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And the prince of priests said to Stephen, Whether these things have them so?

Which said, Brethren and fathers [Which saith, Men, brethren, and fathers], hear ye. [The] God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before that he dwelt in Charran [before he dwelt in Charran],

and said to him, Go out of thy land, and of thy kindred, and come into the land, which I shall show to thee.

Then he went out of the land of Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran. And from thence after that his father was dead, he translated him into this land, in which ye dwell now.

And he gave not to him heritage in it, neither a pace of a foot, but he promised to give [to] him it into possession, and to his seed after him, when he had not a son.

And God spake to him, That his seed shall be [a] comeling in an alien land, and they shall make them subject to servage, and shall evil treat them, four hundred years and thirty;[a]

and I shall judge the folk, to whom they shall serve, saith the Lord. And after these things they shall go out, and they shall serve to me in this place.

And he gave to him the testament of circumcision; and so he engendered Isaac [and so he gendered Isaac], and circumcised him in the eighth day. And Isaac engendered Jacob, and Jacob engendered the twelve patriarchs [And Isaac gendered Jacob, and Jacob gendered the twelve patriarchs].

And the patriarchs had envy to Joseph, and sold him into Egypt. And God was with him,

10 and delivered him of all his tribulations, and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he ordained him sovereign on Egypt, and on all his house.

11 And hunger came into all Egypt, and Canaan, and great tribulation; and our fathers found not meat [and our fathers found not meats].

12 But when Jacob had heard [Forsooth when Jacob heard], that wheat was in Egypt, he sent our fathers first.

13 And in the second time Joseph was known of his brethren, and his kin was made known to Pharaoh.

14 And Joseph sent, and called Jacob, his father, and all his kindred, seventy and five men [in souls seventy and five].

15 And Jacob came down into Egypt, and was dead, he and our fathers;

16 and they were translated into Sychem, and were laid in the sepulchre, that Abraham bought by price of silver of the sons of Emmor, the son of Sychem.

17 And when the time of promise came nigh, which God had acknowledged to Abraham, the people waxed, and multiplied in Egypt,

18 till another king rose in Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

19 This beguiled our kin, and tormented our fathers, that they should put away their young children [that they should put out their young children], for they should not live.

20 In the same time Moses was born, and he was loved of God; and he was nourished three months in the house of his father [and he was accepted, or loved, of God; and he was nursed three months in the house of his father].

21 And when he was put out in the river [Forsooth when he was put out], the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and nourished him into her son.

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

23 But when the time of forty years was filled to him [was full-filled to him], it rose up into his heart, that he should visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

24 And when he saw a man suffering wrong, he venged him, and did vengeance for him that suffered the wrong [and did vengeance to him that suffered wrong], and killed the Egyptian.

25 For he guessed that his brethren should understand, that God should give to them health by the hand of him [that God by the hand of him should give to them health]; but they understood not.

26 For in the day following he appeared to them chiding, and he accorded them in peace, and said, Men, ye be brethren; why harm ye each other?[b]

27 But he that did the wrong to his neighbour, putted him away, and said, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman on us? [Forsooth he that did wrong to his neighbour, put him away, saying, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman upon us?]

28 Whether thou wilt slay me, as yesterday thou killedest the Egyptian?

29 And in this word Moses flew, and was made a comeling in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when he had filled forty years [And forty years fulfilled], an angel appeared to him in fire of flame of a bush, in desert of the mount of Sina.

31 And Moses saw, and wondered on the sight. And when he approached to behold [And when he nighed to behold], the voice of the Lord was made to him,

32 and said [saying], I am God of your fathers, God of Abraham, [and] God of Isaac, [and] God of Jacob. Moses was made trembling, and durst not behold.

33 But God said to him, Do off the shoes of thy feet, for the place in which thou standest is holy earth.

34 I seeing saw the tormenting of my people that is in Egypt [I seeing saw the affliction, or tormenting, of my people that is in Egypt], and I heard the mourning of them, and came down to deliver them. And now come thou, and I shall send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they denied, saying, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman on [upon] us? God sent this prince and again-buyer, with the hand of the angel, that appeared to him in the bush.

