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

And de the ho high priest archiereus said legō, “ Are echō these houtos things true houtōs?” And de Stephen ho said phēmi: “ My brothers anēr and kai fathers patēr, hear akouō me. The ho God theos of ho glory doxa appeared horaō to ho our hēmeis father patēr Abraham Abraam when he was eimi in en · ho Mesopotamia Mesopotamia, before prin ē he autos lived katoikeō in en Haran Charran, and kai said legō to pros him autos, ‘ Go exerchomai out from ek · ho your sy land and kai from ek · ho your sy relatives syngeneia and kai come deuro to eis the ho land that hos I will show deiknymi you sy.’ Then tote he went exerchomai out from ek the land of the Chaldeans Chaldaios and lived katoikeō in en Haran Charran. And kakeithen after meta · ho his autos father patēr died apothnēskō, · ho God had him autos move metoikizō to eis · ho this houtos land in eis which hos you hymeis are now nyn living katoikeō. Yet kai he gave didōmi him autos no ou inheritance klēronomia in en it autos, not oude even a foot pous of ground bēma, but kai promised epangellomai to give didōmi it autos to him autos as eis a possession kataschesis and kai to ho his autos descendants sperma after meta him autos, though as yet eimi Abraham autos had eimi no ou child teknon. And de God theos spoke laleō thus houtōs, · ho that hoti Abraham’ s autos descendants sperma would be eimi · ho sojourners paroikos in en a foreign allotrios land , and kai that the people would enslave douloō and kai mistreat kakoō them four hundred tetrakosioi years etos. But kai, ‘ Whatever hos · ho nation ethnos they serve douleuō as slaves , I egō will punish krinō,’ said legō · ho God theos, ‘ and kai after meta this houtos they will come exerchomai out and kai they will worship latreuō me egō in en · ho this houtos place topos.’ And kai he gave didōmi him autos a covenant diathēkē of circumcision peritomē; and kai so houtōs Abraham became gennaō the father of · ho Isaac Isaak and kai circumcised peritemnō him autos on the ho eighth ogdoos day hēmera; · ho and kai Isaac Isaak became the father of · ho Jacob Iakōb, and kai Jacob Iakōb of the ho twelve dōdeka patriarchs patriarchēs.

And kai the ho patriarchs patriarchēs, jealous zēloō of ho Joseph Iōsēph, sold apodidōmi him into eis Egypt Aigyptos; but kai God theos was eimi · ho with meta him autos, 10 and kai rescued exaireō him autos out ek of all pas · ho his autos afflictions thlipsis and kai gave didōmi him autos favor charis and kai wisdom sophia before enantion Pharaoh Pharaō, king basileus of Egypt Aigyptos, who kai appointed kathistēmi him autos ruler hēgeomai over epi Egypt Aigyptos and kai over epi all holos · ho his autos royal household oikos. 11 Now de there came erchomai a famine limos upon epi all holos · ho Egypt Aigyptos and kai Canaan Chanaan, · kai bringing great megas affliction thlipsis, and kai our hēmeis fathers patēr could find heuriskō no ou food chortasma. · ho 12 But de Jacob Iakōb, hearing akouō that there was eimi grain sition in eis Egypt Aigyptos, sent exapostellō · ho our hēmeis fathers patēr out on their first prōton visit. 13 · kai On en their ho second deuteros visit Joseph Iōsēph made himself known anagnōrizō to ho his autos brothers adelphos, and kai the ho lineage genos of ho Joseph Iōsēph became ginomai clear phaneros to ho Pharaoh Pharaō. 14 Then de Joseph Iōsēph sent apostellō and summoned metakaleō Jacob Iakōb · ho his autos father patēr and kai all pas his ho relatives syngeneia, seventy-five hebdomēkonta persons psychē. 15 And kai Jacob Iakōb went katabainō down into eis Egypt Aigyptos, and kai he himself autos died teleutaō there, along kai with · ho our hēmeis fathers patēr, 16 and kai they were brought metatithēmi back to eis Shechem Sychem and kai laid tithēmi in en the ho tomb mnēma that hos Abraham Abraam had bought ōneomai for a sum timē of silver argyrion from para the ho sons hyios of Hamor Hemmōr in en Shechem Sychem.

17  But de as kathōs the ho time chronos of the ho promise epangelia drew near engizō, which hos God theos had granted homologeō · ho to ho Abraham Abraam, our ho people laos increased auxanō and kai multiplied plēthunō in en Egypt Aigyptos, 18 until achri hos there arose anistēmi another heteros king basileus over epi Egypt Aigyptos who hos did not ou know oida · ho Joseph Iōsēph. 19 He houtos took katasophizomai advantage of · ho our hēmeis nation genos and mistreated kakoō · ho our hēmeis fathers patēr, · ho making poieō them expose ekthetos · ho their autos infants brephos, so eis that they would not be kept alive zōiogoneō. 20 At en which hos time kairos Moses Mōysēs was born gennaō, and kai he was eimi beautiful asteios before ho God theos. He hos was brought anatrephō up for three treis months mēn in en · ho his ho father’ s patēr house oikos; 21 and de when he autos was abandoned ektithēmi, the ho daughter thugatēr of Pharaoh Pharaō rescued anaireō him autos and kai brought anatrephō him autos up for herself heautou as eis a son hyios. 22 So kai Moses Mōysēs was trained paideuō in en all pas the wisdom sophia of the Egyptians Aigyptios and de was eimi powerful dynatos in en his autos words logos and kai deeds ergon.

