1Il sommo sacerdote disse: «Le cose stanno proprio così?»2Egli rispose: «Fratelli e padri, ascoltate. Il Dio della gloria apparve ad Abraamo, nostro padre, mentre egli era in Mesopotamia, prima che si stabilisse in Caran,3e gli disse: “Esci dal tuo paese e dal tuo parentado, e va’ nel paese che io ti mostrerò”[1].4Allora egli lasciò il paese dei Caldei e andò ad abitare in Caran; e di là, dopo che suo padre morì, Dio lo fece venire in questo paese che ora voi abitate.5In esso però non gli diede in proprietà neppure un palmo di terra, ma gli promise di darla in possesso a lui e alla sua discendenza dopo di lui, quando egli non aveva ancora nessun figlio.6Dio parlò così: “La sua discendenza soggiornerà in terra straniera, e sarà ridotta in schiavitù e maltrattata per quattrocento anni.7Ma io giudicherò la nazione che avranno servita”, disse Dio; “e dopo questo essi partiranno e mi renderanno il loro culto in questo luogo”[2].8Poi gli diede il patto della circoncisione; così Abraamo, dopo aver generato Isacco, lo circoncise l’ottavo giorno; e Isacco generò Giacobbe, e Giacobbe i dodici patriarchi.9I patriarchi, portando invidia a Giuseppe, lo vendettero, perché fosse condotto in Egitto; ma Dio era con lui10e lo liberò da ogni sua tribolazione, e gli diede sapienza e grazia davanti al faraone, re d’Egitto, che lo costituì governatore dell’Egitto e di tutta la sua casa.11Sopraggiunse poi una carestia in tutto l’Egitto e in Canaan; l’angoscia era grande e i nostri padri non trovavano viveri.12Giacobbe, saputo che in Egitto c’era grano, vi mandò una prima volta i nostri padri.13La seconda volta Giuseppe si fece riconoscere dai suoi fratelli, e così il faraone venne a sapere di che stirpe fosse Giuseppe.14Poi Giuseppe mandò a chiamare suo padre Giacobbe e tutta la sua parentela, composta di settantacinque persone.15Giacobbe discese in Egitto, dove morirono lui e i nostri padri;16poi furono trasportati a Sichem e deposti nel sepolcro che Abraamo aveva comprato con una somma di denaro dai figli di Emmor in Sichem.17Mentre si avvicinava il tempo del compimento della promessa che Dio aveva fatto ad Abraamo, il popolo crebbe e si moltiplicò in Egitto,18finché sorse {sull’Egitto} un altro re, che non sapeva nulla di Giuseppe[3].19Costui, procedendo con astuzia contro il nostro popolo, maltrattò i {nostri} padri fino a costringerli ad abbandonare i loro bambini, perché non fossero lasciati in vita.20In quel tempo nacque Mosè, che era bello agli occhi di Dio; egli fu nutrito per tre mesi in casa di suo padre;21e, quando fu abbandonato, la figlia del faraone lo raccolse e lo allevò come figlio.22Mosè fu istruito in tutta la sapienza degli Egiziani e divenne potente in parole e opere.23Ma quando raggiunse l’età di quarant’anni, gli venne in animo di andare a visitare i suoi fratelli, i figli d’Israele.24Vedendo che uno di loro era maltrattato, ne prese le difese e vendicò l’oppresso, colpendo a morte l’Egiziano.25Ora egli pensava che i {suoi} fratelli avrebbero capito che Dio voleva salvarli per mano di lui; ma essi non compresero.26Il giorno seguente si presentò a loro mentre litigavano, e cercava di riconciliarli, dicendo: “Uomini, voi siete fratelli; perché vi fate torto a vicenda?”27Ma quello che faceva torto al suo prossimo lo respinse, dicendo: “Chi ti ha costituito capo e giudice su di noi?28Vuoi uccidere me come ieri uccidesti l’Egiziano?”