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Acts 7
Christian Standard Bible

Stephen’s Sermon

7 “Are these things true?” the high priest asked.

2 “Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,(A) 3 and said to him: Leave your country and relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.[a](B)

4 “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land in which you are now living.(C) 5 He didn’t give him an inheritance in it—not even a foot of ground—but he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him,(D) even though he was childless. 6 God spoke in this way: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and they would enslave and oppress them for four hundred years. 7 I will judge the nation that they will serve as slaves, God said. After this, they will come out and worship me in this place.[b](E) 8 And so he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. After this, he fathered Isaac and circumcised(F) him on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.(G)

The Patriarchs in Egypt

9 “The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt, but God was with him(H) 10 and rescued him out of all his troubles. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole household.(I) 11 Now a famine and great suffering came over all of Egypt and Canaan,(J) and our ancestors could find no food. 12 When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there the first time. 13 The second time, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 Joseph invited his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five people in all,(K) 15 and Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our ancestors died there,(L) 16 were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.(M)

Moses, a Rejected Savior

17 “As the time was approaching to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt(N) 18 until a different king who did not know Joseph ruled over Egypt.[c] 19 He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them abandon their infants outside so that they wouldn’t survive.(O) 20 At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in God’s sight. He was cared for in his father’s home for three months. 21 When he was put outside, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted and raised him as her own son.(P) 22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his speech and actions.(Q)

23 “When he was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 When he saw one of them being mistreated, he came to his rescue and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He assumed his people would understand that God would give them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. 26 The next day he showed up while they were fighting and tried to reconcile them peacefully, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’ (R)

27 “But the one who was mistreating his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying: Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me, the same way you killed the Egyptian yesterday?[d](S)

29 “When he heard this, Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.(T) 30 After forty years had passed, an angel[e] appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he was approaching to look at it, the voice of the Lord came: 32 I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.[f](U) Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.

33 “The Lord said to him: Take off the sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. And now, come, I will send you to Egypt.[g](V)

35 “This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?[h]—this one God sent as a ruler and a deliverer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.(W) 36 This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt,(X) at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.(Y)

Israel’s Rebellion against God

37 “This is the Moses who said to the Israelites: God[i] will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.[j](Z) 38 He is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors.(AA) He received living oracles to give to us.(AB) 39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.(AC) 40 They told Aaron: Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him.[k](AD) 41 They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made.(AE) 42 God turned away(AF) and gave them up to worship(AG) the stars of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

House of Israel, did you bring me offerings and sacrifices
for forty years in the wilderness?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship.
So I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.[l](AH)

God’s Real Tabernacle

44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.(AI) 45 Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before them,(AJ) until the days of David. 46 He found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God[m] of Jacob.(AK) 47 It was Solomon, rather, who built him a house,(AL) 48 but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:(AM)

49 Heaven is my throne,
and the earth my footstool.
What sort of house will you build for me?
says the Lord,
or what will be my resting place?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?[n](AN)

Resisting the Holy Spirit

51 “You stiff-necked(AO) people with uncircumcised hearts and ears!(AP) You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?(AQ) They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers(AR) you have now become. 53 You received the law under the direction of angels(AS) and yet have not kept it.”

The First Christian Martyr

54 When they heard these things, they were enraged[o] and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.(AT) 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (AU)

57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone(AV) him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.(AW) 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” (AX) 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,(AY) “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.(AZ)

Footnotes

  1. 7:3 Gn 12:1
  2. 7:6–7 Gn 15:13–14
  3. 7:18 Other mss omit over Egypt
  4. 7:27–28 Ex 2:14
  5. 7:30 Other mss add of the Lord
  6. 7:32 Ex 3:6,15
  7. 7:33–34 Ex 3:5,7–8,10
  8. 7:35 Ex 2:14
  9. 7:37 Other mss read The Lord your God
  10. 7:37 Dt 18:15
  11. 7:40 Ex 32:1,23
  12. 7:42–43 Am 5:25–27
  13. 7:46 Other mss read house
  14. 7:49–50 Is 66:1–2
  15. 7:54 Or were cut to the quick
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Hechos 7
La Biblia de las Américas

