Acts 7

(Genesis 12:1–9)

1ThenG1161 theG3588 high priestG749 askedG2036 Stephen, “AreG1487G2192 theseG3778 charges trueG3779?”

2AndG1161 Stephen declaredG5346: “BrothersG435G80 andG2532 fathersG3962, listenG191 to me! TheG3588 GodG2316 of gloryG1391 appearedG3708 toG3588 ourG1473 fatherG3962 AbrahamG11 while he wasG1510 still inG1722 MesopotamiaG3318, beforeG4250G2228 heG846 livedG2730 inG1722 HaranG5488, 3andG2532 toldG2036G4314 himG846, ‘LeaveG1831G1537 yourG4771 countryG1093 andG2532 yourG4771 kindredG4772 andG2532 goG1204 toG1519 theG3588 landG1093 I will showG1166 youG4771.’1 4So Abraham leftG1831G1537 the landG1093 of the ChaldeansG5466 and settledG2730 inG1722 HaranG5488. AfterG3326 hisG846 fatherG3962 diedG599, God broughtG3351 himG846 out of that placeG2547 and intoG1519 thisG3778 landG1093 whereG1519G3739 youG4771 are nowG3568 livingG2730.

5

He gaveG1325 himG846 noG3756 inheritanceG2817 here, not evenG3761 a foot of groundG968G4228. But God promisedG1861 to giveG1325G1519 possessionG2697 ofG846 the land toG846 Abraham andG2532 hisG846 descendantsG4690G3326G846, even though he did not yet haveG1510G846G3756 a childG5043. 6GodG2316 toldG2980 him thatG3754 hisG846 descendantsG4690 would beG1510 foreignersG3941 inG1722 a strangeG245 landG1093, andG2532 that they would be enslavedG1402G846 andG2532 mistreatedG2559 four hundredG5071 yearsG2094. 7‘But IG1473 will punishG2919 theG3588 nationG1484 that enslaves themG1437G1398,’ GodG2316 saidG2036, ‘andG2532 afterwardG3326G3778 they will come forthG1831 andG2532 worshipG3000 MeG1473 inG1722 thisG3778 placeG5117.’2

8ThenG2532 God gaveG1325 Abraham the covenantG1242 of circumcisionG4061, andG2532 Abraham became the father ofG1080 IsaacG2464 andG2532 circumcisedG4059 himG846 on theG3588 eighthG3590 dayG2250. AndG2532 IsaacG2464 became the father of JacobG2384, andG2532 JacobG2384 of theG3588 twelveG1427 patriarchsG3966.

Joseph Sold into Egypt

(Genesis 37:12–30)

9Because theG3588 patriarchsG3966 were jealousG2206 of JosephG2501, they sold him as a slaveG591 intoG1519 EgyptG125. ButG2532 GodG2316 wasG1510 withG3326 himG846 10andG2532 rescuedG1807 himG846 fromG1537 allG3956 hisG846 troublesG2347. He grantedG1325 Joseph favorG5485 andG2532 wisdomG4678 in the sight ofG1726 PharaohG5328 kingG935 of EgyptG125, who appointedG2525 himG846 rulerG2233 overG1909 EgyptG125 andG2532 allG3650 hisG846 householdG3624.

11ThenG1161 famineG3042 andG2532 greatG3173 sufferingG2347 sweptG2064 acrossG1909G3650 EgyptG125 andG2532 CanaanG5477, andG2532 ourG1473 fathersG3962 could not findG3756G2147 foodG5527. 12When JacobG2384 heard thatG191 there wasG1510 grainG4621 inG1519 EgyptG125, he sentG1821 ourG1473 fathersG3962 on their firstG4412 visit. 13OnG1722 their secondG1208 visit, JosephG2501 revealed his identityG319 toG35883 hisG846 brothersG80, andG2532 his familyG1085 becameG1096 knownG5318 to PharaohG5328. 14ThenG1161 JosephG2501 sent forG649G3333 hisG846 fatherG3962 JacobG2384 andG2532 allG3956 his relativesG4772, seventy-fiveG1440G4002G5590 in allG1722.