[4]29A queste parole Mosè fuggì e andò a vivere come straniero nel paese di Madian, dove ebbe due figli.30Trascorsi quarant’anni, un angelo gli apparve nel deserto del monte Sinai, nella fiamma di un pruno ardente[5].31Mosè guardò e rimase stupito di questa visione; e, come si avvicinava per osservare meglio, si udì la voce del Signore:32“Io sono il Dio dei tuoi padri, il Dio di Abraamo, di Isacco e di Giacobbe”. Mosè, tutto tremante, non osava guardare.33Il Signore gli disse: “Togliti i calzari dai piedi; perché il luogo dove stai è suolo sacro.34Certo, ho visto l’afflizione del mio popolo in Egitto, ho udito i loro gemiti e sono disceso per liberarli; e ora, vieni, ti manderò in Egitto”[6].35Questo Mosè che avevano rinnegato dicendo: “Chi ti ha costituito capo e giudice?”, proprio lui Dio mandò loro come capo e liberatore con l’aiuto dell’angelo che gli era apparso nel pruno.36Egli li fece uscire, compiendo prodigi e segni nel paese d’Egitto, nel mar Rosso e nel deserto per quarant’anni.37Questi è il Mosè che disse ai figli d’Israele: “Dio vi susciterà, tra i vostri fratelli, un profeta come me”[7].38Questi è colui che nell’assemblea del deserto fu con l’angelo che gli parlava sul monte Sinai e con i nostri padri, e che ricevette parole di vita da trasmettere a noi.39Ma i nostri padri non vollero dargli ascolto, lo respinsero e si volsero in cuor loro verso l’Egitto,40dicendo ad Aaronne: “Facci degli dèi che vadano davanti a noi, perché di questo Mosè, che ci ha condotti fuori dall’Egitto, non sappiamo che cosa sia avvenuto”[8].41E in quei giorni fabbricarono un vitello, offrirono sacrifici all’idolo e si rallegrarono per l’opera delle loro mani.42Ma Dio si ritrasse da loro e li abbandonò al culto dell’esercito del cielo, come sta scritto nel libro dei profeti: “Mi avete forse offerto vittime e sacrifici per quarant’anni nel deserto, o casa d’Israele?43Anzi, vi portaste appresso la tenda di Moloc e la stella del {vostro} dio Refàn; immagini che voi faceste per adorarle. Perciò io vi deporterò al di là di Babilonia”[9].44I nostri padri avevano nel deserto la tenda della testimonianza, come aveva ordinato colui che aveva detto a Mosè di farla secondo il modello da lui veduto.45I nostri padri, guidati da Giosuè, dopo averla ricevuta la trasportarono nel paese posseduto dai popoli che Dio scacciò davanti a loro. Là rimase fino ai tempi di Davide,46il quale trovò grazia davanti a Dio e chiese di poter preparare lui una dimora al Dio di Giacobbe.47Fu invece Salomone che gli costruì una casa.48L’Altissimo però non abita in edifici fatti da mano d’uomo, come dice il profeta:49“Il cielo è il mio trono, e la terra lo sgabello dei miei piedi. Quale casa mi costruirete”, dice il Signore, “o quale sarà il luogo del mio riposo?50Non ha la mia mano creato tutte queste cose?”[10]51Gente di collo duro e incirconcisa di cuore e d’orecchi, voi opponete sempre resistenza allo Spirito Santo; come fecero i vostri padri, così fate anche voi.52Quale dei profeti non perseguitarono i vostri padri? Essi uccisero quelli che preannunciavano la venuta del Giusto, del quale voi ora siete divenuti i traditori e gli uccisori;53voi, che avete ricevuto la legge promulgata dagli angeli e non l’avete osservata».
Stefano, primo martire della fede
54Essi, udendo queste cose, fremevano di rabbia in cuor loro e digrignavano i denti contro di lui.55Ma Stefano, pieno di Spirito Santo, fissati gli occhi al cielo, vide la gloria di Dio e Gesù che stava alla destra di Dio,56e disse: «Ecco, io vedo i cieli aperti e il Figlio dell’uomo in piedi alla destra di Dio».57Ma essi, gettando grida altissime, si turarono gli orecchi e si avventarono tutti insieme sopra di lui;58e, cacciatolo fuori dalla città, cominciarono a lapidarlo. I testimoni deposero i loro mantelli ai piedi di un giovane, chiamato Saulo.59E continuarono a lapidare Stefano mentre pregava e diceva: «Signore Gesù, accogli il mio spirito».60Poi, messosi in ginocchio, gridò ad alta voce: «Signore, non imputare loro questo peccato». E detto questo si addormentò.
