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Ang Wali ni Esteban

Karon, nagpamangkot ang pangulo nga pari kay Esteban, “Ano, matuod bala ang ginasugid sang sini nga mga tawo?” Nagsiling si Esteban, “Mga utod kag mga ginikanan, pamatii ninyo ako. Sang una nga tiyempo, nagpakita ang Dios nga makagagahom sa aton katigulangan nga si Abraham sang didto pa siya sa Mesopotamia, sa wala pa siya magsaylo sa Haran. Nagsiling ang Dios kay Abraham, ‘Bayai ang imo nasyon kag mga paryente, kag magkadto ka sa lugar nga akon itudlo sa imo.’[a] Gani naghalin si Abraham sa lugar sang mga Kaldeanhon kag didto siya nag-estar sa Haran. Pagkapatay sang iya amay, ginpakadto siya sang Dios sa lugar nga aton ginaestaran subong. Sa sadto nga tiyempo wala pa si Abraham paghatagi sang Dios sang bisan diutay lang nga duta. Pero nagpromisa ang Dios nga ang ini nga lugar ihatag niya sa iya kag sa iya mga kaliwat. Wala pa sing anak si Abraham sang pagpromisa sang Dios sadto. Nagsiling ang Dios sa iya, ‘Ang imo mga kaliwat mangin dumuluong sa iban nga nasyon. Mangin ulipon sila didto kag pintasan sa sulod sang 400 ka tuig. Pero silutan ko ang nasyon nga magaulipon sa ila. Pagkatapos magahalin sila sa sadto nga nasyon kag magabalik sa sini nga lugar kag diri sila magasimba sa akon.’[b] Kag bilang tanda sang iya promisa, nagsugo ang Dios kay Abraham nga ang tanan nga lalaki dapat tulion. Gani pagkatawo sang iya bata nga si Isaac, gintuli niya siya sang walo pa lang siya ka adlaw. Amo man ini ang ginhimo ni Isaac kay Jacob nga iya anak. Kag si Jacob naghimo man sini sa dose niya ka mga anak nga sa diin kita nga mga Judio naghalin.

“Si Jose nga isa sa dose ka anak ni Jacob ginhisaan sang iya mga utod, gani ginbaligya nila siya. Dayon gindala siya sa Egipto kag nangin ulipon didto. Pero tungod nga ang Dios kaupod ni Jose, 10 ginbuligan niya siya sa tanan nga pag-antos nga iya gin-agihan. Ginhatagan man siya sang Dios sang kaalam, gani naluyagan siya sang Faraon, ang hari sang Egipto. Ginhimo siya sang hari nga pangulo sa bug-os nga Egipto kag sa tanan niya nga propedad. 11 Sang ulihi nag-abot ang gutom sa bug-os nga Egipto kag sa Canaan. Nag-antos gid ang mga tawo, kag ang aton mga katigulangan wala gid sing may makuhaan sang pagkaon. 12 Gani pagkabati ni Jacob nga may pagkaon didto sa Egipto, ginpakadto niya didto ang iya mga anak, nga amo ang aton mga katigulangan. Amo ato ang nahauna nila nga pagkadto sa Egipto. 13 Sang ikaduha na nila nga pagkadto didto, nagpakilala sa ila si Jose nga siya ila utod, kag ginsugid man niya sa Faraon ang parte sa iya pamilya. 14 Dayon nagtugon si Jose nga pakadtuon ang iya amay nga si Jacob sa Egipto upod sa bug-os niya nga pamilya. (Mga 75 sila tanan.) 15 Gani nagkadto si Jacob kag ang aton mga katigulangan sa Egipto, kag didto sila nag-estar hasta nagkalamatay sila. 16 Gindala ang ila mga tul-an[c] sa Shekem kag ginlubong sa lulubngan nga ginbakal ni Abraham sang una sa mga anak ni Hamor.

