1And the high priest said, “Are these things so?”2And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, (Ge 11:31; Ge 15:7; Jos 24:3; Ne 9:7; Ps 29:3; Ac 22:1; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1)3and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ (Ge 12:1)4Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. (Ge 11:32; Ge 12:4; Ac 7:2)5Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. (Ge 12:7; Ge 13:15; Ge 15:3; Ge 15:18; Ge 17:8; Ge 18:10; Ge 48:4; Heb 11:8)6And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. (Ge 15:13; Ex 2:22; Ex 12:40; Ac 7:17; Heb 11:9)7‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ (Ex 3:12; Jer 25:12; Jer 30:20)8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. (Ge 17:9; Ge 21:2; Ge 25:26; Ge 29:31; Ge 30:5; Ge 35:18; Ge 35:23; Lu 1:59)9“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him (Ge 37:11; Ge 37:28; Ge 39:2; Ge 39:21; Ge 39:23; Ge 45:4; Ps 105:17)10and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. (Ge 41:37; Ge 41:41; Ge 41:43; Ge 41:46; Ge 42:6; Ps 105:21)11Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. (Ge 41:54; Ge 42:5; Ps 105:16)12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. (Ge 42:1)13And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. (Ge 43:2; Ge 45:1; Ge 45:16)14And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. (Ge 45:9; Ge 45:27; Ge 46:26; Ex 1:5; De 10:22)15And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, (Ge 46:5; Ge 46:28; Ge 49:33; Ex 1:6; Ps 105:23)16and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. (Ge 23:16; Ge 33:19; Ge 50:25; Ex 13:19; Jos 24:32)17“But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt (Ex 1:7; Ex 1:12; Ps 105:24; Ac 7:5; Ac 13:17)18until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. (Ex 1:8)19He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. (Ex 1:9; Ex 1:16; Ex 1:22; Ps 105:25)20At 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, (Ex 2:2; Heb 11:23)21and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. (Ex 2:3)22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. (1Ki 4:30; Isa 19:11; Da 1:4; Da 1:17; Lu 24:19)23“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. (Ex 2:11)24And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.25He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.26And 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?’ (Ex 2:13)27But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? (Lu 12:14; Ac 7:35)28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’29At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. (Ex 2:15; Ex 2:22; Ex 18:3)30“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. (Ex 3:1; Ex 3:2)31When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord:32‘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. (Ex 3:6)33Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. (Ex 3:5; Jos 5:15)34I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ (Ex 2:24; Ex 3:7; Ex 3:8; Ex 3:10)35“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. (Ex 3:2; Ex 14:19; Ex 23:20; Nu 20:16; Ac 7:27)36This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. (Ex 7:3; Ex 12:41; Ex 14:21; Ex 14:27; Ex 16:1; Ex 16:35; Ex 17:1; Ex 33:1; Nu 14:33; Ps 78:15; Ps 78:43; Ps 78:53; Ps 95:10; Ps 105:27; Ps 106:9; Ac 7:42; Ac 13:18; Heb 3:9; Heb 3:17; Heb 8:9)37This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ (De 18:15; Ac 3:22)38This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. (Ex 19:3; Ex 19:17; De 5:27; De 5:31; De 32:47; De 33:4; Isa 63:9; Joh 1:17; Ac 7:53; Ro 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11)39Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, (Ex 16:3; Nu 11:4; Nu 14:3; Eze 20:8; Eze 20:24)40saying to Aaron, ‘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.’ (Ex 32:1; Ex 32:23)41And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. (Ex 32:4; Ex 32:35; De 9:16; Ps 106:19; Isa 2:8; Jer 1:16; Jer 25:6; Am 6:13)42But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? (De 4:19; Jos 24:20; 2Ki 17:16; 2Ki 21:3; 2Ki 23:5; Ps 81:12; Isa 63:10; Jer 19:13; Eze 20:39; Am 5:25; Zep 1:5; Ac 7:36; Ro 1:28)43You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’ (1Ki 11:7)44“Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. (Ex 25:40; Ex 38:21; Re 15:5)45Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, (Nu 32:5; De 32:49; Jos 3:10; Jos 3:14; Jos 23:9; Jos 24:18; 2Sa 7:1; 2Ch 20:7; Ac 13:19)46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.[1] (Ge 49:24; 1Sa 16:1; 1Ki 8:17; 1Ch 22:7; Ps 89:19; Ps 132:5; Isa 49:26; Ac 13:22)47But it was Solomon who built a house for him. (2Sa 7:13; 1Ki 6:1; 1Ki 8:20; 2Ch 3:1)48Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, (1Ki 8:27; 2Ch 2:6; Ac 17:24)49“‘Heaven is my throne, 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? (Ps 11:4; Isa 66:1; Mt 5:34)50Did not my hand make all these things?’51“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. (Ex 32:9; Le 26:41; De 10:16; Jer 6:10; Jer 9:26; Eze 44:7; Eze 44:9; Mal 3:7)52Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, (1Ki 19:10; 2Ch 36:16; Jer 2:30; Mt 5:12; Mt 21:35; Mt 23:31; Mt 23:37; Ac 3:14; Ac 5:28)53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (De 33:2; Joh 7:19; Ac 7:38; Ga 3:19; Heb 2:2)