1Der Hohe Priester aber sprach: Ist das so?2Er aber sprach: Ihr Brüder[1] und Väter, hört! Der Gott der Herrlichkeit erschien unserem Vater Abraham, als er in Mesopotamien war, ehe er in Haran wohnte, (Gen 11,31; Sal 29,3; At 22,1; Ef 1,17)3und sprach zu ihm: »Geh aus deinem Land und aus deiner Verwandtschaft, und komm in das Land, das ich dir zeigen werde!« (Gen 12,1)4Da ging er aus dem Land der Chaldäer und wohnte in Haran; und von da siedelte er ihn, nachdem sein Vater gestorben war, in dieses Land um, in dem ihr jetzt wohnt. (Gen 11,32; Gen 12,5; Eb 11,8)5Und er gab ihm kein Erbteil darin, auch nicht einen Fußbreit, und er verhieß, es ihm zum Besitztum zu geben und seinen Nachkommen nach ihm, obwohl er kein Kind hatte. (Gen 12,7; Gen 13,15; Gen 17,8; Gen 23,4)6Gott aber sprach so: »Seine Nachkommen werden Fremdlinge[2] sein in fremdem Land, und man wird sie knechten[3] und misshandeln vierhundert Jahre. (Eso 2,22)7Und die Nation, der sie dienen[4] werden, werde ich richten«, sprach Gott, »und danach werden sie ausziehen und mir an diesem Ort dienen[5].« (Gen 15,13; Eso 3,12; Eso 12,40)8Und er gab ihm den Bund der Beschneidung; und so zeugte er den Isaak und beschnitt ihn am achten Tag, und Isaak den Jakob und Jakob die zwölf Patriarchen. (Gen 17,10; Gen 21,4; Gen 25,26; Gen 35,22)9Und die Patriarchen, neidisch auf Josef, verkauften ihn nach Ägypten. Gott aber war mit ihm (Gen 37,4; Gen 37,28; Gen 39,2)10und rettete ihn aus allen seinen Bedrängnissen und gab ihm Gunst und Weisheit vor Pharao, dem König von Ägypten; und er setzte ihn als Regenten[6] über Ägypten und sein ganzes Haus ein. (Gen 40,14; Sal 105,20)11Es kam nun eine Hungersnot über ganz Ägypten und Kanaan und eine große Bedrängnis, und unsere Väter fanden keine Speise. (Gen 41,57; Gen 42,5)12Als aber Jakob hörte, dass in Ägypten Getreide sei, sandte er unsere Väter zum ersten Mal aus. (Gen 42,2)13Beim zweiten Mal wurde Josef von seinen Brüdern wiedererkannt, und dem Pharao wurde die Herkunft Josefs bekannt. (Gen 45,3; Gen 45,16)14Josef aber sandte hin und ließ seinen Vater Jakob holen und die ganze Verwandtschaft mit fünfundsiebzig Seelen. (Gen 45,18; Gen 46,27; De 10,22)15Jakob zog nun nach Ägypten hinab und starb, er und unsere Väter; (Gen 46,6; Gen 49,33; Eso 1,6)16und sie wurden nach Sichem hinübergebracht und in die Grabstätte gelegt, die Abraham für eine Summe Geld von den Söhnen Hamors in Sichem gekauft hatte. (Gen 23,16; Gen 50,13; Gios 24,32)17Als aber die Zeit der Verheißung nahte, die Gott dem Abraham zugesagt hatte, wuchs das Volk und vermehrte sich in Ägypten, (Eso 1,7; At 7,5)18bis ein anderer König über Ägypten aufstand, der Josef nicht kannte. (Eso 1,8)19Dieser handelte mit List gegen unser Geschlecht und misshandelte die Väter, sodass sie ihre Säuglinge aussetzen mussten, damit sie nicht am Leben blieben. (Eso 1,14; Eso 1,22; Sal 105,25)20In dieser Zeit wurde Mose geboren, und er war Gott angenehm[7]; und er wurde drei Monate aufgezogen im Haus des Vaters. (Eso 2,2; Eb 11,23)21Als er aber ausgesetzt worden war, nahm ihn die Tochter Pharaos zu sich und zog ihn auf, sich zum Sohn. (Eso 2,3; Eso 2,10)22Und Mose wurde unterwiesen in aller Weisheit der Ägypter; er war aber mächtig in seinen Worten und Werken. (Lu 24,19)23Als er aber ein Alter von vierzig Jahren erreicht hatte[8], kam es in seinem Herzen auf, nach seinen Brüdern, den Söhnen Israel, zu sehen.24Und als er einen Unrecht leiden sah, verteidigte er ihn und rächte den Unterdrückten, indem er den Ägypter erschlug. (Eso 2,11)25Er meinte aber, seine