17 “Karon, sang malapit na matuman ang promisa sang Dios kay Abraham, nagdamo pa gid ang aton mga katigulangan didto sa Egipto. 18 Nag-abot man ang adlaw nga lain na ang hari sa Egipto. Wala siya makakilala kay Jose. 19 Gindayaan sini nga hari ang aton mga katigulangan kag ginpintasan. Ginpilit niya sila nga ihaboy nila ang ila mga lapsag[d] agod magkalamatay. 20 Amo man ato ang tion nga natawo si Moises, isa ka bata nga nahamut-an sang Dios. Ginsagod siya sang iya mga ginikanan sa ila balay sa sulod sang tatlo ka bulan. 21 Sang ginbilin na siya sa guwa sang balay, ginkuha siya sang babayi nga bata sang Faraon kag ginsagod bilang iya gid bata. 22 Gintudluan si Moises sang tanan nga kinaalam sa Egipto, kag nangin bantog siya tungod sa iya mga paghambal kag sa iya mga hinimuan.

23 “Sang si Moises 40 na ka tuig, napinsaran niya nga magbisita sa iya mga kasimanwa nga mga Israelinhon. 24 Didto nakita niya ang isa sa ila nga ginapintasan sang Egiptohanon. Gin-apinan niya ang iya kasimanwa nga Israelinhon kag bilang balos ginpatay niya ang Egiptohanon. 25 Sa ginhimo niya nga ini naghunahuna si Moises nga maintiendihan sang mga Israelinhon nga siya amo ang gamiton sang Dios sa paghilway sa ila. Pero wala sila nakaintiendi. 26 Sang madason nga adlaw, nagbalik si Moises kag nakita niya ang duha ka Israelinhon nga nagaaway. Gusto niya nga husayon ang duha, gani naghambal siya sa ila, ‘Pareho kamo nga mga Israelinhon. Ngaa nagaaway kamo?’ 27 Pero gintiklod siya sang isa nga nagapangdaogdaog kag ginsilingan, ‘Sin-o ang naghimo sa imo nga pangulo kag manughukom namon? 28 Ano, patyon mo man bala ako pareho sa ginhimo mo sa Egiptohanon kahapon?’[e] 29 Pagkabati sadto ni Moises nagpalagyo siya halin sa Egipto kag nagkadto sa Midian. Didto siya nag-estar kag nagpangasawa, kag didto man natawo ang iya duha ka anak nga lalaki.

30 “Pagkaligad sang 40 ka tuig, may isa ka anghel nga nagpakita kay Moises sang didto siya sa kamingawan nga malapit sa Bukid sang Sinai. Nakita ni Moises ang anghel sa nagadabadaba nga kahoy-kahoy. 31 Natingala gid si Moises sa iya nakita, gani ginpalapitan niya ang kahoy-kahoy agod tan-awon kon ano ato. Sang nagapalapit na siya, nabatian niya ang tingog sang Ginoo nga nagahambal sa iya, 32 ‘Ako ang Dios sang imo mga katigulangan nga si Abraham, si Isaac, kag si Jacob.’[f] Pagkabati sadto ni Moises nagkurog siya sa kahadlok kag wala siya nangahas nga magtulok. 33 Dayon nagsiling ang Ginoo sa iya, ‘Ubaha ang imo sandalyas, kay balaan ang lugar nga imo ginatindugan. 34 Nakita ko gid ang pag-antos sang akon katawhan sa Egipto, kag nabatian ko man ang ila mga paghibi. Gani nagpanaog ako sa pagluwas sa ila. Karon magpreparar ka, kay ikaw ang akon ipadala didto sa Egipto.’[g]

