義者出賣了,殺害了。 53 你們領受了由天使傳達的律法,卻不遵守。”

司提反被石頭打死

54 眾人聽了這些話,心中非常惱怒,就向著司提反咬牙切齒。 55 但司提反被聖靈充滿,定睛望著天,看見 神的榮耀,並且看見耶穌站在 神的右邊, 56 就說:“看哪!我看見天開了,人子站在 神的右邊。” 57 眾人大聲喊叫,掩著耳朵,一齊向他衝過去, 58 把他推出城外,用石頭打他。那些證人把自己的衣服,放在一個名叫掃羅的青年人腳前。 59 他們用石頭打司提反的時候,他呼求說:“主耶穌啊,求你接收我的靈魂!” 60 然後跪下來大聲喊著說:“主啊,不要把這罪歸給他們!”說了這話,就睡了。

Stephen’s Defense

Now the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

And [a]Stephen said, “Listen to me, [b](A)brothers and fathers! (B)The God of glory (C)appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in [c]Haran, and He said to him, ‘(D)Go from your country and your relatives, and come to the land which I will show you.’ (E)Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in [d]Haran. And (F)from there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, (G)He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child. But (H)God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be strangers in a land that was not theirs, and [e]they would enslave and mistreat them for four hundred years. And whatever nation to which they are enslaved I Myself will judge,’ said God, ‘and (I)after that they will come out and [f]serve Me in this place.’ And He (J)gave him [g]the covenant of circumcision; and so (K)Abraham fathered Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and (L)Isaac fathered Jacob, and (M)Jacob, the twelve (N)patriarchs.

“The patriarchs (O)became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and (P)granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and his entire household.

11 “Now (Q)a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers [h]could find no food. 12 But (R)when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 And on the second visit, (S)Joseph [i]made himself known to his brothers, and (T)Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 Then (U)Joseph sent word and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, (V)seventy-five [j](W)people in all. 15 And (X)Jacob went down to Egypt, and he and our fathers died there. 16 And they were brought back from there to [k](Y)Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of [l]Hamor in [m]Shechem.

17 “But as the (Z)time of the promise which God had assured to Abraham was approaching, (AA)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until (AB)another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 19 It was he who (AC)shrewdly took advantage of our nation and mistreated our fathers in order that they would (AD)abandon their infants in the Nile, so that they would not survive. 20 At this time (AE)Moses was born; and he was beautiful to God. He was nurtured for three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been put outside, (AF)Pharaoh’s daughter [n]took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all (AG)the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in [o]speaking and action. 23 But when he was approaching the age of forty, (AH)it entered his [p]mind to visit his countrymen, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended and took vengeance for the oppressed man by fatally striking the Egyptian. 25 And he thought that his brothers understood that God was granting them [q]deliverance [r]through him; but they did not understand. 26 (AI)And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting each other, and he tried to reconcile them to peace, by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why are you injuring each other?’ 27 But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘(AJ)Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 28 (AK)You do not intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ 29 At this remark, (AL)Moses fled and became a stranger in the land of [s]Midian, where he (AM)fathered two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed, (AN)an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came: 32 (AO)I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and did not dare to look closely. 33 (AP)But the Lord said to him, ‘[t](AQ)Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 34 (AR)I have certainly seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them; and (AS)now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they (AT)disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God [u]sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the [v]help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 (AU)This man led them out, performing (AV)wonders and [w]signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the (AW)wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘(AX)God will raise up for you a prophet [x]like me from your countrymen.’ 38 This is the one who was in (AY)the [y]assembly in the wilderness together with (AZ)the angel who spoke to him at length on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received (BA)living (BB)words to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him; on the contrary they (BC)rejected him and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 40 (BD)saying to Aaron, ‘Make us [z]a god who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egyptwe do not know what happened to him.’ 41 [aa]At that time (BE)they made a [ab]calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in (BF)the works of their hands. 42 But God (BG)turned away and gave them over to [ac]serve the heavenly [ad]lights; as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘(BH)You did not offer Me victims and sacrifices (BI)for forty years in the wilderness, did you, house of Israel? 43 (BJ)You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god [ae]Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will deport you beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had (BK)the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it (BL)according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn received it, and they also (BM)brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the [af]nations that God drove out from our fathers, until the time of David. 46 [ag](BN)David found favor in God’s sight, and (BO)asked that he might [ah]find a dwelling place for the [ai]house of Jacob. 47 But it was (BP)Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 However, (BQ)the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49 (BR)Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool of My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
Or what place is there for My rest?
50 (BS)Was it not My hand that made all these things?’

51 “You men who are (BT)stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 (BU)Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of (BV)the Righteous One, and (BW)you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him; 53 you who received the Law as (BX)ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Stephen Put to Death

54 Now when they heard this, they were (BY)infuriated, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But he, being (BZ)full of the Holy Spirit, (CA)looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing (CB)at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the (CC)heavens opened and (CD)the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one [aj]mind. 58 When they had (CE)driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and (CF)the witnesses (CG)laid aside their cloaks at the feet of (CH)a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he (CI)called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then he (CJ)fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, (CK)do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he [ak](CL)fell asleep.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:2 Lit he
  2. Acts 7:2 Lit men, brothers
  3. Acts 7:2 Gr Charran
  4. Acts 7:4 Gr Charran
  5. Acts 7:6 I.e., the people of the land (Egypt)
  6. Acts 7:7 Or worship
  7. Acts 7:8 Or a
  8. Acts 7:11 Lit were not finding
  9. Acts 7:13 Or was made known
  10. Acts 7:14 Lit souls
  11. Acts 7:16 Gr Sychem
  12. Acts 7:16 Gr Emmor
  13. Acts 7:16 Gr Sychem
  14. Acts 7:21 Or adopted him
  15. Acts 7:22 Lit his words and actions
  16. Acts 7:23 Lit heart
  17. Acts 7:25 Or salvation
  18. Acts 7:25 Lit through his hand
  19. Acts 7:29 Gr Madiam
  20. Acts 7:33 Lit Untie the sandal of your
  21. Acts 7:35 Lit has sent
  22. Acts 7:35 Lit hand
  23. Acts 7:36 I.e., confirming miracles
  24. Acts 7:37 Or as He raised up me
  25. Acts 7:38 Gr ekklesia
  26. Acts 7:40 Lit gods, plural, but prob. refers to a singular deity
  27. Acts 7:41 Lit In those days
  28. Acts 7:41 Or young bull
  29. Acts 7:42 Or worship
  30. Acts 7:42 Lit host
  31. Acts 7:43 Other mss spell it: Romphan, Rempham, Raiphan; or Rephan
  32. Acts 7:45 Or Gentiles
  33. Acts 7:46 Lit He who
  34. Acts 7:46 I.e., build the temple
  35. Acts 7:46 I.e., the people of Israel
  36. Acts 7:57 Or purpose
  37. Acts 7:60 I.e., died