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:
• New King James Version (NKJV)“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
• New Living Translation (NLT)However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,

Context of Acts 7:48

46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by 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 what is the place of my rest? 50Did not my hand make 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 to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
• Psalms 7:17I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
• 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 on high forever.
• Daniel 4:17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.'
• Hosea 7:16They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
• Acts 17:24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
• 1 Kings 8:27"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
• 2 Chronicles 2:5The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
• 2 Chronicles 6:18"But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
• Isaiah 66:1Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my 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

Topics related to Acts 7:48

• Court
• God Continued...
• Government
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Most High
• Charge
• Resist
• Saying
• Stone
• Thrust
• Wisdom
• Acts of the Apostles
• Astronomy
• Doctrine

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