35 “Amo ini ang Moises nga ginsikway sadto sang iya mga kapareho nga Israelinhon nga nagasiling, ‘Sin-o ang naghimo sa imo nga pangulo kag manughukom namon?’ Amo man ini ang Moises nga ginpadala sang Dios nga mangin pangulo kag manughilway sa mga Israelinhon paagi sa bulig sang anghel nga iya nakita didto sa nagadabadaba nga kahoy-kahoy. 36 Si Moises amo ang nagdala sang mga Israelinhon paguwa sa Egipto. Naghimo siya sang mga milagro kag makatilingala nga mga butang sa Egipto, sa Mapula nga Dagat, kag sa kamingawan nga ila gin-agyan sa sulod sang 40 ka tuig. 37 Amo man ini ang Moises nga nagsiling sa mga Israelinhon, ‘Magapadala sa inyo ang Dios sang isa ka propeta nga pareho sa akon, nga kadugo ninyo.’[h] 38 Sang didto na ang aton mga katigulangan sa kamingawan, si Moises man ang nagpatunga sa mga tawo kag sa anghel nga nagpakighambal sa iya sa Bukid sang Sinai; kag didto siya nagbaton sang pulong sang Dios nga nagahatag sang kabuhi agod ihatag man sa aton.

39 Pero sa wala pa makabalik si Moises halin sa bukid, ang aton mga katigulangan wala nagtuman sa ginpahimo ni Moises sa ila. Ginsikway nila si Moises bilang ila pangulo, kay gusto nila nga magbalik sa Egipto. 40 Naghambal sila kay Aaron, ‘Himui kami sang mga dios nga magapanguna sa amon, tungod nga wala kita kahibalo kon ano na ang natabo sining tawo nga si Moises nga nagpaguwa sa aton sa Egipto.’[i] 41 Dayon naghimo sila sang dios-dios sa dagway sang torite nga baka. Naghalad sila sa sini nga dios-dios, kag nagpiesta sila sa kadungganan sang ila ginhimo. 42 Sa sadtong ginhimo nila, gintalikdan sila sang Dios. Ginpabay-an na lang niya sila nga magsimba sa mga bituon sa langit. Amo gid ini ang ginsulat sang mga propeta:

‘Katawhan sang Israel, sang didto sa kamingawan ang inyo mga katigulangan sa sulod sang 40 ka tuig, ako bala ang ila ginhalaran sang ila mga halad? Indi!
43 Kag karon ginadala-dala pa ninyo ang tolda sang inyo dios-dios nga si Molec,
kag ang bituon nga larawan sang inyo dios-dios nga si Refan.
Ginhimo ninyo ini nga mga imahen agod simbahon.
Gani ipabihag ko kamo sa unhan pa sang Babilonia.’ ”[j]

44 Nagsiling pa gid si Esteban, “Sang didto pa ang aton mga katigulangan sa kamingawan, ara sa ila ang Tolda nga Simbahan nga sa diin nabutang ang Kasuguan. Ginhimo ang ini nga tolda suno sa sugo sang Dios kay Moises, suno sa plano nga ginpakita sa iya. 45 Sang ulihi, sang napatay na ang aton mga katigulangan, ang ila mga anak naman amo ang nagdala sang tolda. Ang ila pangulo amo si Josue. Naangkon nila ang mga duta nga ginpromisa sang Dios sa tapos nga matabog sang Dios ang mga nagaestar sa sadto nga mga lugar. Kag nagpabilin didto ang tolda nga gindala sang mga Israelinhon hasta sa tiyempo nga si David nangin hari. 46 Ginpangayo ni David sa Dios nga tugutan siya nga magpatindog sang balay para sa Dios agod makasimba didto ang mga kaliwat ni Jacob. Pero bisan nalipay gid ang Dios kay David, wala niya siya pagtuguti. 47 Si Solomon amo ang naghimo sang templo sang Dios.

48 “Ugaling ang Labing Mataas nga Dios wala nagaestar sa mga balay nga ginhimo sang tawo. Subong sang ginsiling sang Dios paagi sa isa ka propeta,

49 Ako, ang Ginoo, nagasiling:
Ang langit amo ang akon trono, kag ang duta amo ang tulungtungan sang akon mga tiil.
Gani ano nga klase sang balay ang patindugon ninyo para sa akon?
Diin bala ang lugar nga inyo papahuwayan sa akon?
50 Indi bala ako ang naghimo sang tanan nga butang?’ ”[k]

51 Nagsiling dayon si Esteban sa mga tawo didto sa Korte, “Matig-a gid ang inyo mga ulo! Nagapabungol lang kamo sa mga mensahi sang Dios, kay indi ninyo gusto nga magtuman sang iya mga ginasiling sa inyo. Permi lang ninyo ginakontra ang Espiritu Santo. Pareho gid kamo sang inyo mga katigulangan. 52 Wala gid sing propeta sa ila tiyempo nga wala nila ginhingabot. Ang mga nagsugid parte sa pag-abot sang Matarong nga Alagad[l] ginpatay nila. Kag pag-abot diri ni Jesus, kamo amo ang nagtraidor kag nagpatay sa iya. 53 Nagbaton kamo sang Kasuguan nga ginhatag sang Dios paagi sa mga anghel, pero wala ninyo pagtumana.”

Ang Pagbato kay Esteban

54 Pagkabati sadto sang mga miyembro sang Korte, naakig gid sila kay Esteban. Nagbagrot gid ang ila mga ngipon sa puwerte nga kaakig. 55 Pero si Esteban nga ginagamhan sang Espiritu Santo nagtangla sa langit, kag nakita niya ang gahom sang Dios nga nagasilak kag si Jesus nga nagatindog sa tuo sang Dios. 56 Pagkakita niya sadto nagsiling siya, “Tan-awa ninyo! Nakita ko nga abri ang langit kag si Jesus nga Anak sang Tawo nagatindog sa tuo sang Dios!” 57 Nagsinggit ang mga miyembro sang Korte kag gintakpan nila ang ila mga dulunggan agod indi nila mabatian ang ginahambal ni Esteban. Kag nagdinaguso sila pakadto sa iya. 58 Gindala nila si Esteban paguwa sa siyudad kag ginbato. Gin-uba sang mga nagsaksi kontra kay Esteban ang ila mga kunop[m] kag ginbilin sa isa ka pamatan-on nga ang iya ngalan si Saulo. 59 Sang ginabato nila si Esteban, nagapangamuyo siya. Siling niya, “Ginoong Jesus, batuna ang akon espiritu.” 60 Dayon nagluhod siya kag nagsinggit sing mabaskog, “Ginoo, indi sila pagsukta sang sini nga sala nga ila ginahimo.” Pagkahambal niya sini, napatay siya dayon.

Footnotes

  1. 7:3 Gen. 12:1.
  2. 7:7 Gen. 15:13, 14.
  3. 7:16 ang ila mga tul-an: sa literal, sila.
  4. 7:19 lapsag: bata nga bag-o natawo.
  5. 7:28 Exo. 2:14.
  6. 7:32 Exo. 3:6.
  7. 7:34 Exo. 3:5, 7-8, 10.
  8. 7:37 Deu. 18:15.
  9. 7:40 Exo. 32:1.
  10. 7:43 Amo. 5:25-27.
  11. 7:50 Isa. 66:1-2.
  12. 7:52 Matarong nga Alagad: buot silingon, si Jesus.
  13. 7:58 Gin-uba… kunop: siguro agod matawhay ang ila pagbato kay Esteban.

Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham

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

And he said, (A)“Brethren and fathers, listen: The (B)God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in (C)Haran, and said to him, (D)‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ Then (E)he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was (F)dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, (G)He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: (H)that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into (I)bondage and oppress them four hundred years. (J)‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will (K)judge,’ said God, (L)‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ (M)Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; (N)and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; (O)and Isaac begot Jacob, and (P)Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

The Patriarchs in Egypt

(Q)“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, (R)sold Joseph into Egypt. (S)But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, (T)and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 (U)Now a famine and great [a]trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 (V)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And the (W)second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 14 (X)Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and (Y)all his relatives to him, [b]seventy-five people. 15 (Z)So Jacob went down to Egypt; (AA)and he died, he and our fathers. 16 And (AB)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in (AC)the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

God Delivers Israel by Moses

17 “But when (AD)the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, (AE)the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king (AF)arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, (AG)making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 20 (AH)At this time Moses was born, and (AI)was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 21 But (AJ)when he was set out, (AK)Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was (AL)mighty in words and deeds.