1Then the high priest asked Stephen, ‘Are these charges true?’2To this he replied: ‘Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.3“Leave your country and your people,” God said, “and go to the land I will show you.” (Ge 12:1)4‘So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.5He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.6God 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 ill-treated.7But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,” God said, “and afterwards they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.” (Ge 15:13; Ge 15:14)8Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.9‘Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him10and 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.11‘Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.12When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit.13On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.14After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all.15Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died.16Their 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.17‘As the time drew near for God to fulfil his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased.18Then “a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt”. (Ex 1:8)19He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.20‘At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child.[1] For three months he was cared for by his family.21When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.22Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.23‘When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.24He saw one of them being ill-treated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defence and avenged him by killing the Egyptian.25Moses thought that his own people would realise that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.26The 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 ill-treating the other pushed Moses aside and said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?28Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?” (Ex 2:14)29When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.30‘After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.31When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say:32“I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. (Ex 3:6)33‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.34I 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.” (Ex 3:5; Ex 3:7; Ex 3:8; Ex 3:10)35‘This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, “Who made you ruler and judge?” He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.36He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.37‘This is the Moses who told the Israelites, “God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.” (De 18:15)38He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.39‘But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.40They 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!” (Ex 32:1)41That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and revelled in what their own hands had made.42But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: ‘ “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?43You 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”[2] beyond Babylon. (Am 5:25)44‘Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.45After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David,46who enjoyed God’s favour and asked that he might provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.[3]47But it was Solomon who built a house for him.48‘However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:49‘ “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting-place be?50Has not my hand made all these things?” (Isa 66:1; Isa 66:2)51‘You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: you always resist the Holy Spirit!52Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him –53you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.’
The stoning of Stephen
54When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.
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.” (Ge 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.” (Ge 15:13; Ge 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.” (Ex 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?” (Ex 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. (Ex 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.” (Ex 3:5; Ex 3:7; Ex 3:8; Ex 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.” (De 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!” (Ex 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. (Am 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?” (Isa 66:1; Isa 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.
Acts 7
King James Version
1Then said the high priest, Are these things so?2And 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,3And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.4Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.5And 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.6And 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.7And 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.8And 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.9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,10And 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.11Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.12But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.13And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.14Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.15So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,16And 