23  When hōs · de he autos was plēroō about forty tesserakontaetēs years old chronos, it entered anabainō · ho his autos mind kardia to visit episkeptomai · ho his autos brothers adelphos, the ho sons hyios of Israel Israēl. 24 And kai seeing one tis of them being treated unjustly adikeō, he defended amynomai him and kai brought poieō justice ekdikēsis to the ho one being mistreated kataponeō by striking patassō down the ho Egyptian Aigyptios. 25 He thought nomizō · de that his autos brothers adelphos would understand syniēmi · ho that hoti · ho God theos, by dia his autos hand cheir, was granting didōmi them autos deliverance sōtēria; but de they ho did not ou understand syniēmi. 26 On the ho following epeimi day hēmera he appeared horaō to them autos as they were quarreling machomai and kai tried to reconcile synallassō them autos to be at eis peace eirēnē, saying legō, ‘ Men anēr, you are eimi brothers adelphos. Why hinati are you hurting adikeō one allēlōn another ?’ 27 But de the ho one who was trying to injure adikeō his ho neighbor plēsion pushed apōtheō Moses autos aside, saying legō, ‘ Who tis made kathistēmi you sy a ruler archōn and kai a judge dikastēs over epi us hēmeis? 28 Do thelō you sy want thelō to kill anaireō me egō as hos tropos yesterday echthes you killed anaireō the ho Egyptian Aigyptios?’ 29 At en this houtos remark logos, Moses Mōysēs fled pheugō · de · ho and kai became ginomai an exile paroikos in en the land of Midian Madiam, where hou he had gennaō two dyo sons hyios.

30  Now kai when forty tesserakonta years etos had passed plēroō, there appeared horaō to him autos in en the ho desert erēmos near ho Mount oros Sinai Sina an angel angelos in en the flame phlox of a burning pyr bush batos. 31 When · ho · de Moses Mōysēs saw it, he wondered thaumazō at the ho sight horama; and de as he autos came proserchomai closer to look katanoeō at it, there came ginomai the voice phōnē of the Lord kyrios: 32  I egō am the ho God theos of ho your sy forefathers patēr, the ho God theos of Abraham Abraam and kai of Isaac Isaak and kai of Jacob Iakōb.’ And de Moses Mōysēs began ginomai to tremble entromos and did not ou dare tolmaō to look katanoeō. 33 And de the ho Lord kyrios said legō to him autos, ‘ Take lyō off the ho sandals hypodēma from ho your sy feet pous, for gar the ho place topos on epi which hos you stand histēmi is eimi holy hagios ground . 34 Surely I have seen the ho oppression kakōsis of ho my egō people laos · ho in en Egypt Aigyptos, and kai I have heard akouō · ho their autos groaning stenagmos, and kai I have come katabainō down to deliver exaireō them autos. · kai Now nyn come deuro, I will send apostellō you sy back to eis Egypt Aigyptos.’ 35 This houtos · ho Moses Mōysēs, whom hos they rejected arneomai, saying legō, ‘ Who tis made kathistēmi you sy a ruler archōn and kai a judge dikastēs?’— this houtos man · ho God theos sent apostellō both kai as ruler archōn and kai redeemer lytrōtēs by syn the hand cheir of the angel angelos who ho appeared horaō to him autos in en the ho bush batos. 36 He houtos led exagō them autos out, performing poieō wonders teras and kai signs sēmeion in en the land of Egypt Aigyptos and kai at en the Red erythros Sea thalassa and kai in en the ho wilderness erēmos for forty tesserakonta years etos. 37 This houtos is eimi the ho Moses Mōysēs who ho said legō to the ho sons hyios of Israel Israēl, ‘ God theos will raise up anistēmi a prophet prophētēs for you hymeis · ho from ek among · ho your hymeis brothers adelphos, as hōs he raised up me egō.’ 38 He houtos is eimi the ho one who was ginomai in en the ho congregation ekklēsia in en the ho wilderness erēmos with meta the ho angel angelos who ho spoke laleō to him autos on en · ho Mount oros Sinai Sina, and kai with · ho our hēmeis fathers patēr, and he hos received dechomai living zaō oracles logion to give didōmi to us hēmeis. 39 To him hos our hēmeis fathers patēr were not ou willing thelō to be ginomai obedient hypēkoos, · ho but alla thrust apōtheō him aside , and kai turned strephō in en · ho their autos hearts kardia to eis Egypt Aigyptos, 40 saying legō to ho Aaron Aarōn, ‘ Make poieō for us hēmeis gods theos who hos will go before proporeuomai us hēmeis, · ho for gar this houtos Moses Mōysēs who hos brought exagō us hēmeis from ek the land of Egypt Aigyptos, we do not ou know oida what tis has happened ginomai to him autos.’ 41 And kai they made a calf moschopoieō in en · ho those ekeinos days hēmera and kai offered anagō a sacrifice thusia to the ho idol eidōlon and kai began rejoicing euphrainō in en the ho works ergon of ho their autos hands cheir. 42 But de God theos turned strephō away · ho and kai gave paradidōmi them autos over to worship latreuō the ho host stratia of ho heaven ouranos, as kathōs it is written graphō in en the book biblos of the ho prophets prophētēs: ‘ Did you bring prospherō to me egō slain sphagion beasts and kai sacrifices thusia forty tesserakonta years etos in en the ho wilderness erēmos, O house oikos of Israel Israēl? No ; 43 · kai You took analambanō along the ho shrine skēnē of ho Moloch Moloch and kai the ho star astron of ho your hymeis god theos Rephan Rhaiphan, the ho images typos that hos you made poieō, to worship proskyneō them autos, so kai I will make you hymeis move metoikizō beyond epekeina Babylon Babylōn.’