23 (AM)“Now when he was 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 and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, (AN)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 (AO)Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he (AP)had two sons.

30 (AQ)“And when forty years had passed, an Angel [c]of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 saying, (AR)‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not look. 33 (AS)‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely (AT)seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will (AU)send you to Egypt.” ’

35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, (AV)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer (AW)by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 (AX)He brought them out, after he had (AY)shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, (AZ)and in the Red Sea, (BA)and in the wilderness forty years.

Israel Rebels Against God

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, (BB)‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. (BC)Him[d] you shall hear.’

38 (BD)“This is he who was in the [e]congregation in the wilderness with (BE)the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, (BF)the one who received the living (BG)oracles[f] to give to us, 39 whom our fathers (BH)would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 (BI)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 (BJ)And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and (BK)rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then (BL)God turned and gave them up to worship (BM)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

(BN)‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,
O house of Israel?
43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
And the star of your god Remphan,
Images which you made to worship;
And (BO)I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

God’s True Tabernacle

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses (BP)to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 (BQ)which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, (BR)whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the (BS)days of David, 46 (BT)who found favor before God and (BU)asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47 (BV)But Solomon built Him a house.

48 “However, (BW)the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

49 ‘Heaven(BX) is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,
Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not (BY)made all these things?’

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

51 You (BZ)stiff-necked[g] and (CA)uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 (CB)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of (CC)the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 (CD)who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.

Stephen the Martyr

54 (CE)When they heard these things they were [h]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, (CF)being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the (CG)glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! (CH)I see the heavens opened and the (CI)Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And (CJ)the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, (CK)receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, (CL)“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:11 affliction
  2. Acts 7:14 Or seventy, Ex. 1:5
  3. Acts 7:30 NU omits of the Lord
  4. Acts 7:37 NU, M omit Him you shall hear
  5. Acts 7:38 Gr. ekklesia, assembly or church
  6. Acts 7:38 sayings
  7. Acts 7:51 stubborn
  8. Acts 7:54 furious

Stephen's Speech

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said:

(A)“Brothers and fathers, hear me. (B)The God (C)of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, (D)before he lived in Haran, and said to him, (E)‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ (F)Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And (G)after his father died, (H)God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised (I)to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, (J)though he had no child. And God spoke to this effect—that (K)his offspring would (L)be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them (M)four hundred years. ‘But (N)I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out (O)and worship me in this place.’ And (P)he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And (Q)so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and (R)circumcised him on the eighth day, and (S)Isaac became the father of Jacob, and (T)Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

“And the patriarchs, (U)jealous of Joseph, (V)sold him into Egypt; but (W)God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and (X)gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, (Y)who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now (Z)there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 (AA)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And (AB)on the second visit (AC)Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and (AD)Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And (AE)Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, (AF)seventy-five persons in all. 15 And (AG)Jacob went down into Egypt, and (AH)he died, he (AI)and our fathers, 16 and (AJ)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that (AK)Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 “But (AL)as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, (AM)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king (AN)who did not know Joseph. 19 (AO)He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, (AP)so that they would not be kept alive. 20 (AQ)At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, 21 and (AR)when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses (AS)was instructed in (AT)all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was (AU)mighty in his words and deeds.

23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart (AV)to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 (AW)And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, (AX)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort (AY)Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, (AZ)where he became the father of two sons.

30 “Now when forty years had passed, (BA)an angel appeared to him (BB)in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 (BC)‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, (BD)‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 (BE)I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and (BF)have heard their groaning, and (BG)I have come down to deliver them. (BH)And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, (BI)saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer (BJ)by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 (BK)This man led them out, performing (BL)wonders and signs (BM)in Egypt and (BN)at the Red Sea and (BO)in the wilderness for (BP)forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you (BQ)a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one (BR)who was in the congregation in the wilderness with (BS)the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. (BT)He received (BU)living (BV)oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and (BW)in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, (BX)‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And (BY)they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and (BZ)were rejoicing in (CA)the works of their hands. 42 But (CB)God turned away and (CC)gave them over to worship (CD)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