Discurso de Esteban

7 Y el sumo sacerdote dijo: ¿Es esto así?

2 Y él dijo: Escuchadme, hermanos y padres(A). El Dios de gloria(B) apareció a nuestro padre Abraham cuando estaba en Mesopotamia, antes que habitara en Harán(C), 3 y le dijo: «Sal de tu tierra y de tu parentela, y ve a la tierra que yo te mostraré(D)». 4 Entonces él salió de la tierra de los caldeos y se radicó en Harán(E). Y de allí, después de la muerte de su padre, Dios lo trasladó a esta tierra en la cual ahora vosotros habitáis(F). 5 No le dio en ella heredad, ni siquiera la medida de la planta del pie, y sin embargo, aunque no tenía hijo, prometió que se la daría en posesión a Él y a su descendencia después de Él(G). 6 Y Dios dijo así: «(H)Que sus descendientes serían extranjeros en una tierra extraña, y que serían esclavizados y maltratados[a] por cuatrocientos años. 7 Pero yo mismo juzgaré a cualquier nación de la cual sean esclavos» —dijo Dios— «y después de eso saldrán y me servirán[b] en este lugar(I)». 8 Y Dios le dio el pacto[c] de la circuncisión(J); y así Abraham vino a ser el padre de Isaac, y lo circuncidó al octavo día(K); e Isaac vino a ser el padre de Jacob(L), y Jacob de los doce patriarcas(M).

9 Y los patriarcas tuvieron envidia de José y lo vendieron para Egipto(N). Pero Dios estaba con él, 10 y lo rescató de todas sus aflicciones, y le dio gracia(O) y sabiduría delante de Faraón, rey de Egipto, y este lo puso por gobernador sobre Egipto y sobre toda su casa.

11 Entonces vino hambre sobre todo Egipto y Canaán(P), y con ella gran aflicción; y nuestros padres no hallaban alimentos. 12 Pero cuando Jacob supo[d] que había grano[e] en Egipto(Q), envió a nuestros padres allá la primera vez. 13 En la segunda visita, José se dio a conocer a sus hermanos(R), y conoció[f] Faraón el linaje de José(S). 14 Y José, enviando mensaje, mandó llamar a Jacob su padre y a toda su parentela(T), en total setenta y cinco(U) personas(V). 15 Y Jacob descendió a Egipto, y allí murió(W) él y también nuestros padres. 16 Y de allí fueron trasladados a Siquem, y puestos en el sepulcro que por una suma de dinero había comprado Abraham a los hijos de Hamor(X) en Siquem.

17 Pero a medida que se acercaba el tiempo(Y) de la promesa que Dios había confirmado a Abraham, el pueblo crecía y se multiplicaba en Egipto(Z), 18 hasta que surgió otro rey en Egipto que no sabía nada de José(AA). 19 Este rey, obrando con astucia contra nuestro pueblo[g], maltrató a nuestros padres, a fin de que expusieran a la muerte a[h] sus niños para que no vivieran(AB). 20 Fue por ese tiempo que Moisés nació. Era hermoso a la vista de Dios[i], y fue criado por tres meses en la casa de su padre(AC). 21 Después de ser abandonado[j] para morir, la hija de Faraón se lo llevó[k] y lo crió como su propio hijo(AD). 22 Y Moisés fue instruido en toda la sabiduría de los egipcios(AE), y era un hombre poderoso en palabras y en hechos. 23 Pero cuando iba a cumplir la edad de cuarenta años(AF), sintió[l] en su corazón el deseo de visitar a sus hermanos, los hijos de Israel(AG). 24 Y al ver que uno de ellos era tratado injustamente, lo defendió y vengó al[m] oprimido matando[n] al egipcio. 25 Pensaba que sus hermanos entendían que Dios les estaba dando libertad[o] por medio de él[p], pero ellos no entendieron. 26 Al día siguiente se les presentó, cuando dos de ellos reñían, y trató de poner paz entre ellos, diciendo: «Varones, vosotros sois hermanos, ¿por qué os herís[q] el uno al otro(AH)?». 27 Pero el que estaba hiriendo[r] a su prójimo lo empujó, diciendo: «¿Quién te ha puesto por gobernante y juez sobre nosotros(AI)? 28 ¿Acaso quieres matarme como mataste ayer al egipcio(AJ)?». 29 Al oír estas palabras, Moisés huyo y se convirtió en extranjero en la tierra de Madián(AK), donde fue padre de dos hijos(AL).

30 Y pasados cuarenta años, se le apareció un Ángel(AM) en el desierto del monte Sinaí, en la llama de una zarza que ardía(AN). 31 Al ver esto, Moisés se maravillaba de la visión, y al acercarse para ver mejor, vino a él la voz del Señor: 32 «Yo soy el Dios de tus padres, el Dios de Abraham, de Isaac, y de Jacob(AO)». Moisés temblando, no se atrevía a mirar. 33 Pero el Señor le dijo: «Quítate las sandalias de los pies, porque el lugar donde estás es tierra santa(AP). 34 Ciertamente he visto la opresión de mi pueblo en Egipto y he oído sus gemidos, y he descendido para librarlos(AQ); ven[s] ahora y te enviaré a Egipto(AR)».