Israel Oppressed in Egypt

(Exodus 1:8–22)

15So JacobG2384 went downG2597 toG1519 EgyptG125, where heG846 andG2532 ourG1473 fathersG3962 diedG5053. 16Their bones were carried backG33464 toG1519 ShechemG4966 andG2532 placedG5087 inG1722 theG3588 tombG3418 thatG3739 AbrahamG11 had boughtG5608 fromG3844 theG3588 sonsG5207 of HamorG1697 atG1722 ShechemG4966 for a price he paidG5092 in silverG694.

17

AsG2531 theG3588 timeG5550 drew nearG1448 forG3739 GodG2316 to fulfill His promiseG1860G3670 to AbrahamG11, our peopleG2992 inG1722 EgyptG125 increasedG837 greatly in numberG4129. 18ThenG891G3739 anotherG2087 kingG935, whoG3739 knewG1492 nothingG3756 of JosephG2501, aroseG450 overG1909 EgyptG125. 19HeG3778 exploitedG2686 ourG1473 peopleG1085 and oppressedG2559 ourG1473 fathersG3962, forcingG4160 them to abandonG1570 theirG846 infantsG1025 soG1519G3588 they would dieG3361G2225.

The Birth and Adoption of Moses

(Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 11:23–29)

20AtG1722 thatG3739 timeG2540 MosesG3475 was bornG1080, andG2532 he wasG1510 beautifulG791 in the sight of GodG2316.5 For threeG5140 monthsG3376 he was nurturedG397 inG1722 his father’sG3962 houseG3624. 21When heG846 was set outsideG1620, Pharaoh’sG5328 daughterG2364 took himG337G846 andG2532 brought him upG397G846 asG1519 her ownG1438 sonG5207. 22SoG2532 MosesG3475 was educatedG3811 inG1722 allG3956 the wisdomG4678 of the EgyptiansG124 andG1161 wasG1510 powerfulG1415 inG1722 speechG3056 andG2532 actionG2041.

23

The Rejection and Flight of Moses

(Exodus 2:11–22)

WhenG5613 Moses was forty yearsG5063 old, he decidedG305G1909G846G3588G2588 to visitG1980 hisG846 brothersG80, theG3588 childrenG5207 of IsraelG2474. 24AndG2532 when he sawG3708 oneG5100 of them being mistreatedG91, Moses went to his defenseG292 andG2532 avengedG4160G1557 him by striking downG3960 theG3588 EgyptianG124 who was oppressingG2669 him. 25He assumedG3543 hisG846 brothersG80 would understandG4920 thatG3754 GodG2316 was using himG1223G846G5495 to deliver themG1325G846G4991, butG1161 they did not.

26

TheG3588 nextG1966 dayG2250 he came uponG3708 two Israelites who were fightingG3164, and he tried to reconcile themG4900G846G1519G1515, sayingG2036, ‘MenG435, you areG1510 brothersG80. WhyG2443G5101 are you mistreatingG91 each otherG240?’

27ButG1161 theG3588 man who was abusingG91 his neighborG4139 pushed Moses asideG683G846 and saidG2036, ‘WhoG5101 madeG2525 youG4771 rulerG758 andG2532 judgeG1348 overG1909 usG1473? 28Do youG4771 wantG3361G2309 to kill meG337G1473 asG3739G5158 you killedG337 theG3588 EgyptianG124 yesterdayG5504?’6 29AtG1722 thisG3778 remarkG3056, MosesG3475 fledG5343 toG1722 the landG1093 of MidianG3099, whereG3757 he lived asG1096 a foreignerG3941 and hadG1080 twoG1417 sonsG5207.