Brüder würden verstehen, dass Gott ihnen durch seine Hand Rettung gab[9]; sie aber verstanden es nicht.26Am folgenden Tag erschien er bei ihnen, als sie sich stritten, und trieb[10] sie zum Frieden, indem er sagte: Ihr Männer, ihr seid Brüder, warum tut ihr einander unrecht? (Eso 2,13)27Der aber dem Nächsten unrecht tat, stieß ihn weg und sprach: Wer hat dich als Obersten und Richter über uns eingesetzt? (At 7,35)28Willst du mich etwa umbringen, wie du gestern den Ägypter umgebracht hast?29Mose aber entfloh bei diesem Wort und wurde ein Fremdling im Land Midian, wo er zwei Söhne zeugte. (Eso 2,14; Eso 2,22; Eso 18,3)30Als vierzig Jahre verflossen[11] waren, erschien ihm in der Wüste des Berges Sinai ein Engel in der Feuerflamme eines Dornbusches. (Eso 3,2)31Als aber Mose es sah, wunderte er sich über die Erscheinung; während er aber hinzutrat, sie zu betrachten, erging die Stimme des Herrn: (Eso 3,3)32»Ich bin der Gott deiner Väter, der Gott Abrahams und Isaaks und Jakobs.« Mose aber erzitterte und wagte nicht, es zu betrachten. (Eso 3,6; Mat 22,32)33Der Herr aber sprach zu ihm: »Löse die Sandale von deinen Füßen, denn der Ort, auf dem du stehst, ist heiliges Land. (Eso 3,5; Gios 5,15)34Gesehen[12] habe ich die Misshandlung meines Volkes, das in Ägypten ist, und ihr Seufzen habe ich gehört, und ich bin herabgekommen, sie herauszureißen. Und nun komm, ich will dich nach Ägypten senden.« (Eso 2,24; Eso 3,7)35Diesen Mose, den sie verleugneten, indem sie sagten: »Wer hat dich als Obersten und Richter eingesetzt?«, den hat Gott als Obersten und Retter[13] gesandt durch die Hand des Engels, der ihm in dem Dornbusch erschien. (Nu 20,16; At 7,27)36Dieser führte sie heraus, indem er Wunder und Zeichen tat im Land Ägypten und im Roten Meer und in der Wüste, vierzig Jahre. (Eso 14,21; Ne 9,10; Ne 9,11; Ne 9,12; Sal 105,27; Sal 105,40; Sal 106,22)37Das ist der Mose, der zu den Söhnen Israels sprach: »Einen Propheten wie mich wird euch Gott aus euren Brüdern erwecken.« (Mar 9,7; At 3,22)38Dieser ist es, der in der Gemeinde[14] in der Wüste gewesen ist mit dem Engel, der auf dem Berg Sinai zu ihm redete und mit unseren Vätern. Er empfing lebendige Aussprüche, um sie uns zu geben. (Eso 19,3; Eso 24,18; Giov 1,17; Ro 3,2; Ga 3,19; Eb 4,12)39Unsere Väter aber wollten nicht gehorsam sein, sondern stießen ihn von sich, wandten sich in ihren Herzen nach Ägypten zurück (Nu 14,3)40und sagten zu Aaron: »Mach uns Götter, die vor uns herziehen sollen! Denn dieser Mose, der uns aus dem Land Ägypten geführt hat – wir wissen nicht, was ihm geschehen ist.« (Eso 32,1)41Sie machten in jenen Tagen ein Kalb und brachten dem Götzenbild ein Schlachtopfer und ergötzten sich an den Werken ihrer Hände. (Eso 32,2; Sal 106,19)42Gott aber wandte sich ab und gab sie dahin, dem Heer des Himmels zu dienen[15], wie geschrieben steht im Buch der Propheten: »Habt ihr mir etwa vierzig Jahre in der Wüste Opfertiere und Schlachtopfer dargebracht, Haus Israel? (De 4,19; 2Re 17,16; Sal 81,13; Ger 7,18; Ger 19,13; At 14,16; Ro 1,24)43Ihr nahmt das Zelt des Moloch mit und das Sternbild des Gottes Räfan[16], die Bilder, die ihr gemacht hattet, sie anzubeten; und ich werde euch verpflanzen über Babylon hinaus.