от Veren1Тогава първосвещеникът каза: Това така ли е?2А той каза: Братя и бащи, чуйте: Бог на славата се яви на нашия отец Авраам, когато беше в Месопотамия, преди да се засели в Харан,3и му каза: „Излез от отечеството си и от рода си и ела в земята, която ще ти покажа.“4Тогава той излезе от халдейската земя и се засели в Харан. И оттам след смъртта на баща му Бог го пресели в тази земя, в която вие сега живеете.5И не му даде в нея наследство, дори колкото да постави крака си, а обеща да я даде за притежание на него и на потомството му след него, въпреки че той нямаше дете.6И Бог му говори така: че неговите потомци ще бъдат пришълци в чужда земя, където щяха да ги поробят и притесняват четиристотин години.7Но Аз, каза Бог, ще съдя народа, на който ще робуват; и след това ще излязат и ще Ми служат на това място.8И му даде завета на обрязването; и така, Авраам роди Исаак и го обряза в осмия ден; Исаак роди Яков, а Яков – дванадесетте патриарси.9А патриарсите завидяха на Йосиф и го продадоха в Египет, но Бог беше с него10и го избави от всичките му беди, и му даде благоволение и мъдрост пред египетския цар, фараона, който го постави управител над Египет и над целия си дом.11И настана глад и голямо бедствие по цялата земя на Египет и Ханаан; и бащите ни не намираха прехрана.12А Яков, като чу, че в Египет имало жито, изпрати бащите ни за първи път;13и на втория път Йосиф се откри на братята си и родът на Йосиф стана известен на фараона.14И Йосиф прати да повикат баща му Яков и целия му род – седемдесет и пет души.15И така, Яков слезе в Египет, където умря – той и бащите ни;16и ги пренесоха в Сихем, и ги положиха в гроба в Сихем, който Авраам беше купил със сребро от синовете на Емор.17Но когато наближи времето да се изпълни обещанието, което Бог беше дал на Авраам[1], народът растеше и се умножаваше в Египет,18докато се издигна друг цар, който не познаваше Йосиф.19Той постъпваше коварно с нашия род и притесняваше бащите ни, като караше да хвърлят кърмачетата им, така че да не остават живи.20В това време се роди Мойсей, който беше мил на Бога, и три месеца го отглеждаха в бащиния му дом.21А когато го хвърлиха, дъщерята на фараона го взе и го отгледа като свой син.22И Мойсей беше научен на цялата египетска мъдрост и беше силен в слово и в дело.23А като навърши четиридесет години, му дойде на сърце да посети братята си, израилтяните.24И виждайки един онеправдан, го защити и отмъсти за оскърбения, като уби египтянина,25като мислеше, че братята му ще разберат, че Бог чрез неговата ръка им дава избавление; но те не разбраха.26На следващия ден той се появи при тях, когато се биеха, и като искаше да ги помири, каза: Хора, вие сте братя; защо се оскърбявате един друг?27А този, който оскърбяваше ближния си, го отблъсна и каза: Кой те е поставил началник и съдия над нас?ст. 35;28И мен ли искаш да убиеш, както уби вчера египтянина?29Поради тази дума Мойсей побягна и стана пришълец в мадиамската земя, където роди двама сина.30И когато минаха четиридесет години, на планината Синай, в огнения пламък на една къпина, му се яви Ангел.31И Мойсей, като видя, се удиви на гледката; а когато се приближаваше да разгледа, дойде глас от Господа:32„Аз съм Богът на бащите ти – Бог Авраамов, Бог Исааков и Бог Яковов.“ И Мойсей се разтрепери и не смееше да погледне.33И Господ му каза: „Събуй сандалите от краката си, защото мястото, на което стоиш, е свята земя.34Видях, видях страданието на Моя народ, който е в Египет, чух стенанието им и слязох, за да ги избавя. И сега ела, и ще те изпратя в Египет.“35Този Мойсей, когото бяха отхвърлили, като му казаха: Кой те постави началник и съдия?[2] – него Бог чрез ръката на Ангела, който му се яви в къпината, изпрати и за началник, и за избавител.36Той ги изведе, като върши чудеса и знамения в Египет, в Червеното море и в пустинята в продължение на четиридесет години.37Това е същият Мойсей, който каза на израилтяните: „Бог ще ви издигне от братята ви Пророк като мен – (Него слушайте).“38Това е онзи, който беше в събранието в пустинята заедно с Ангела, който му говореше на Синайската планина, както и с бащите ни; който и прие животворни думи, за да ги предаде на нас.39На него нашите бащи не искаха да се покорят, а го отхвърлиха и в сърцата си се обърнаха пак към Египет,40като казаха на Аарон: Направи ни богове, които да ходят пред нас, защото този Мойсей, който ни изведе от египетската земя, не знаем какво му стана.41И в онези дни те направиха теле и принесоха жертва на идола, и се веселяха в делото на собствените си ръце.42Тогава Бог се отвърна и ги предаде да служат на небесното войнство, както е писано в книгата на пророците: „Доме израилев, на Мен ли принасяхте заклани животни и жертви четиридесет години в пустинята?43Напротив, носехте скинията на Молох и звездата на бога Рефан, изображенията, които си направихте, за да им се кланяте. Затова ще ви преселя оттатък Вавилон.