(CE)“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
    (CF)during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of (CG)Moloch
    and the star of your god Rephan,
    the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had (CH)the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses (CI)directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn (CJ)brought it in with Joshua when they (CK)dispossessed the nations (CL)that God drove out before our fathers. So it was (CM)until the days of David, 46 (CN)who found favor in the sight of God and (CO)asked to find a dwelling place for (CP)the God of Jacob.[a] 47 But it was (CQ)Solomon who built a house for him. 48 (CR)Yet the Most High does not dwell (CS)in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

49 (CT)“‘Heaven is my throne,
    (CU)and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
    or what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’

51 (CV)“You stiff-necked people, (CW)uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. (CX)As your fathers did, so do you. 52 (CY)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of (CZ)the Righteous One, (DA)whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law (DB)as delivered by angels and (DC)did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54 Now when they heard these things (DD)they were enraged, and they (DE)ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, (DF)full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw (DG)the glory of God, and Jesus standing (DH)at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see (DI)the heavens opened, and (DJ)the Son of Man standing (DK)at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[b] at him. 58 Then (DL)they cast him out of the city and (DM)stoned him. And (DN)the witnesses laid down their garments (DO)at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, (DP)he called out, “Lord Jesus, (DQ)receive my spirit.” 60 And (DR)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, (DS)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, (DT)he fell asleep.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:46 Some manuscripts for the house of Jacob
  2. Acts 7:57 Or rushed with one mind

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

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

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) ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’[a](D)

“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) 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. 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) 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) 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)

“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

Stefanus' toespraak

De hogepriester vroeg aan Stefanus: "Is dat waar?" Stefanus antwoordde: "Mannen, broeders en vaders van ons volk, luister naar mij. Onze machtige God is naar onze voorvader Abraham gekomen. Dat gebeurde toen hij nog in Mesopotamië leefde, dus voordat hij in Haran ging wonen. God zei tegen hem: 'Vertrek uit je land en verlaat je familie. Reis naar het land dat Ik je zal wijzen.' Toen vertrok hij uit het land van de Chaldeeën en kwam in Haran. Daar stierf Abrahams vader. Daarna bracht God Abraham naar dit land waar jullie nu wonen. Maar God gaf hem geen eigen grond die zijn kinderen later zouden kunnen erven. Nog geen vierkante centimeter van dat land was van hemzelf. Abraham had geen kinderen. Toch beloofde God aan Abraham dat het land eigendom zou worden van zijn familie ná hem.

God zei ook dat zijn familie ná hem als vreemdelingen in een ander land zou wonen. Dat ze 400 jaar lang slecht behandeld zouden worden door de bewoners van dat land. Ze zouden hun slaven zijn. 'Maar Ik zal het volk dat hen als slaven behandelt, straffen,' zei God. 'Daarna zullen ze uit dat land vertrekken. Dan zullen ze Mij op deze plaats aanbidden.' En God sloot met Abraham een verbond: voortaan moesten alle mannen die in Abrahams familie geboren werden, zich laten besnijden.[a] Abraham kreeg een zoon, Izaäk. Hij besneed hem acht dagen na zijn geboorte. Izaäk werd later vader van Jakob, en Jakob werd vader van de twaalf stamvaders.

De stamvaders verkochten hun broer Jozef naar Egypte, omdat ze jaloers op hem waren. Maar God zorgde voor Jozef. 10 Hij redde hem uit al zijn moeilijkheden. Hij gaf Jozef wijsheid. En Hij zorgde ervoor dat de farao, de koning van Egypte, goed voor hem was. Daardoor maakte de farao hem tot hoofd van Egypte en van zijn hele paleis.