« (Am 5,25)44Unsere Väter hatten das Zelt des Zeugnisses in der Wüste, wie der, welcher zu Mose redete, befohlen hatte, es nach dem Muster zu machen, das er gesehen hatte. (Eso 25,40)45Und unsere Väter übernahmen es und führten es mit Josua[17] ein bei der Besitzergreifung ⟨des Landes⟩ der Nationen, die Gott austrieb von dem Angesicht unserer Väter hinweg, bis zu den Tagen Davids, (Gios 3,14; Gios 18,1; Ne 9,24; Sal 44,4)46der Gnade fand vor Gott und eine Wohnstätte zu finden begehrte für den Gott Jakobs. (2Sam 7,2; 1Re 8,17; Sal 132,4)47Salomo aber baute ihm ein Haus. (1Re 6,1)48Aber der Höchste wohnt nicht in Wohnungen, die mit Händen gemacht sind, wie der Prophet spricht: (1Re 8,27; At 17,24)49»Der Himmel ist mein Thron und die Erde der Schemel meiner Füße. Was für ein Haus wollt ihr mir bauen, spricht der Herr, oder welches ist der Ort meiner Ruhe? (Mat 5,34)50Hat nicht meine Hand dies alles gemacht?« (Is 66,1)51Ihr Halsstarrigen und Unbeschnittenen an Herz und Ohren! Ihr widerstrebt allezeit dem Heiligen Geist; wie eure Väter, so auch ihr. (Eso 32,9; Eso 33,3; Nu 27,14; Is 63,10; Ger 6,10; Ger 9,25)52Welchen der Propheten haben eure Väter nicht verfolgt? Und sie haben die getötet, welche die[18] Ankunft des Gerechten vorher verkündigten, dessen Verräter und Mörder ihr jetzt geworden seid, (2Cr 36,16; Ne 9,26; Mat 5,12; Lu 11,47; Lu 13,34; At 2,36; At 3,14; At 3,15; 1Te 2,15)53die ihr das Gesetz durch Anordnung von Engeln empfangen und nicht befolgt[19] habt. (Lu 23,24; Eb 2,2)
Steinigung des Stephanus – Verfolgung der Gemeinde
54Als sie aber dies hörten, ergrimmten sie in ihren Herzen[20], und sie knirschten mit den Zähnen gegen ihn. (Sal 35,16; At 5,33)55Da er aber voll Heiligen Geistes war und fest zum Himmel schaute, sah er die Herrlichkeit Gottes und Jesus zur Rechten Gottes stehen; (Lu 22,69; At 6,5; 1P 3,22)56und er sprach: Siehe, ich sehe die Himmel geöffnet und den Sohn des Menschen zur Rechten Gottes stehen! (At 10,11; Eb 10,12)57Sie schrien aber mit lauter Stimme, hielten ihre Ohren zu und stürzten einmütig auf ihn los.58Und als sie ihn aus der Stadt hinausgestoßen hatten, steinigten sie ihn. Und die Zeugen legten ihre Kleider ab zu den Füßen eines jungen Mannes mit Namen Saulus. (De 17,7; At 6,13; At 14,19; At 22,20)59Und sie steinigten den Stephanus, der betete[21] und sprach: Herr Jesus, nimm meinen Geist auf! (Mat 23,37; Lu 23,46)60Und niederkniend rief er mit lauter Stimme: Herr, rechne ihnen diese Sünde nicht zu! Und als er dies gesagt hatte, entschlief er. (Lu 23,34; 2Ti 4,16)
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, (Gen 11,31; Gen 15,7; Gios 24,3; Ne 9,7; Sal 29,3; At 22,1; 1Co 2,8; Giac 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.’ (Gen 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. (Gen 11,32; Gen 12,4; Gen 12,5; At 2,1)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. (Gen 12,7; Gen 13,15; Gen 15,3; Gen 15,18; Gen 17,8; Gen 18,10; Gen 48,4; Eb 11,8; Eb 11,9)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. (Gen 15,13; Gen 15,14; Eso 2,22; Eso 12,40; At 7,17; Eb 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.’ (Eso 3,12; Ger 25,12; Ger 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. (Gen 17,9; Gen 21,2; Gen 25,26; Gen 29,31; Gen 30,5; Gen 35,18; Gen 35,23; Lu 1,59)9“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him (Gen 37,11; Gen 37,28; Gen 39,2; Gen 39,21; Gen 39,23; Gen 45,4; Sal 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. (Gen 41,37; Gen 41,41; Gen 41,43; Gen 41,46; Gen 42,6; Sal 105,21)11Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. (Gen 41,54; Gen 41,55; Gen 42,5; Sal 105,16)12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. (Gen 42,1)13And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. (Gen 43,2; Gen 45,1; Gen 45,16)14And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. (Gen 45,9; Gen 