35 Este Moisés, a quien ellos rechazaron, diciendo: «¿Quién te ha puesto por gobernante y juez(AS)?» es el mismo que Dios envió[t] para ser gobernante y libertador con la ayuda[u] del ángel que se le apareció en la zarza. 36 Este hombre los sacó(AT), haciendo prodigios y señales[v](AU) en la tierra de Egipto, en el mar Rojo y en el desierto por cuarenta años(AV). 37 Este es el mismo Moisés que dijo a los hijos de Israel: «Dios os levantará un profeta como yo[w] de entre vuestros hermanos(AW)». 38 Este es el que estaba en la congregación[x] en el desierto(AX) junto con el ángel que le hablaba en el monte Sinaí(AY), y con nuestros padres, y el que recibió palabras[y](AZ) de vida(BA) para transmitirlas a vosotros; 39 al cual nuestros padres no quisieron obedecer[z], sino que lo repudiaron, y en sus corazones regresaron a Egipto(BB), 40 diciendo a Aarón: «Haznos dioses que vayan delante de nosotros, porque a este Moisés que nos saco de la tierra de Egipto, no sabemos lo que le haya pasado(BC)». 41 En aquellos días hicieron un becerro y ofrecieron sacrificio al ídolo(BD), y se regocijaban en las obras de sus manos(BE). 42 Pero Dios se apartó de ellos y los entregó para que sirvieran[aa] al ejército del cielo[ab](BF), como está escrito en el libro de los profetas: ¿(BG)Acaso fue a mí a quien ofrecisteis victimas y sacrificios en el desierto por cuarenta años(BH), casa de Israel? 43 También llevasteis el tabernáculo de Moloc, y la estrella del dios Rentan, las imágenes que hicisteis para adorarlas. Yo también os deportaré más allá de Babilonia.

44 Nuestros padres tuvieron el tabernáculo del testimonio en el desierto, tal como le había ordenado que lo hiciera aquel que habló a Moisés, conforme al modelo que había visto(BI). 45 A su vez, habiéndolo recibido, nuestros padres lo introdujeron con Josué al tomar[ac] posesión de las naciones[ad] que Dios arrojó de delante de nuestros padres(BJ), hasta los días de David. 46 Y David[ae] halló gracia delante de Dios(BK), y pidió el favor de hallar una morada para el Dios[af] de Jacob(BL). 47 Pero fue Salomón quien le edificó una casa(BM). 48 Sin embargo, el Altísimo(BN) no habita en casas hechas por manos de hombres; como dice el profeta:

49 (BO)El cielo es mi trono,
y la tierra el estrado de mis pies;
¿que casa me edificaréis? —dice el Señor—
¿O cuál es el lugar de mi reposo?
50 ¿No fue mi mano la que hizo todas estas cosas?

51 Vosotros, que sois duros de cerviz e incircuncisos de corazón(BP) y de oídos, resistís siempre al Espíritu Santo; como hicieron vuestros padres, así también hacéis vosotros. 52 ¿A cuál de los profetas no persiguieron vuestros padres(BQ)? Ellos mataron a los que antes habían anunciado la venida del Justo(BR), del cual ahora vosotros os hicisteis traidores y asesinos(BS); 53 vosotros que recibisteis la ley por disposición de ángeles(BT) y sin embargo no la guardasteis.

Martirio de Esteban

54 Al oír esto, se sintieron profundamente ofendidos[ag](BU), y crujían los dientes contra él. 55 Pero Esteban, lleno del Espíritu Santo(BV), fijos los ojos en el cielo(BW), vio la gloria de Dios y a Jesús de pie a la diestra de Dios(BX); 56 y dijo: He aquí, veo los cielos abiertos(BY), y al Hijo del Hombre(BZ) de pie a la diestra de Dios. 57 Entonces ellos gritaron a gran voz, y tapándose los oídos arremetieron a una contra él. 58 Y echándolo fuera de la ciudad, comenzaron a apedrearle(CA); y los testigos(CB) pusieron sus mantos a los pies de un joven llamado Saulo(CC). 59 Y mientras apedreaban a Esteban, él invocaba al Señor(CD) y decía: Señor Jesús, recibe mi espíritu. 60 Y cayendo de rodillas(CE), clamó en alta voz: Señor, no les tomes en cuenta este pecado(CF). Habiendo dicho esto, durmió[ah](CG).

Footnotes

  1. Hechos 7:6 Lit., los esclavizarían y maltratarían
  2. Hechos 7:7 O, adorarán
  3. Hechos 7:8 O, un pacto
  4. Hechos 7:12 Lit., oyó
  5. Hechos 7:12 O, trigo
  6. Hechos 7:13 Lit., y fue manifestado a
  7. Hechos 7:19 Lit., nuestra raza
  8. Hechos 7:19 O, fueran echados fuera para morir
  9. Hechos 7:20 Lit., a Dios
  10. Hechos 7:21 Lit., expuesto
  11. Hechos 7:21 O, lo adoptó
  12. Hechos 7:23 Lit., surgió
  13. Hechos 7:24 Lit., tomó venganza por el
  14. Hechos 7:24 O, hiriendo
  15. Hechos 7:25 O, salvación
  16. Hechos 7:25 Lit., por mano suya
  17. Hechos 7:26 O, maltratáis
  18. Hechos 7:27 O, maltratando
  19. Hechos 7:34 Lit., y ven acá
  20. Hechos 7:35 Lit., ha enviado
  21. Hechos 7:35 Lit., la mano
  22. Hechos 7:36 O, milagros
  23. Hechos 7:37 O, como me levantó a mí
  24. Hechos 7:38 O, iglesia
  25. Hechos 7:38 Lit., oráculos
  26. Hechos 7:39 Lit., ser obedientes
  27. Hechos 7:42 O, adoraran
  28. Hechos 7:42 I.e., los cuerpos celestes
  29. Hechos 7:45 Lit., en la
  30. Hechos 7:45 O, los gentiles
  31. Hechos 7:46 Lit., Quien
  32. Hechos 7:46 Muchos mss. antiguos dicen: para la Casa; la Septuaginta en Sal. 132:5, dice: Dios
  33. Hechos 7:54 Lit., aserrados en sus corazones
  34. Hechos 7:60 O, expiró
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Acts 7
King James Version

7 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

2 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,

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

4 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.

5 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.

6 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.

7 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.

8 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.

9 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.

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Acts 7
New International Version

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers,(A) listen to me! The God of glory(B) appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.(C) 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’[a](D)

4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.(E) 5 He gave him no inheritance here,(F) not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land,(G) even though at that time Abraham had no child. 6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated.(H) 7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’[b](I) 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision.(J) And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth.(K) Later Isaac became the father of Jacob,(L) and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.(M)

9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph,(N) they sold him as a slave into Egypt.(O) But God was with him(P) 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.(Q)

11 “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.(R) 12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit.(S) 13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was,(T) and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.(U) 14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family,(V) seventy-five in all.(W) 15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died.(X) 16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.(Y)

17 “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased.(Z) 18 Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’[c](AA) 19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.(AB)

20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child.[d] For three months he was cared for by his family.(AC) 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.(AD) 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians(AE) and was powerful in speech and action.

23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

27 “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?(AF) 28 Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’[e] 29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.(AG)

30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say:(AH) 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers,(AI) the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’[f] Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.(AJ)

33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.(AK) 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’[g](AL)

35 “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’(AM) He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He led them out of Egypt(AN) and performed wonders and signs(AO) in Egypt, at the Red Sea(AP) and for forty years in the wilderness.(AQ)

37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’[h](AR) 38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel(AS) who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors;(AT) and he received living words(AU) to pass on to us.(AV)

39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.(AW) 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!’[i](AX) 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.(AY) 42 But God turned away from them(AZ) and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.(BA) This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
    forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
43 You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek
    and the star of your god Rephan,
    the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’[j](BB) beyond Babylon.

44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law(BC) with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.(BD) 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.(BE) It remained in the land until the time of David,(BF) 46 who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.[k](BG) 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.(BH)

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

49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.(BK)
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
    Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’[l](BL)

51 “You stiff-necked people!(BM) Your hearts(BN) 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?(BO) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him(BP)— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels(BQ) but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious(BR) and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,(BS) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.(BT) 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open(BU) and the Son of Man(BV) standing at the right hand of God.”

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city(BW) and began to stone him.(BX) Meanwhile, the witnesses(BY) laid their coats(BZ) at the feet of a young man named Saul.(CA)

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”(CB) 60 Then he fell on his knees(CC) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”(CD) When he had said this, he fell asleep.(CE)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:3 Gen. 12:1
  2. Acts 7:7 Gen. 15:13,14
  3. Acts 7:18 Exodus 1:8
  4. Acts 7:20 Or was fair in the sight of God
  5. Acts 7:28 Exodus 2:14
  6. Acts 7:32 Exodus 3:6
  7. Acts 7:34 Exodus 3:5,7,8,10
  8. Acts 7:37 Deut. 18:15
  9. Acts 7:40 Exodus 32:1
  10. Acts 7:43 Amos 5:25-27 (see Septuagint)
  11. Acts 7:46 Some early manuscripts the house of Jacob
  12. Acts 7:50 Isaiah 66:1,2
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