“44Скинията на свидетелството беше с бащите ни в пустинята, както заповяда Онзи, който каза на Мойсей да я направи по образеца, който беше видял;45която нашите бащи по реда си приеха и внесоха с Иисус Навиев във владенията на народите, които Бог изгони пред лицето на нашите бащи; и така стоеше до дните на Давид,46който придоби Божието благоволение и поиска да намери обиталище за Якововия Бог.47А Соломон Му построи дом.48Но Всевишният не обитава в ръкотворни храмове, както казва пророкът:49„Небето Ми е престол, а земята е Мое подножие. Какъв дом ще построите за Мен, казва Господ, или какво е мястото за Моя покой?50Не направи ли Моята ръка всичко това?“51Коравовратни и с необрязано сърце и уши! Вие винаги се противите на Светия Дух; както бащите ви, така и вие.52Кого от пророците не гониха бащите ви? А още и избиха онези, които предизвестиха за идването на Праведника, на когото вие сега станахте предатели и убийци –53вие, които приехте закона чрез ангелска наредба и не го опазихте.54А като слушаха това, сърцата им се късаха от яд и те скърцаха със зъби срещу него.55А Стефан, като беше пълен със Свети Дух, погледна към небето и видя Божията слава и Иисус, стоящ отдясно на Бога;56и каза: Ето, виждам небесата отворени и Човешкия Син, стоящ отдясно на Бога.57Но те, като изкрещяха със силен глас, запушиха ушите си и единодушно се спуснаха върху него,58и го изведоха вън от града, и го замеряха с камъни. И свидетелите сложиха дрехите си при краката на един младеж на име Савел.59И хвърляха камъни върху Стефан, който се молеше и казваше: Господи Иисусе, приеми духа ми!60И като коленичи, извика със силен глас: Господи, не им считай този грях! И като изрече това, заспа.
1Then the high priest questioned Stephen. ‘Is what these people are saying true?’ he asked.2‘Brothers and fathers, listen to me!’ Stephen replied. ‘The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham. At that time Abraham was still in Mesopotamia. He had not yet begun living in Harran.3“Leave your country and your people,” God said. “Go to the land I will show you.” (Бит 12:1)4‘So Abraham left the land of Babylonia. He settled in Harran. After his father died, God sent Abraham to this land where you are now living.5God didn’t give him any property here. He didn’t even give him enough land to set his foot on. But God made a promise to him and to all his family after him. He said they would possess the land. The promise was made even though at that time Abraham had no child.6Here is what God said to him. “For 400 years your family after you will be strangers in a country not their own. They will be slaves and will be treated badly.7But I will punish the nation that makes them slaves,” God said. “After that, they will leave that country and worship me here.” (Бит 15:13; Бит 15:14)8Then God made a covenant with Abraham. God told him that circumcision would show who the members of the covenant were. Abraham became Isaac’s father. He circumcised Isaac eight days after he was born. Later, Isaac became Jacob’s father. Jacob had 12 sons. They became the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel.9‘Jacob’s sons were jealous of their brother Joseph. So they sold him as a slave. He was taken to Egypt. But God was with him.10He saved Joseph from all his troubles. God made Joseph wise. He helped him to become the friend of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over Egypt and his whole palace.11‘There was not enough food for all Egypt and Canaan. This brought great suffering. Jacob and his sons couldn’t find food.12But Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt. So he sent his sons on their first visit.13On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was. Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.14After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family. The total number of people was 75.15Then Jacob went down to Egypt. There he and his family died.16Some of their bodies were brought back to Shechem. They were placed in a tomb Abraham had bought. He had purchased it from Hamor’s sons at Shechem. He had purchased it for a certain amount of money.17‘In Egypt the number of our people grew and grew. It was nearly time for God to make his promise to Abraham come true.18Then “a new king came to power in Egypt. Joseph didn’t mean anything to him.” (Изх 1:8)19The king was very evil and dishonest with our people. He treated them badly. He forced them to throw out their newborn babies to die.20‘At that time Moses was born. He was not an ordinary child. For three months he was taken care of by his family.21Then he was placed outside. But Pharaoh’s daughter took him home. She brought him up as her own son.22Moses was taught all the knowledge of the people of Egypt. He became a powerful speaker and a man of action.23‘When Moses was 40 years old, he decided to visit the people of Israel. They were his own people.24He saw one of them being treated badly by an Egyptian. So he went to help him. He got even by killing the man.25Moses thought his own people would realise that God was using him to save them. But they didn’t.26The next day Moses saw two Israelites fighting. He tried to make peace between them. “Men, you are both Israelites,” he said. “Why do you want to hurt each other?”27‘But the man who was treating the other one badly pushed Moses to one side. He said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?28Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?” (Изх 2:14)29When Moses heard this, he escaped to Midian. He lived there as an outsider. He became the father of two sons there.30‘Forty years passed. Then an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush. This happened in the desert near Mount Sinai.31When Moses saw the bush, he was amazed. He went over for a closer look. There he heard the Lord say,32“I am the God of your fathers. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Moses shook with fear. He didn’t dare to look. (Изх 3:6)33‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take off your sandals. You must do this because the place where you are standing is holy ground.34I have seen my people beaten down in Egypt. I have heard their groans. I have come down to set them free. Now come. I will send you back to Egypt.” (Изх 3:5; Изх 3:7; Изх 3:8; Изх 3:10)35‘This is the same Moses the two men of Israel would not accept. They had said, “Who made you ruler and judge?” But God himself sent Moses to rule the people of Israel and set them free. He spoke to Moses through an angel. The angel had appeared to him in the bush.36So Moses led them out of Egypt. He did wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the desert.37‘This is the same Moses who spoke to the Israelites. “God will send you a prophet,” he said. “He will be like me. He will come from your own people.” (Вт 18:15)38Moses was with the Israelites in the desert. He was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. Moses was with our people of long ago. He received living words to pass on to us.39‘But our people refused to obey Moses. They would not accept him. In their hearts, they wished they were back in Egypt.40They told Aaron, “Make us a god who will lead us. This fellow Moses brought us up out of Egypt. But we don’t know what has happened to him!” (Изх 32:1)41That was the time they made a statue to be their god. It was shaped like a calf. They brought sacrifices to it. They even enjoyed what they had made with their own hands.42But God turned away from them. He let them go on worshipping the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets. There it says, ‘ “People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for 40 years in the desert?43You have taken with you the shrine of your false god Molek. You have taken with you the star of your false god Rephan. You made statues of those gods to worship. So I will send you away from your country.” God sent them to Babylon and even further. (Ам 5:25)44‘Long ago our people were in the desert. They had with them the holy tent. The tent was where the tablets of the covenant law were kept. Moses had made the holy tent as God had commanded him. Moses made it like the pattern he had seen.45Our people received the tent from God. Then they brought it with them when they took the land of Canaan. God drove out the nations that were in their way. At that time Joshua was Israel’s leader. The tent remained in the land until David’s time.46David was blessed by God. So David asked if he could build a house for the God of Jacob.47But it was Solomon who built the temple for God.48‘But the Most High God does not live in houses made by human hands. As God says through the prophet,49‘ “Heaven is my throne. The earth is under my control. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Where will my resting-place be?50Didn’t my hand make all these things?” (Ис 66:1; Ис 66:2)51‘You stubborn people! You won’t obey! You won’t listen! You are just like your people of long ago! You always oppose the Holy Spirit!52Was there ever a prophet your people didn’t try to hurt? They even killed those who told about the coming of the Blameless One. And now you have handed him over to his enemies. You have murdered him.53The law you received was given by angels. But you haven’t obeyed it.’
Stephen is killed
54When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they became very angry. They were so angry they ground their teeth at Stephen.55But he was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and saw God’s glory. He saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand.56‘Look!’ he said. ‘I see heaven open. The Son of Man is standing at God’s right hand.’57When the Sanhedrin heard this, they covered their ears. They yelled at the top of their voices. They all rushed at him.58They dragged him out of the city. They began to throw stones at him to kill him. The people who had brought false charges against Stephen took off their coats. They placed them at the feet of a young man named Saul.59While the members of the Sanhedrin were throwing stones at Stephen, he prayed. ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,’ he said.60Then he fell on his knees. He cried out, ‘Lord! Don’t hold this sin against them!’ When he had said this, he died.