11 Toen kwam er een zware hongersnood in heel Egypte en in Kanaän. Onze voorouders hadden geen eten meer. 12 Maar Jakob hoorde dat er in Egypte graan was. Daarom stuurde hij onze stamvaders daarheen. 13 Toen ze voor de tweede keer in Egypte graan gingen halen, vertelde Jozef aan zijn broers wie hij was. Toen hoorde ook de farao uit welk volk en welke familie Jozef kwam. 14 Jozef stuurde hen naar huis om zijn vader en alle familieleden op te halen. Dat waren 75 mensen. 15 En Jakob reisde naar Egypte. Daar stierf hij uiteindelijk. Ook de stamvaders stierven daar. 16 Hun lichamen werden naar Sichem gebracht. Daar werden ze begraven in het graf dat Abraham van de zonen van Hemor in Sichem had gekocht.

17 De tijd ging voorbij. Het moment dat God zou doen wat Hij aan Abraham beloofd had, kwam steeds dichterbij. Intussen werd het volk steeds groter in Egypte. 18 Toen kreeg Egypte een koning die nooit van Jozef had gehoord. 19 Hij behandelde ons volk slecht. Hij liet hun baby's doden, zodat het volk niet groter zou worden. 20 In die tijd werd Mozes geboren. Hij was een heel mooi kind. Drie maanden lang woonde Mozes bij zijn ouders. 21 Toen legden ze hem ergens in een mandje neer in de hoop dat iemand hem zou vinden. Zo vond de dochter van de farao hem. Ze nam hem mee naar haar paleis. Ze voedde hem op als haar eigen zoon. 22 Mozes leerde alle Egyptische wijsheid en was een wijs en machtig man.

23 Toen hij 40 jaar was geworden, bezocht hij zijn eigen volk. 24 Toen hij zag dat een man door een Egyptenaar werd geslagen, beschermde hij hem. Hij nam het op voor de man die geslagen werd en doodde de Egyptenaar. 25 Hij dacht dat de mannen van zijn volk zouden begrijpen dat God hem wilde gebruiken om hen te bevrijden. Maar dat begrepen ze niet. 26 De volgende dag ging hij weer naar hen toe en zag twee mannen met elkaar vechten. Hij probeerde hen uit elkaar te halen. Hij zei tegen hen: 'Mannen, jullie zijn broeders. Waarom vechten jullie met elkaar?' 27 Maar één van hen duwde Mozes weg en zei: 'Wie heeft jou tot leider en rechter over ons gemaakt? 28 Wil je mij soms ook doden? Net zoals je gisteren die Egyptenaar hebt gedood?' 29 Toen vluchtte Mozes. Hij woonde jarenlang in het land Midian. Daar kreeg hij twee zonen.

30 Er ging 40 jaar voorbij. Toen kwam de Engel van de Heer naar Mozes toe. Dat gebeurde in de woestijn bij de berg Sinaï. De Engel stond in de vlammen van een brandende braamstruik. 31 Mozes was heel verbaasd toen hij de brandende struik zag. Hij liep erheen om te kijken wat er aan de hand was. Toen hoorde hij de stem van God: 32 'Ik ben de God van je voorvaders: de God van Abraham, de God van Izaäk en de God van Jakob.' Bevend van angst durfde Mozes niet meer te kijken. 33 De Heer zei tegen hem: 'Doe je sandalen uit, want je staat op heilige grond. 34 Ik heb echt wel gezien dat mijn volk in Egypte wordt mishandeld. Ik heb gehoord hoe de mensen kreunen. En Ik ben naar beneden gekomen om hen te redden. Kom nu, Ik wil je naar Egypte sturen.'

35 De mensen hadden eerst niets van Mozes willen weten. Ze hadden tegen hem gezegd: 'Wie heeft jou tot leider en rechter over ons gemaakt?' Maar God koos hem uit als leider en redder. God gaf hem die taak door de woorden van de Engel in de brandende braamstruik. 36 Deze Mozes heeft hen uit Egypte bevrijd. Daarbij heeft hij heel veel wonderen gedaan in Egypte, bij de Rode Zee en tijdens de 40 jaar in de woestijn. 37 Dit is de Mozes die tegen het volk Israël heeft gezegd: 'God zal jullie een profeet geven. Hij zal net als ik iemand uit jullie eigen volk zijn. Naar hem zullen jullie luisteren.' 38 Het is deze Mozes die namens het volk de berg Sinaï op klom en daar met de Engel sprak. Daar kreeg hij van de Engel de woorden die jullie leven zouden kunnen geven. Dat was in de tijd dat het volk in de woestijn was.

