³⁹ “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.^{(A) 40} They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’^{[a](B) 41} That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made.^{(C) 42} But God turned away from them^(D) and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.^(E) This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law^(G) with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.^{(H) 45} After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them.^(I) It remained in the land until the time of David,^{(J) 46} who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.^{[c](K) 47} But it was Solomon who built a house for him.^(L)

⁴⁸ “However, the Most High^(M) does not live in houses made by human hands.^(N) As the prophet says:

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(Q) Your hearts^(R) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(S) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(T)— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels^(U) but have not obeyed it.”