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.17But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,18Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.19The 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.20In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:21And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.22And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.23And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.24And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:25For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.26And 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?27But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?28Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?29Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.30And 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.31When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,32Saying, 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.33Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.34I 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.35This 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.36He 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.37This 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.38This 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:39To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,40Saying 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.41And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.42Then 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?43Yea, 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.44Our 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.45Which 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;46Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.47But Solomon built him an house.48Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,49Heaven 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?50Hath not my hand made all these things?51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.52Which 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:53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.55But 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,56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,58And 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.59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60And 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.
1Der Hohepriester aber fragte: Ist das wahr?2Stephanus antwortete: Brüder und Väter, hört mich an! Der Gott der Herrlichkeit erschien unserem Vater Abraham, als er in Mesopotamien lebte, ehe er sich in Haran niederließ, (Ge 11:31; Ge 15:7)3und sagte zu ihm: Zieh weg aus deinem Land und aus deiner Verwandtschaft und geh in das Land, das ich dir zeigen werde! (Ge 12:1)4Da zog er aus dem Land der Chaldäer fort und ließ sich in Haran nieder. Von dort ließ Gott ihn nach dem Tod seines Vaters in dieses Land übersiedeln, in dem ihr jetzt wohnt.5Er hat ihm darin kein Erbteil gegeben, auch nicht einen Fußbreit, doch hat er verheißen, das Land ihm und seinen Nachkommen zum Besitz zu geben, obwohl er kinderlos war. (Ge 12:7; Ge 13:15; Ge 17:8; Ge 48:4; De 2:5)6So sprach Gott: Seine Nachkommen werden als Fremde in einem Land wohnen, das ihnen nicht gehört; und man wird sie zu Sklaven machen und sie vierhundert Jahre lang hart behandeln. (Ge 15:13)7Aber auch über das Volk, dem sie als Sklaven dienen, werde ich Gericht halten, sprach Gott, und danach werden sie ausziehen und mich an diesem Ort verehren. (Ex 3:12)8Und er gab ihm den Bund der Beschneidung. So zeugte Abraham den Isaak und beschnitt ihn am achten Tag, ebenso Isaak den Jakob und Jakob die zwölf Patriarchen. (Ge 17:10; Ge 21:4)9Die Patriarchen aber waren eifersüchtig auf Josef und verkauften ihn nach Ägypten; doch Gott war mit ihm. (Ge 37:11; Ge 39:2)10Er rettete ihn aus allen seinen Nöten, schenkte ihm Weisheit und die Gunst des Pharao, des Königs von Ägypten, und er bestellte ihn zum Herrscher über Ägypten und über sein ganzes Haus. (Ge 39:21; Ge 41:37; Ps 105:21; Wis 10:14)11Es kam aber eine Hungersnot über ganz Ägypten und Kanaan und das Elend war groß. Auch unsere Väter hatten keine Nahrung mehr. (Ge 41:54)12Als Jakob hörte, dass es in Ägypten Getreide gab, schickte er unsere Väter ein erstes Mal dorthin. (Ge 42:2)13Beim zweiten Mal gab Josef sich seinen Brüdern zu erkennen und dem Pharao wurde Josefs Herkunft bekannt. (Ge 45:3)14Josef aber ließ seinen Vater Jakob und seine ganze Familie holen: fünfundsiebzig Menschen. (Ge 45:9; Ge 46:27; Ex 1:5; De 10:22)15So zog Jakob nach Ägypten hinab; und er starb und auch unsere Väter starben. (Ge 46:3; Ge 49:33)16Man brachte sie nach Sichem und bestattete sie in dem Grab, das Abraham von den Söhnen Hamors in Sichem für Silbergeld gekauft hatte. (Ge 23:16; Ge 33:19; Ge 50:13)17Als aber die Zeit der Verheißung herankam, die Gott dem Abraham zugesagt hatte, vermehrte sich das Volk und breitete sich in Ägypten aus, (Ex 1:7)18bis ein anderer über Ägypten König wurde, der von Josef nichts wusste.19Er ging gegen unser Volk heimtückisch vor und zwang unsere Väter, ihre Kinder auszusetzen; sie sollten nicht am Leben bleiben.20In dieser Zeit wurde Mose geboren und Gott hatte Gefallen an ihm. Drei Monate lang wurde er im Haus seines Vaters aufgezogen; (Ex 2:2; Heb 11:23)21als er aber ausgesetzt wurde, nahm ihn die Tochter des Pharao auf und erzog ihn als ihren Sohn. (Ex 