36 This Moses led them out [This led them out], and did wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the red sea, and in desert forty years.

37 This is Moses, that said to the sons of Israel, God shall raise to you a prophet of your brethren, [and] as me ye shall hear him.

38 This it is [This is], that was in the church in wilderness, with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers; which took words of life to give to us.

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but putted him away [but put him away], and were turned away in their hearts into Egypt,

40 saying to Aaron, Make thou to us gods, that shall go before us; for to this Moses that led us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is done to him [we witen not, what is done to him].

41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the maumet; and they were glad in the works of their hands [and offered an host to the simulacrum; and they gladded in the works of their hands].

42 And God turned, and betook them to serve to the knighthood of heaven, as it is written in the book of [the] prophets, Whether ye, house of Israel, offered to me slain sacrifices, either sacrifices, forty years in desert?

43 And ye have taken the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures that ye have made to worship them; and I shall translate you into Babylon.

44 The tabernacle of witnessing was with our fathers in desert, as God assigned to them, and spake to Moses [as God disposed to them, speaking to Moses], that he should make it after the form that he saw.

45 Which also our fathers took with Jesus, and brought into the possession of heathen men, which God putted away [the which God put away] from the face of our fathers, till into the days of David,

46 that found grace with God, and asked that he should find a tabernacle to God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon builded the house to him. [Solomon forsooth built an house to him.]

48 But the high God [But the alder-highest] dwelleth not in things made by hand, as he saith by the prophet,

49 Heaven is a seat to me, and the earth is the stool of my feet; what house shall ye build to me, saith the Lord, either what place is of my resting [or which is the place of my resting]?

50 Whether mine hand made not all these things?

51 With hard neck [With hard nol], and uncircumcised hearts and ears ye withstand evermore the Holy Ghost; and as your fathers, so ye.

52 Whom of the prophets have not your fathers pursued, and have slain them that before-told of the coming of the rightful man [and have slain them that before-told of the coming of the just man], whose traitors and manslayers ye were now?

53 Which took the law in ordinance of angels, and have not kept it.

54 And they heard these things, and were diversely tormented in their hearts, and they grinded [and gnashed, or grinded,] with teeth on him.

55 But when Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost, he beheld into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right half of the virtue of God.

56 And he said, Lo! I see heavens opened, and man's Son standing on the right half of the virtue of God. [And he said, Lo! I see heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right half of the virtue of God.]

57 And they cried with a great voice, and stopped their ears, and made with one will an assault into him.

58 And they brought him out of the city [And they casted him out of the city], and stoned [him]. And the witnesses did off their clothes, beside the feet of a young man, that was called Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, that called God to help, saying [And they stoned Stephen in-calling, and saying], Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled, and cried with a great voice, and said, Lord, set not to them this sin. And when he had said this thing, he died [And when he had said this thing, he slept, or died, in the Lord].

Notas al pie

  1. Acts 7:6 Forsooth God spake to him, That his seed shall be a comeling, or guest, in an alien land, and they shall subject them to servage, and shall evil treat them, four hundred years;
  2. Acts 7:26 Forsooth in the day following he appeared to them chiding, and reconciled them in peace, saying, Men, ye be brethren; why harm ye each to other?

Stephen makes answer to his accusation, rebukes the hard-necked Jews, and is stoned to death.

Then the chief priest said, Is it really so?

And Stephen said, Men, brethren and fathers, hearken to: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, Come out of the country and away from your kindred, and come into the land that I will show you.

Then he came out of the land of Chaldea, and dwelt in Haran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, God brought him into this land, in which you now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foot, but promised that he would give it to him to possess, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

God spoke in this way: that his seed would be a dweller in a strange land, and that they would keep them in bondage and ill-treat them for four hundred years. But the nation to whom they will be in bondage, I will judge, said God. And after that, they will come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. And Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs, having indignation, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all his adversities, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and over all his household.