39 Maar onze voorouders wilden Mozes niet gehoorzamen. Ze luisterden niet meer naar hem. Ze wilden liever terug naar Egypte. 40 Daarom zeiden ze tegen Aäron: 'Maak goden voor ons die ons zullen leiden en voor ons uit zullen gaan. Want we weten niet wat er geworden is van die Mozes die ons uit Egypte heeft gehaald.' 41 En ze maakten een gouden kalf en brachten daar offers aan. Daarna vierden ze feest voor het beeld dat ze hadden gemaakt.

42 Toen verliet God hen. Hij liet hen hun gang gaan toen ze liever de sterren wilden aanbidden. Zo staat het ook in de Boeken van de profeten: 'Volk van Israël, hebben jullie ook vlees-offers en meel-offers aan Míj gebracht, 40 jaar lang in de woestijn? 43 Nee, jullie hebben de tent van de god Moloch gedragen, en de ster van de god Ramfa, dingen die jullie zelf gemaakt hadden om te aanbidden. Daarom zal Ik jullie wegsturen, tot voorbij Babylonië.'

44 Onze voorouders hadden in de woestijn de tent van Gods verbond. Mozes had die op bevel van God laten maken. Hij had hem gemaakt naar het voorbeeld dat God hem had laten zien. 45 Onze voorouders brachten die tent met zich mee, toen ze met Jozua het land veroverden van de volken die God voor hen wegjoeg. Zo was die tent hier, tot de tijd dat David koning werd. 46 God hield veel van David. David wilde graag voor God een tempel bouwen, een plek waar de God van Jakob zou kunnen wonen. 47 Maar pas zijn zoon Salomo bouwde die tempel. 48 Maar de Allerhoogste God woont niet in een tempel die door mensen is gemaakt. Dat zegt de profeet Jesaja: 49 'De hemel is mijn troon en de aarde is mijn voetenbankje. Hoe zou iemand dan voor Mij een huis kunnen bouwen, een huis waarin Ik kan wonen? 50 Ik heb immers alles gemaakt?'

51 Jullie zijn koppig en ongehoorzaam! Jullie verzetten je altijd tegen de Heilige Geest. Jullie zijn net als jullie voorouders. 52 Welke profeet is níet door hen vervolgd? Ze hebben zelfs de profeten gedood die hebben geprofeteerd over de komst van de Rechtvaardige. En jullie hebben Hem verraden en vermoord. 53 Jullie hebben van engelen de wet gekregen. Maar jullie hebben je nooit aan die wet gehouden!"

Stefanus wordt gedood

54 Toen ze hoorden wat Stefanus over hen zei, werden ze razend. Ze knarsten met hun tanden van woede. 55 Maar Stefanus was vol van de Heilige Geest. Hij keek omhoog naar de hemel en zag de stralende aanwezigheid van God. Ook zag hij Jezus naast God staan. 56 En hij zei: "Kijk! Ik zie de hemel openstaan! Ik zie de Mensenzoon naast God staan!" 57 Maar ze begonnen luidkeels te schreeuwen, stopten hun vingers in hun oren en stormden als één man op hem af. 58 Ze sleepten hem de stad uit en gooiden hem met stenen dood. De mannen die dat deden, legden hun mantels neer bij een jongeman die Saulus heette. Hij moest op hun mantels passen. 59 Zo doodden ze Stefanus. Hij riep naar de Heer: "Heer Jezus, ontvang mijn geest!" 60 Hij viel op zijn knieën en riep luid: "Heer, vergeef hun deze misdaad!" Toen stierf hij.

Footnotes

  1. Handelingen 7:8 Lees Genesis 17:9-13. Sindsdien moesten alle Joodse mannen hun geslachtsdeel laten besnijden. Dat was het teken van het verbond van God met het Joodse volk.