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

46God was happy with King David and he helped him very much. So David said to God, “May I build a special house where you can live among your people, the descendants of Jacob?” 47But it was David's son, Solomon, who built a house for God. But we know that God does not live in a house that people have made. He is the powerful God who is over all. God's prophet Isaiah spoke these words: 49The Lord God says, “Heaven is the seat where I sit to rule. The earth is the place where I put my feet. You could not build a house for me where I could live. You could not make a place for me to rest there. 50I am the one who has made all these things myself.” ’

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 32:8The Most High God gave land to be the home of each nation. When he made people into separate groups, he decided where their borders should be. He did that to match the number of angels in heaven.
• Psalms 7:17So I will thank the Lord because he does what is right. The Lord is the Most High God, so I will sing to praise his name!
• Psalms 46:4There is a river that runs into the city of God, and it brings God's blessing to the people there. That is the holy place where the Most High God lives.
• Psalms 91:1If anyone lives in Almighty God's safe place, the Most High God protects that person.
• Psalms 92:8You, Lord, will rule as King for ever!
• Daniel 4:17The holy angels who take care of the earth have decided this. It is their command. Now everyone will be sure that the powerful God above rules over human kingdoms. He gives authority to rule to anyone that he chooses. He causes humble men to rule as kings.” ’
• Hosea 7:16They do not look up to me for help. They are as useless as a bow that cannot shoot an arrow properly. Their leaders are proud of their own strength, but they will die in battle. Then the people of Egypt will laugh at them.’
• Acts 17:24The true God made the earth and everything that is in it. He rules everything in the earth and in heaven. He does not live in any buildings that people have made for him.
• 1 Kings 8:27But surely God, you do not live on the earth! The whole sky, or even heaven itself, is too small to contain you! So how can you live in this temple that I have built?
• 2 Chronicles 2:5The house that I will build for our God will be a great temple, because he is greater than all gods.
• 2 Chronicles 6:18But surely God, you do not live on the earth with people! The whole sky, or even heaven itself, is too small to contain you! So how can you live in this temple that I have built?
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne. The earth is the place where I put my feet. So you could not build a house for me to live in. Where would I lie down to rest?

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