11 Then there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers a first time, 13 and then a second time, when Joseph made himself known to his brethren, and Joseph’s kindred was made known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent and caused his father to be brought, and all his kin: seventy-five souls. 15 And Jacob descended into Egypt. And he died, both he and our fathers, 16 and were carried back into Shechem, and were put in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for money from the sons of Hamor at Shechem.

17 When the time of the promise drew near (which God had sworn to Abraham), the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 till another king arose who did not know of Joseph. 19 This king dealt treacherously with our kindred, and ill-treated our fathers, and compelled them to cast out their young children so that they would not remain alive. 20 At this time Moses was born, and was loved by God. He was nursed in his father’s house for three months. 21 When he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was strong in deeds and in words.

23 And when he was fully forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged the quarrel of him who had the harm done to him, and killed the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed his brethren would understand that God by his hands would save them. But they did not understand.

26 And the next day, he appeared to them as they were fighting, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, you are brethren; why do you hurt one another? 27 But the man who was doing his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge among us? 28 What, will you kill me like you did the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then at those words, Moses fled, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai 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 look, the voice of the Lord came to him: 32 I am the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses trembled and dared not look. 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have well seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and have come down to deliver them. And now, come, and I will send you into Egypt.

35 This Moses – whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? – is the one God sent both a ruler and deliverer by the hands of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 And this Moses brought them out, showing wonders and signs in Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you must hear.

38 This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel, who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers. This man received the word of life to give to us – 39 to whom our fathers could not pay heed, but cast it from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us! As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned himself, and gave them up to worship the stars of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets: O ye of the house of Israel, did you give to me sacrifices and offerings during forty years in the desert? 43 And you took to yourself the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures that you made, to worship them. And I will send you away beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed them, telling Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Which tabernacle our fathers received and brought with Joshua into the lands held by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the time of David. 46 David found favour before God, and desired to make a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house.

48 However, he that is highest of all does not dwell in temples made with hands, as says the prophet: 49 Heaven is my seat, and earth is my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord? Or what place is it that I should rest in? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?

51 You stiff-necked people, and of uncircumcised hearts and ears! You have always resisted the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who told before of the coming of the Just One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered. 53 And you also have received a law by the ordinance 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 Spirit, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. 56 And he said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him all at once, 58 and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, who was calling on the Lord 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 thus spoken, he fell asleep.

1 Stephen pleading his cause, showeth that God chose the Fathers,  20 before Moses was born, 42 and before the Temple was built: 44 And that all outward ceremonies were ordained according to the heavenly Pattern. 54 The Jews gnashing their teeth, 59 stone him.

Then [a]said the chief Priest, Are these things so?

[b]And he said, Ye men, brethren, and Fathers, hearken, (A)That God of [c]glory appeared unto our father Abraham, while he was in [d]Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

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

Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran. And after that his father was dead, God brought him from thence into this land, wherein ye now dwell,

And he gave him none inheritance in it, [e]no not the breadth of a foot: yet he [f]promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

But God spake thus, that his (B)seed should be a sojourner in a strange land: and that they should keep it in bondage, and entreat it evil [g]four hundred years.

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

(C)He gave him also the covenant of circumcision: and to Abraham begat(D)Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begat (E)Jacob, and Jacob the twelve (F)Patriarchs.

[h]And the Patriarchs moved with envy, sold (G)Joseph into Egypt: but God was [i]with him,

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and (H)gave him [j]favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt, and over his whole house.

11 ¶ Then came there a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, that our fathers found no sustenance.

12 But when (I)Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers first:

13 (J)And at the second time Joseph was known of his brethren, and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14 Then sent Joseph and caused his father to be brought, and all his kindred, even threescore and fifteen souls.