44  The ho tabernacle skēnē of ho witness martyrion was eimi with ho our hēmeis fathers patēr in en the ho wilderness erēmos just kathōs as the ho one who spoke laleō to ho Moses Mōysēs ordered diatassō him to make poieō it autos according kata to the ho pattern typos that hos he had seen horaō. 45 And when diadechomai our hēmeis fathers patēr received diadechomai it hos in return diadechomai, · kai they brought eisagō it in · ho with meta Joshua Iēsous in en · ho taking kataschesis possession of the ho nations ethnos, whom hos God theos drove exōtheō out · ho before apo the face prosōpon of ho our hēmeis fathers patēr, until heōs the ho days hēmera of David Dauid, 46 who hos found heuriskō favor charis in the sight enōpion of ho God theos and kai asked aiteō to find heuriskō a dwelling skēnōma place for the ho God oikos of Jacob Iakōb. 47 But de it was Solomon Solomōn who built oikodomeō a house oikos for him autos. 48 Yet alla the ho Most High hypsistos does katoikeō not ou dwell katoikeō in en houses cheiropoiētos made by hands ; as kathōs the ho prophet prophētēs says legō, 49 · ho Heaven ouranos is my egō throne thronos, · ho and de earth is the footstool hypopodion for ho my egō feet pous. What poios sort of house oikos will you build oikodomeō for me egō, says legō the Lord kyrios, or ē what tis is the place topos of ho my egō rest katapausis? 50 Did not ouchi · ho my egō hand cheir make poieō all pas these houtos things ?’

51  You stiff-necked sklērotrachēlos people , · kai uncircumcised aperitmētos in heart kardia and kai · ho ears ous! You hymeis are antipiptō always aei resisting antipiptō the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma. · ho As hōs · ho your hymeis fathers patēr were, so also kai are you hymeis. 52 Which tis of the ho prophets prophētēs did not ou your hymeis fathers patēr persecute diōkō? · ho · kai They killed apokteinō those ho who announced beforehand prokatangellō concerning peri the ho coming eleusis of the ho Righteous dikaios One , of whom hos you hymeis have ginomai now nyn become ginomai betrayers prodotēs and kai murderers phoneus! 53 You, who hostis received lambanō the ho law nomos by eis decrees diatagē given by angels angelos and kai did not ou keep phylassō it.”

54 Now de when they heard akouō these houtos things , they became furious diapriō · ho and kai ground brychō their ho teeth odous at epi him autos. 55 But de Stephen, being hyparchō full plērēs of the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma, looked atenizō right into eis · ho heaven ouranos and saw the glory doxa of God theos, and kai Jesus Iēsous standing histēmi at ek the right dexios hand of ho God theos. 56 And kai he said legō, “ Behold idou, I see theōreō the ho heavens ouranos opened dianoigō, and kai the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos standing histēmi at ek the right dexios hand of ho God theos.” 57 But de they cried krazō out with a loud megas voice phōnē and covered synechō · ho their autos ears ous and kai rushed hormaō together homothumadon at epi him autos. 58 · kai When they had driven ekballō him out exō of the ho city polis, they began to stone lithoboleō him; and kai the ho witnesses martys laid apotithēmi · ho their autos cloaks himation at para the ho feet pous of a young neanias man named kaleō Saul Saulos. 59 · kai They kept stoning lithoboleō · ho Stephen Stephanos as he was calling epikaleō on God and kai saying legō, “ Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous, receive dechomai · ho my egō spirit pneuma!” 60 And de falling tithēmi to his ho knees gony he cried krazō out in a loud megas voice phōnē, “ Lord kyrios, do not hold histēmi this houtos sin hamartia against them autos.” · ho And kai when he had said legō this houtos, he fell asleep koimaō.

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.