The Call of Moses

(Exodus 3:1–22)

30After fortyG5062 yearsG2094 had passedG4137, an angelG32 appearedG3708 toG846 Moses inG1722 the flamesG5395 of a burningG4442 bushG942 inG1722 theG3588 desertG2048 nearG3588 MountG3735 SinaiG4614. 31When MosesG3475 sawG3708 it, he marveled atG2296 theG3588 sightG3705. As heG846 approachedG4334 to lookG2657 more closely, the voiceG5456 of the LordG2962 cameG1096 to him: 32‘IG1473 am theG3588 GodG2316 of yourG4771 fathersG3962, theG3588 GodG2316 of AbrahamG11, IsaacG2464, andG2532 JacobG2384.’7 MosesG3475 trembled with fearG1096G1790 and did not dareG3756G5111 to lookG2657.

33ThenG1161 theG3588 LordG2962 saidG2036 to himG846, ‘Take offG3089G3588G4771G4228 your sandalsG5266, forG1063 theG3588 placeG5117 whereG1909G3739 you are standingG2476 isG1510 holyG40 groundG1093. 34I have indeed seenG3708 theG3588 oppressionG2561 ofG3588 MyG1473 peopleG2992 inG1722 EgyptG125. I have heardG191 theirG846 groaningG4726 andG2532 have come downG2597 to deliverG1807 themG846. NowG3568 comeG1204, I will sendG649 youG4771 back toG1519 EgyptG125.’8

35ThisG3778 MosesG3475, whomG3739 they had rejectedG720 with the wordsG2036, ‘WhoG5101 madeG2525 youG4771 rulerG758 andG2532 judgeG1348?’9 is the oneG3778 whomG3588 GodG2316 sentG649 to be their rulerG758 andG2532 redeemerG3086 throughG4862G5495 the angelG3210 whoG3588 appearedG3708 to himG846 inG1722 theG3588 bushG942. 36He led them outG1806G846 and performedG4160 wondersG5059 andG2532 signsG4592 inG1722 the landG1093 of EgyptG125, atG1722 the RedG2063 SeaG2281, andG2532 for fortyG5062 yearsG2094 inG1722 theG3588 wildernessG2048.

37ThisG3778 isG1510 theG3588 same MosesG3475 whoG3588 toldG2036 theG3588 IsraelitesG5207G2474, ‘GodG2316 will raise upG450 for youG4771 a prophetG4396 likeG5613 meG1473 from amongG1537 yourG4771 brothersG80.’11 38He wasG1096 inG1722 theG3588 assemblyG1577 inG1722 theG3588 wildernessG2048 withG3326 theG3588 angelG32 whoG3588 spokeG2980 to himG846 onG1722 MountG3735 SinaiG4614, andG2532 with ourG1473 fathersG3962. And he receivedG1209 livingG2198 wordsG3051 to pass onG1325 to usG1473.12

The Rebellion of Israel

(Exodus 32:1–35; Deuteronomy 9:7–29; Amos 5:16–27)

39But ourG1473 fathersG3962 refusedG2309G3756 toG1096 obeyG5255 him. InsteadG235, they rejectedG683 him andG2532 inG1722 theirG846 heartsG2588 turned backG4762 toG1519 EgyptG125. 40They saidG2036 to AaronG2, ‘MakeG4160 usG1473 godsG2316 whoG3739 will go beforeG4313 usG1473! As forG1063 thisG3778 MosesG3475 whoG3739 led usG1806G1473 out ofG1537 the landG1093 of EgyptG125, we do not knowG3756G1492 whatG5101 has happenedG1096 to himG846.’13

41AtG1722 thatG1565 timeG2250 they made a calfG3447 andG2532 offeredG321 a sacrificeG2378 to theG3588 idolG1497, rejoicingG2165 inG1722 theG3588 worksG2041 ofG3588 theirG846 handsG5495. 42ButG1161 GodG2316 turned awayG4762 from them andG2532 gave them overG3860G846 to the worshipG3000 of theG3588 hostG4756 ofG3588 heavenG3772, asG2531 it is writtenG1125 inG1722 the bookG976 of theG3588 prophetsG4396:

