Acts 7:48

Acts 7:48 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
• New International Version (NIV)“However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

Context of Acts 7:48

46who found favor (grace, spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and asked that he might [be allowed to] find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says, 49‘Heaven is My throne, And the earth is the footstool for My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what place is there for My rest? 50Was it not My hand that made all these things?’

Acts 7:48 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ ὁ ὕψιστος ἐν χειροποιήτοις κατοικεῖ, καθὼς ὁ προφήτης λέγει·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Howbeitἀλλάalla · butG235
• the most Highὕψιστοςhupsistos · HighestG5310
• dwellethκατοικέωkatoikeō · to dwellG2730
• notοὐou · noG3756
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• templesναόςnaos · templeG3485
• made with handsχειροποίητοςcheiropoiētos · hand-madeG5499
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• the prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396

Cross-references for Acts 7:48

• Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel.
• Psalms 7:17I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness and justice, And I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
• Psalms 91:1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].
• Psalms 92:8But You, Lord, are on high forever.
• Daniel 4:17This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, So that the living may know [without any doubt] That the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind And He bestows it on whomever He desires And sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men.”
• Hosea 7:16They turn, but they do not turn upward to the Most High. They are like a poorly crafted bow [that misses the mark]; Their princes shall fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be cause for their mockery and disdain in the land of Egypt.
• Acts 17:24The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
• 1 Kings 8:27But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!
• 2 Chronicles 2:5The house I am going to build will be great, for our God is greater than all the gods.
• 2 Chronicles 6:18“But will God actually dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where, then, is a house that you could build for Me? And where will My resting place be?

Commentaries on Acts 7:48

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 48The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands - Here St. Stephen evidently refers to Solomon's speech, 1 Kings 8:27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded? Both Solomon and St. Stephen mean that the majesty of God could not be contained, not even in the whole vortex of nature; much less in any temple which human hands could erect. As…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 48Howbeit - But. Stephen was charged with speaking against the temple. He had now shown that he had due veneration for it, by his declaring that it had been built by the command of God. But he “now” adds that God does not need such a temple. Heaven is his throne; the universe his dwelling-place; and “therefore” this temple might be destroyed. A new, glorious truth was to be revealed to mankind, that God was not “confined” in his worship to any age, or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 42-50Verses 42-50 Stephen upbraids the Jews with the idolatry of their fathers, to which God gave them up as a punishment for their early forsaking him. It was no dishonour, but an honour to God, that the tabernacle gave way to the temple; so it is now, that the earthly temple gives way to the spiritual one; and so it will be when, at last, the spiritual shall give way to the eternal one. The whole world is God's temple, in which he is every where present, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 48-50One charge against Stephen was that he spoke against the temple (see 6:14). The leading priests and scribes managed the temple's business and wanted to protect their interests (see Luke 19:45–48). This is why these leaders were concerned about the temple, even though God said that the Most High does not live in temples made by human hands.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 42-5042-50. gave them up--judicially. as ... written in the book of the prophets--the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage is from Am 5:25. have ye offered to me ... sacrifices?--The answer is, Yes, but as if ye did it not; for "neither did ye offer to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and willing heart" [Bengel].Read the comment

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In the dictionaries

• Most High
• Charge
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• Saying
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Commentaries on Acts 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings