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 in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47But it was Solomon who built the house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell 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 place of repose be? 50Has not My hand made all these things?’

Acts 7:48 word by word

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

• Howeverἀλλάalla · butG235
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Most Highὕψιστοςhupsistos · HighestG5310
• does notοὐou · noG3756
• dwellκατοικέωkatoikeō · to dwellG2730
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• made by human handsχειροποίητοςcheiropoiētos · hand-madeG5499
• Asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• saysλέγωlegō · to sayG3004

Cross-references for Acts 7:48

• Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
• Psalms 7:17I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
• Psalms 91:1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
• Psalms 92:8But You, O LORD, are exalted forever!
• Daniel 4:17This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
• Hosea 7:16They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
• Acts 17:24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
• 1 Kings 8:27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
• 2 Chronicles 2:5The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
• 2 Chronicles 6:18But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose 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
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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