15 So (K)Jacob went down into Egypt, and he (L)died, and our fathers,

16 And were [k]removed into Shechem, and were put in the sepulcher, that Abraham had bought (M)for money of the sons of Hamor, son of Shechem.

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

18 Till another King arose, which knew not Joseph.

19 The same [l]dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, and made them to cast out their young children, that they should not remain alive.

20 (O)The same time was Moses born and was [m]acceptable unto God: which was 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 Now when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

24 (P)And when he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged his quarrel that had the harm done to him, and smote the Egyptian.

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood, that God by his hand should give them deliverance: but they understood it not.

26 (Q)And the next day, he showed 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 neighbor wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince, and a judge over us?

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

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

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the (R)wilderness of mount Sinai, an [n]Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire, in a bush.

31 And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying,

32 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 it.

33 Then the Lord said 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, and I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they forsook, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same God sent for a prince, and a deliverer by the [o]hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He (S)brought them out, doing wonders, and miracles in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness (T)forty years.

37 [p]This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, (U)A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear.

38 (V)This is he that was in the Congregation, in the wilderness with the Angel, which spake to him in mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received the lively oracles to give unto us.

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but refused, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, (W)Make us gods that may go before us: for we know not what is become of this Moses that brought us out of the land of Egypt.

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

42 Then God turned himself away, and [r]gave them up to serve the [s]host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets, (X)O house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 And ye [t]took up the Tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures, which ye made to worship them: therefore I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

44 [u]Our fathers had the Tabernacle of [v]witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto (Y)Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

45 (Z)Which tabernacle also our fathers [w]received, and brought in with Jesus into the [x]possession of the Gentiles, which God drove out [y]before our fathers, unto the days of David:

46 (AA)Who found favor before God, and desired that he might find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 (AB)[z]But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High (AC)dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the Prophet,

49 (AD)Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build for me, saith the Lord? or what place is it that I should rest in?

50 Hath not mine hand made all these things?

51 (AE)[aa]Ye stiff-necked and of [ab]uncircumcised hearts and ears, ye have always resisted the holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.

52 Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them, which showed before of the coming of that Just, of whom ye are now the betrayers and murderers,

53 (AF)Which have received the law by the [ac]ordinance of Angels, and have not kept it.

54 [ad]But when they heard these things, their hearts brast for anger, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

55 [ae]But he being full of the holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus [af]standing at the right hand of God,

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

57 [ag]Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and [ah]ran upon him violently all at once,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the [ai]witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, named Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, who called on God, and said, Lord Jesus receive my spirit.

60 [aj]And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, [ak]lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he [al]slept.