The Tabernacle of the Testimony

(Exodus 40:1–33; Hebrews 9:1–10)

44OurG1473 fathersG3962 had theG3588 tabernacleG4633 of theG3588 TestimonyG3142 withG3588 them inG1722 theG3588 wildernessG2048. It was constructedG4160G846 exactly asG2531 God had directedG1299 MosesG3475, according toG2596 theG3588 patternG5179 he had seenG3708. 45AndG2532 ourG1473 fathersG3962 whoG3739 received itG1237 broughtG1521 it in withG3326 JoshuaG2424 when they dispossessedG2697 theG3588 nationsG1484 GodG2316 drove outG1856 beforeG575G4383G3588 them. It remained untilG2193 theG3588 timeG2250 of DavidG1138, 46whoG3739 foundG2147 favorG5485 in the sightG1799 of GodG2316 andG2532 askedG154 to provideG2147 a dwelling placeG4638 for theG3588 GodG2316 of JacobG2384.15 47ButG1161 it was SolomonG4672 who builtG3618 the houseG3624 for HimG846.

48HoweverG235, theG3588 Most HighG5310 does notG3756 dwellG2730 inG1722 houses made by human handsG5499. AsG2531 theG3588 prophetG4396 saysG3004:

51You stiff-neckedG4644 people with uncircumcisedG564 heartsG2588 andG2532 earsG3775! YouG4771 alwaysG104 resistG496 theG3588 HolyG40 SpiritG4151, justG2532 asG5613 yourG4771 fathersG3962 did. 52WhichG5101 of theG3588 prophetsG4396 did yourG4771 fathersG3962 failG3756 to persecuteG1377? They even killedG2532G615 those whoG3588 foretoldG4293G4012 theG3588 comingG1660 of theG3588 Righteous OneG1342. And nowG3568 youG4771 areG1096 His betrayersG4273 andG2532 murderersG5406— 53you whoG3748 receivedG2983 theG3588 lawG3551 ordainedG1296 byG1519 angelsG32, yetG2532 have not keptG3756G5442 it.”

54

The Stoning of Stephen

On hearingG191 thisG3778, the members of the Sanhedrin were enragedG1282G3588G846G2588,17 andG2532 they gnashedG1031 their teethG3599 atG1909 himG846. 55ButG1161 Stephen, fullG4134 of the Holy SpiritG40G4151, looked intentlyG816 intoG1519 heavenG3772 and sawG3708 the gloryG1391 of GodG2316 andG2532 JesusG2424 standingG2476 atG1537 the right handG1188 of GodG2316. 56“LookG2400,” he saidG2036, “I seeG2334 heavenG3772 openG1272 andG2532 theG3588 SonG5207 of ManG444 standingG2476 atG1537 the rightG1188 hand of GodG2316.”

57At thisG1161 they coveredG4912 theirG846 earsG3775, cried outG2896 in a loud voiceG3173G5456, andG2532 rushedG3729 togetherG3661 atG1909 himG846. 58They draggedG1544 him out ofG1854 theG3588 cityG4172 and began to stoneG3036 him. MeanwhileG2532 theG3588 witnessesG3144 laidG659 theirG846 garmentsG2440 atG3844 theG3588 feetG4228 of a young manG3494 namedG2564 SaulG4569.

59While they were stoningG3036 him, StephenG4736 appealedG1941G2532G3004, “LordG2962 JesusG2424, receiveG1209 myG1473 spiritG4151.” 60FallingG5087 onG3588 his kneesG1119, he cried outG2896 in a loudG3173 voiceG5456, “LordG2962, do notG3361 holdG2476 thisG3778 sinG266 against themG846.” AndG2532 when he had saidG2036 thisG3778, he fell asleepG2837.