Acts 7
1 Then sayd the chiefe Priest, Are these things so?
Then the high priest asked, ‘Is this true?’
2 And he sayd, Ye men, brethren and Fathers, hearken. That God of glory appeared vnto our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Stephen replied, ‘Brothers and fathers, hear what I have to say. God, who manifests himself in the glory, appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him –
3 And said vnto him, Come out of thy countrey, and from thy kindred, and come into the land, which I shall shewe thee.
“Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.”
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran. And after that his father was dead, God brought him from thence into this land, wherein ye now dwell,
And so Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father’s death, God caused him to migrate into this country, in which you are now living.
5 And hee gaue him none inheritance in it, no, not the bredth of a foote: yet he promised that he would giue it to him for a possession, and to his seede after him, when as yet hee had no childe.
God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child.
6 But God spake thus, that his seede should be a soiourner in a strange land: and that they should keepe it in bondage, and entreate it euill foure hundreth yeeres.
God’s words were these – “Abraham’s descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.
7 But the nation to whome they shall be in bondage, will I iudge, sayth God: and after that, they shall come forth and serue me in this place.
But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,” God said, “and after that they will leave the country and worship me in this place.”
8 Hee gaue him also the couenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begate Isaac, and circumcised him the eight day: and Isaac begate Iacob, and Iacob the twelue Patriarkes.
Then God made with Abraham the covenant of circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs.
9 And the Patriarkes moued with enuie, solde Ioseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
10 And deliuered him out of all his afflictions, and gaue him fauour and wisdome in the sight of Pharao King of Egypt, who made him gouernour ouer Egypt, and ouer his whole house.
and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favour and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household.
11 Then came there a famine ouer all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction, that our fathers found no sustenance.
Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 But when Iacob heard that there was corne in Egypt, he sent our fathers first:
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 And at the second time, Ioseph was knowen of his brethren, and Iosephs kindred was made knowen vnto Pharao.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Ioseph and caused his father to be brought, and all his kindred, euen threescore and fifteene soules.
Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
15 So Iacob went downe into Egypt, and he dyed, and our fathers,
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 And were remoued into Sychem, and were put in the sepulchre, that Abraham had bought for money of the sonnes of Emor, sonne of Sychem.
and their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 But when the time of the promise drewe neere, which God had sworne to Abraham, the people grewe and multiplied in Egypt,
As the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
18 Till another King arose, which knewe not Ioseph.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and euill entreated our fathers, and made them to cast out their yong children, that they should not remaine aliue.
This king acted deceitfully towards our people and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.
20 The same time was Moses borne, and was acceptable vnto God, which was nourished vp in his fathers house three moneths.
It was just at this time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father’s house;
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaohs daughter tooke him vp, and nourished him for her owne sonne.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdome of the Egyptians, and was mightie in wordes and in deedes.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 Nowe when he was full fourtie yeere olde, it came into his heart to visite his brethren, the children of Israel.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
24 And whe he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and auenged his quarell that had the harme done to him, and smote the Egyptian.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 For hee supposed his brethren would haue vnderstand, that God by his hande should giue them deliuerance: but they vnderstoode it not.
He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
26 And the next day, he shewed himselfe vnto them as they stroue, and woulde haue set them at one againe, saying, Syrs, ye are brethren: why doe ye wrong one to another?
The next day he again appeared on the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. “Men,” he said, “you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?”
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince, and a iudge ouer vs?
But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill mee, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?”
29 Then fled Moses at that saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begate two sonnes.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
30 And when fourtie yeres were expired, there appeared to him in the wildernes of mout Sina, an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire, in a bush.
Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 And when Moses sawe it, hee wondred at the sight: and as he drew neere to consider it, the voyce of the Lord came vnto him, saying,
When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say –
32 I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold it.
“I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feete: for the place where thou standest, is holy ground.
Then the Lord said to him – “Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
34 I haue seene, I haue seene the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt, and I haue heard their groning, and am come downe to deliuer them: and nowe come, and I will sende thee into Egypt.
I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.”
35 This Moses whome they forsooke, saying, Who made thee a prince and a iudge? the same God sent for a prince, and a deliuerer by the hand of the Angel, which appeared to him in the bush.
This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words – “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” was the man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush.
36 Hee brought them out, doing wonders, and miracles in the land of Egypt, and in the red sea, and in the wildernes fourtie yeeres.
He it was who led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which saide vnto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise vp vnto you, euen of your brethren, like vnto me: him shall ye heare.
This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel – “God will raise up for you, from among yourselves, a prophet, as he raised up me.”
38 This is he that was in the Congregation, in the wildernes with the Angell, which spake to him in mount Sina, and with our fathers, who receiued the liuely oracles to giue vnto vs.
He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you.
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but refused, and in their hearts turned backe againe into Egypt:
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
40 Saying vnto Aaron, Make vs gods that may goe before vs: for we knowe not what is become of this Moses that brought vs out of the land of Egypt.
while they said to Aaron – “Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
41 And they made a calfe in those dayes, and offered sacrifice vnto the idole, and reioyced in the workes of their owne handes.
That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honour of their own handiwork!
42 Then God turned himselfe away, and gaue them vp to serue the host of heauen, as it is written in the booke of the Prophets, O house of Israel, haue ye offred to me slaine beasts and sacrifices by the space of fourtie yeres in the wildernes?
So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets – “Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel, all those forty years in the desert?
43 And ye tooke vp the tabernacle of Moloch, and the starre of your god Remphan, figures, which ye made to worship them: therefore I will carie you away beyond Babylon.
You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshipped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.”
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witnes, in the wildernes, as hee had appointed, speaking vnto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seene.
Our ancestors had the tent where they worshipped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen.
45 Which tabernacle also our fathers receiued, and brought in with Iesus into the possession of the Gentiles, which God draue out before our fathers, vnto the dayes of Dauid:
This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David.
46 Who found fauour before God, and desired that hee might finde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob.
David found favour with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
47 But Salomon built him an house.
But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with handes, as saith the Prophet,
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –
49 Heauen is my throne, and earth is my footestoole: what house wil ye build for me, saith the Lord? or what place is it that I should rest in?
“The heavens are a throne for me, and the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord, or what place is there where I may rest?
50 Hath not mine hand made all these things?
Was it not my hand that made all these things?”
51 Ye stiffenecked and of vncircumcised heartes and eares, ye haue alwayes resisted the holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.
Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still.
52 Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted? and they haue slaine them, which shewed before of the comming of that Iust, of whome ye are now the betrayers and murtherers,
Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers –
53 Which haue receiued the Lawe by the ordinance of Angels, and haue not kept it.
you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.’
54 But when they heard these thinges, their heartes brast for anger, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 But he being full of the holy Ghost, looked stedfastly into heauen, and sawe the glory of God, and Iesus standing at the right hand of God,
He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
56 And said, Beholde, I see the heauens open, and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of God.
‘Look,’ he exclaimed, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!’
57 Then they gaue a shoute with a loude voyce, and stopped their eares, and ranne vpon him violently all at once,
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
58 And cast him out of the citie, and stoned him: and the witnesses layd downe their clothes at a yong mans feete, named Saul.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And they stoned Steuen, who called on God, and said, Lord Iesus, receiue my spirit.
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, ‘Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!’
60 And he kneeled downe, and cried with a loude voyce, Lord, laye not this sinne to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he slept.
Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, ‘Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;’ and with these words he fell asleep.