45,10; Gen 45,27; Gen 46,26; Gen 46,27; Eso 1,5; De 10,22)15And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, (Gen 46,5; Gen 46,28; Gen 49,33; Eso 1,6; Sal 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. (Gen 23,16; Gen 33,19; Gen 50,25; Eso 13,19; Gios 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 (Eso 1,7; Eso 1,12; Sal 105,24; At 7,5; At 13,17)18until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. (Eso 1,8)19He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. (Eso 1,9; Eso 1,10; Eso 1,16; Eso 1,22; Sal 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, (Eso 2,2; Eb 11,23)21and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. (Eso 2,3)22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. (1Re 4,30; Is 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. (Eso 2,11; Eso 2,12)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?’ (Eso 2,13; Eso 2,14)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; At 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. (Eso 2,15; Eso 2,22; Eso 18,3; Eso 18,4)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. (Eso 3,1; Eso 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. (Eso 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. (Eso 3,5; Gios 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.’ (Eso 2,24; Eso 3,7; Eso 3,8; Eso 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. (Eso 3,2; Eso 14,19; Eso 23,20; Nu 20,16; At 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. (Eso 7,1; Eso 7,3; Eso 12,41; Eso 14,21; Eso 14,27; Eso 16,1; Eso 16,35; Eso 17,1; Eso 33,1; Nu 14,33; Nu 14,34; Sal 78,15; Sal 78,43; Sal 78,53; Sal 95,10; Sal 105,27; Sal 106,9; At 7,42; At 13,18; Eb 3,9; Eb 3,17; Eb 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; At 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. (Eso 19,3; Eso 19,17; Eso 19,18; De 5,27; De 5,31; De 32,47; De 33,4; Is 63,9; Giov 1,17; Ro 3,2; Eb 5,12; 1P 4,11)39Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, (Eso 16,3; Nu 11,4; Nu 11,5; Nu 14,3; Nu 14,4; Ez 20,8; Ez 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.’ (Eso 32,1; Eso 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. (Eso 32,4; Eso 32,35; De 9,16; Sal 106,19; Is 2,8; Ger 1,16; Ger 25,6; Ger 25,7; 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; Gios 24,20; 2Re 17,16; 2Re 21,3; 2Re 23,5; Sal 81,12; Is 63,10; Ger 19,13; Ez 20,39; Am 5,25; So 1,5; At 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.’ (1Re 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. (Eso 25,40; Eso 38,21; Ap 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; Gios 3,10; Gios 3,14; Gios 23,9; Gios 24,18; 2Sam 7,1; 2Cr 20,7; At 13,19)46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.[1] (Gen 49,24; 1Sam 16,1; 1Re 8,17; 1Cr 22,7; Sal 89,19; Sal 132,5; Is 49,26; At 13,22)47But it was Solomon who built a house for him. (2Sam 7,13; 1Re 6,1; 1Re 6,2; 1Re 8,20; 2Cr 3,1)48Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, (1Re 8,27; 2Cr 2,6; At 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? (Sal 11,4; Is 66,1; Is 66,2; Mat 5,34; Mat 5,35)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. (Eso 32,9; Le 26,41; De 10,16; Ger 6,10; Ger 9,26; Ez 44,7; Ez 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, (1Re 19,10; 2Cr 36,16; Ger 2,30; Mat 5,12; Mat 21,35; Mat 23,31; Mat 23,37; At 3,14; At 5,28)53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (De 33,2; Giov 7,19; Ga 3,19; Eb 2,2)
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.