Notas al pie

  1. Acts 7:1 Stephen is admitted to plead his cause, but to this end and purpose, that under a cloak, and color of Law, he might be condemned.
  2. Acts 7:2 Stephen witnesseth unto the Jews, that he acknowledgeth the true fathers, and the only true God: and showeth moreover, that they are more ancient than the Temple, with all that service appointed by the Law, and therefore they ought to lay another foundation of true religion, that is to say, the free covenant that God made with the fathers.
  3. Acts 7:2 That mighty God full of glory and majesty.
  4. Acts 7:2 When he saith afterward, verse 4, that Abraham came out of Chaldea, it is evident that Mesopotamia contained Chaldea which was near unto it, and bordering upon it, and so writeth Plinius, book 6, chap. 27.
  5. Acts 7:5 Not so much ground as to set his foot upon.
  6. Acts 7:5 The promise of the possession was certain and belonged to Abraham, though his posterity enjoyed it a great while after his death: and this is the figure Synecdoche.
  7. Acts 7:6 There are reckoned four hundred years, from the beginning of Abraham’s progeny, which was at the birth of Isaac: and four hundred and thirty years which are spoken of by Paul, Gal. 3:17, from the time that Abraham and his father departed together out of Ur of the Chaldeans.
  8. Acts 7:9 Stephen reckoneth up diligently the horrible mischiefs of some of the Fathers, to teach the Jews that they ought not rashly to rest in the authority or examples of the Fathers.
  9. Acts 7:9 By this kind of speech, is meant the peculiar favor that God showeth men: for he seemeth to be away from them, whom he helpeth not, and on the other side, he is with them whom he delivereth out of whatsoever great troubles.
  10. Acts 7:10 Gave him favor in Pharaoh’s sight for his wisdom.
  11. Acts 7:16 The Patriarchs the sons of Jacob, though there be mention made of no more than Joseph, Josh. 24:32.
  12. Acts 7:19 He devised a subtle invention against our stock, in that he commanded all the males to be cast out.
  13. Acts 7:20 That child was born through God’s merciful goodness and favor, to be of a goodly and fair countenance.
  14. Acts 7:30 Now he calleth the Son of God an Angel, for he is the Angel of great counsel, and therefore, straightway after he showeth him, saying to Moses, I am that God of thy Fathers, etc.
  15. Acts 7:35 By the power.
  16. Acts 7:37 He acknowledgeth Moses for the lawgiver, but so that he proveth by his own witness, that the Law had respect to a more perfect thing, that is to say, to the prophetic office which tended to Christ, the head of all Prophets.
  17. Acts 7:41 This was the superstition of the Egyptians’ idolatry: for they worshipped Apis a strange and marvelous calf, and made goodly images of Kine, Herodias, lib. 2.
  18. Acts 7:42 Being destitute and void of his Spirit, he gave them up to Satan, and wicked lusts to worship stars.
  19. Acts 7:42 By the host of heaven, here he meaneth not the Angels, but the moon and sun and other stars.
  20. Acts 7:43 You took it upon your shoulders and carried it.
  21. Acts 7:44 Moses indeed erected a Tabernacle, but that was to call them back to that form which he had seen in the mountain.
  22. Acts 7:44 That is, of the covenant.
  23. Acts 7:45 Delivered from hand to hand.
  24. Acts 7:45 By the figure Metonymy, for the countries which the Gentiles possessed.
  25. Acts 7:45 God drove them out, that they should yield up the possession of those countries to our fathers, when they entered into the land.
  26. Acts 7:47 Solomon built a Temple, according to God’s commandment, but not with any such condition, that the Majesty of God should be enclosed therein.
  27. Acts 7:51 Stephen moved with the zeal of God, at length judgeth his own judges.
  28. Acts 7:51 They are of uncircumcised hearts, which lie drowned still in the sins of nature, and stick fast in them: for otherwise all the Jews were circumcised as touching the flesh, and therefore there were two kinds of circumcision, Rom. 2:28.
  29. Acts 7:53 By the ministry of Angels.
  30. Acts 7:54 The more Satan is pressed, the more he brasteth out into an open rage.
  31. Acts 7:55 The nearer that the Martyrs approach to death, the nearer they beholding Christ, do rise up even into heaven.
  32. Acts 7:55 Ready to confirm him in the confession of the truth, and to receive him to him.
  33. Acts 7:57 The zeal of hypocrites and superstitious people, breaketh out at length into most open madness.
  34. Acts 7:57 This was done in a rage and fury: for at that time the Jews could put no man to death by law, as they confess before Pilate, saying that it was not lawful for them to put any man to death, and therefore it is reported by Josephus, lib. 20, that Ananus a Sadducee slew James the brother of the Lord, and for so doing, was accused before Albinus the President of the country.
  35. Acts 7:58 It was appointed by the Law, that the witnesses should cast the first stones, Deut. 17:7.
  36. Acts 7:60 Faith and charity never forsake the true servants of God, even to the last breath.
  37. Acts 7:60 The word which he useth here noteth out such a kind of imputing or laying to one’s charge, as remaineth firm, and steady forever, never to be remitted.
  38. Acts 7:60 See 1 Thess. 4:13.

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 Chaldæans, 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.