2:3)22Und Mose wurde in aller Weisheit der Ägypter ausgebildet und er war mächtig in Wort und Tat.23Als er vierzig Jahre alt war, reifte in ihm der Gedanke, nach seinen Brüdern, den Söhnen Israels, zu sehen. (Ex 2:11)24Und als er sah, wie einem von ihnen Unrecht geschah, kam er dem Unterdrückten zu Hilfe und rächte ihn, indem er den Ägypter erschlug.25Er dachte, seine Brüder würden begreifen, dass Gott ihnen durch seine Hand Rettung bringen wolle; doch sie begriffen es nicht.26Am folgenden Tag kam er dazu, wie sie sich stritten; er versuchte, sie auszusöhnen und Frieden zu stiften, und sagte: Männer, ihr seid doch Brüder. Warum tut ihr einander Unrecht? (Ex 2:13)27Der Mann aber, der seinem Nächsten Unrecht getan hatte, stieß ihn weg und sagte: Wer hat dich zum Anführer und Schiedsrichter über uns bestellt? (Ex 2:14)28Willst du mich etwa umbringen, wie du gestern den Ägypter umgebracht hast?29Daraufhin floh Mose und hielt sich als Fremder in Midian auf; dort wurden ihm zwei Söhne geboren. (Ex 2:15; Ex 18:3)30Als vierzig Jahre vergangen waren, erschien ihm in der Wüste beim Berg Sinai ein Engel im Feuer eines brennenden Dornbusches. (Ex 3:2)31Als Mose die Erscheinung sah, wunderte er sich darüber. Er ging näher hin, um sie genauer zu betrachten. Da ertönte die Stimme des Herrn:32Ich bin der Gott deiner Väter, der Gott Abrahams, Isaaks und Jakobs. Mose begann zu zittern und wagte nicht hinzusehen.33Da sagte der Herr zu ihm: Zieh deine Schuhe aus! Denn der Ort, wo du stehst, ist heiliger Boden.34Ich habe das Elend meines Volkes in Ägypten gesehen und seine Klage gehört. Ich bin herabgestiegen, um sie zu retten. Und jetzt geh, ich sende dich nach Ägypten.35Diesen Mose, den sie verleugnet hatten mit den Worten: Wer hat dich zum Anführer und Schiedsrichter bestellt?, ihn hat Gott als Anführer und Befreier gesandt durch die Hand des Engels, der ihm im Dornbusch erschien. (Ex 2:14)36Dieser Mose hat sie herausgeführt, indem er Zeichen und Wunder tat in Ägypten und im Roten Meer und in der Wüste, vierzig Jahre lang. (Ex 7:3; Ex 14:21; Nu 14:33)37Dies ist der Mose, der zu den Söhnen Israels gesagt hat: Einen Propheten wie mich wird Gott euch aus euren Brüdern erwecken. (De 18:15; Joh 1:21; Joh 6:14; Ac 3:22)38Dieser stand bei der Versammlung des Volkes in der Wüste zwischen dem Engel, der mit ihm auf dem Berg Sinai redete, und unseren Vätern. Er hat Worte des Lebens empfangen, um sie uns zu geben. (Ex 19:3; Ex 31:18; De 9:10; 2Co 3:3; Ga 3:19)39Aber unsere Väter wollten sich ihm nicht unterordnen; sie wiesen ihn ab und wandten ihr Herz nach Ägypten zurück.40Sie sagten zu Aaron: Mach uns Götter, die vor uns herziehen! Denn dieser Mose, der uns aus Ägypten herausgeführt hat - wir wissen nicht, was mit ihm geschehen ist. (Ex 32:1)41Und sie fertigten in jenen Tagen das Standbild eines Kalbes an, brachten dem Götzen ein Opfer dar und freuten sich über das Werk ihrer Hände. (Ex 32:4)42Da wandte sich Gott ab und überließ sie dem Sternenkult, wie es im Buch der Propheten heißt: Habt ihr mir etwa Schlachttiere und Opfer dargebracht während der vierzig Jahre in der Wüste, ihr vom Haus Israel?[1] (Am 5:25)43Das Zelt des Molochs und den Stern des Gottes Raifan habt ihr herumgetragen, die Bilder, die ihr gemacht habt, um sie anzubeten. Darum will ich euch in die Gebiete jenseits von Babylon verbannen.44Unsere Väter hatten in der Wüste das Bundeszelt. So hat Gott es angeordnet; er hat dem Mose befohlen, es nach dem Vorbild zu errichten, das er geschaut hatte. (Ex 25:40)45Und unsere Väter haben es übernommen und mitgebracht, als sie unter Josua das Land der Heidenvölker besetzten, die Gott vor den Augen unserer Väter vertrieb, bis zu den Tagen Davids. (De 32:49; Jos 3:14; Jos 18:1)46Dieser fand Gnade vor Gott und bat für das Haus Jakob um ein Zeltheiligtum. (2Sa 7:2; Ps 132:5)47Salomo aber baute ihm ein Haus. (1Ki 6:1)48Doch der Höchste wohnt nicht in dem, was von Menschenhand gemacht ist, wie der Prophet sagt:49Der Himmel ist mein Thron und die Erde der Schemel für meine Füße. Was für ein Haus könnt ihr mir bauen?, spricht der Herr. Oder welcher Ort kann mir als Ruhestätte dienen? (Isa 66:1)50Hat nicht meine Hand dies alles gemacht?51Ihr Halsstarrigen, unbeschnitten an Herzen und Ohren! Immerzu widersetzt ihr euch dem Heiligen Geist, eure Väter schon und nun auch ihr. (De 9:6)52Welchen der Propheten haben eure Väter nicht verfolgt? Sie haben die getötet, die die Ankunft des Gerechten geweissagt haben, dessen Verräter und Mörder ihr jetzt geworden seid, (2Ch 36:16; Mt 5:12; Mt 23:34)53ihr, die ihr durch die Anordnung von Engeln das Gesetz empfangen, es aber nicht gehalten habt. (De 33:2; Ga 3:19; Heb 2:2)
Die Steinigung des Stephanus
54Als sie das hörten, waren sie in ihren Herzen aufs Äußerste über ihn empört und knirschten mit den Zähnen gegen ihn. (Ac 5:33)55Er aber, erfüllt vom Heiligen Geist, blickte zum Himmel empor, sah die Herrlichkeit Gottes und Jesus zur Rechten Gottes stehen56und rief: Siehe, ich sehe den Himmel offen und den Menschensohn zur Rechten Gottes stehen. (Lu 22:69)57Da erhoben sie ein lautes Geschrei, hielten sich die Ohren zu, stürmten einmütig auf ihn los,58trieben ihn zur Stadt hinaus und steinigten ihn. Die Zeugen legten ihre Kleider zu Füßen eines jungen Mannes nieder, der Saulus hieß.[2]59So steinigten sie Stephanus; er aber betete und rief: Herr Jesus, nimm meinen Geist auf! (Lu 23:46)60Dann sank er in die Knie und schrie laut: Herr, rechne ihnen diese Sünde nicht an! Nach diesen Worten starb er. (Lu 23:34)