Acts 7

Stephen’s Defense

7AND THE high priest asked [Stephen], Are these charges true?G1161G2036G749G1487G686G2192G5023G37792And he answered, Brethren and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before he [went to] live in Haran,G1161G5346G435G80G2532G3962G191G2316G1391G3700G2257G3962G11G5607G1722G3318G4250G2228G846G2730G1722G54883And He said to him, Leave your own country and your relatives and come into the land (region) that I will point out to you.G2532G2036G4314G846G1831G1537G4675G1093G2532G1537G4675G4772G2532G1204G1519G1093G3739G302G1166G46714So then he went forth from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, [God] transferred him to this country in which you are now dwelling.G5119G1831G1537G1093G5466G2730G1722G5488G2547G3326G846G3962G599G3351G846G1519G5026G1093G1519G3739G5210G3568G27305Yet He gave him no inheritable property in it, [no] not even enough ground to set his foot on; but He promised that He would give it to Him for a permanent possession and to his descendants after him, even though [as yet] he had no child.G2532G1325G846G3756G2817G1722G846G3761G968G4228G968G2532G1861G1325G846G846G1519G2697G2532G846G4690G3326G846G846G5607G3756G50436And this is [in effect] what God told him: That his descendants would be aliens (strangers) in a land belonging to other people, who would bring them into bondage and ill-treat them 400 years.G1161G2316G2980G3779G3754G846G4690G2071G3941G1722G245G1093G2532G1402G846G1402G2532G2559G5071G20947But I will judge the nation to whom they will be slaves, said God, and after that they will escape {and} come forth and worship Me in this [very] place.G2532G1484G3739G1437G1398G2919G1473G2919G2036G2316G2532G3326G5023G1831G2532G3000G3427G1722G5129G51178And [God] made with Abraham a covenant (an agreement to be religiously observed) of which circumcision was the seal. And under these circumstances [Abraham] became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac [did so] when he became the father of Jacob, and Jacob [when each of his sons was born], the twelve patriarchs.G2532G1325G846G1242G4061G2532G3779G1080G2464G2532G4059G846G3590G2250G2532G2464G2384G2532G2384G1427G39669And the patriarchs [Jacob's sons], boiling with envy {and} hatred {and} anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,G2532G3966G2206G591G2501G1519G125G2532G2316G2258G3326G84610And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and won him goodwill {and} favor and wisdom {and} understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.G2532G1807G846G1537G3956G846G2347G2532G1325G846G5485G2532G4678G1726G5328G935G125G2532G2525G846G2233G1909G125G2532G3650G846G362411Then there came a famine over all of Egypt and Canaan, with great distress, and our forefathers could find no fodder [for the cattle] {or} vegetable sustenance [for their households].G1161G2064G3042G1909G3650G1093G125G2532G5477G2532G3173G2347G2532G2257G3962G2147G3756G552712But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our forefathers [to go there on their] first trip.G1161G2384G191G5607G4621G1722G125G1821G2257G3962G441213And on their second visit Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh {and} his origin {and} race.G2532G1722G1208G2501G319G846G80G2532G2501G1085G1096G5318G532814And Joseph sent an invitation calling to himself Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.G1161G649G2501G3333G846G3962G2384G2532G3956G846G4772G1722G1440G4002G559015And Jacob went down into Egypt, where he himself died, as did [also] our forefathers;G1161G2384G2597G1519G125G2532G5053G846G2532G2257G396216And their bodies [Jacob's and Joseph's] were taken back to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of [silver] money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.G2532G3346G1519G4966G2532G5087G1722G3418G3739G11G5608G5092G694G3844G5207G1697G3588G496617But as the time for the fulfillment of the promise drew near which God had made to Abraham, the [Hebrew] people increased and multiplied in Egypt,G1161G2531G5550G1860G1448G3739G2316G3660G11G2992G837G2532G4129G1722G12518Until [the time when] there arose over Egypt another {and} a different king who did not know Joseph [neither knowing his history and services nor recognizing his merits].G891G3739G2087G935G450G3739G1492G3756G250119He dealt treacherously with {and} defrauded our race; he abused {and} oppressed our forefathers, forcing them to expose their babies so that they might not be kept alive.G3778G2686G2257G1085G2559G2257G3962G4160G1570G846G1025G1519G2225G3361G222520At this juncture Moses was born, and was exceedingly beautiful in God's sight. For three months he was nurtured in his father's house;G1722G3739G2540G3475G1080G2532G2258G2316G791G3739G397G1722G846G3962G3624G5140G337621Then when he was exposed [to perish], the daughter of Pharaoh rescued him and took him {and} reared him as her own son.G1161G846G1620G5328G2364G337G846G337G2532G397G846G1519G1438G520722So Moses was educated in all the wisdom {and} culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty (powerful) in his speech and deeds.G2532G3475G3811G3956G4678G124G1161G2258G1415G1722G3056G2532G1722G204123And when he was in his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his kinsmen the children of Israel [to help them and to care for them].G1161G5613G846G4137G5063G5550G305G1909G846G2588G1980G846G80G5207G247424And on seeing one of them being unjustly treated, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian {and} slaying [him].G2532G1492G5100G91G292G2532G1557G4160G2669G3960G12425He expected his brethren to understand that God was granting them deliverance by his hand [taking it for granted that they would accept him]; but they did not understand.G1161G3543G846G80G4920G3754G2316G1223G846G5495G1325G4991G846G1161G4920G375626Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to some who were quarreling {and} fighting among themselves, and he urged them to make peace {and} become reconciled, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you abuse {and} wrong one another?G5037G1966G2250G3700G846G3164G2532G4900G846G1519G1515G2036G435G5210G2075G80G2444G91G24027Whereupon the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed [Moses] aside, saying, Who appointed you a ruler (umpire) and a judge over us?G1161G91G4139G91G683G846G683G2036G5101G2525G4571G758G2532G1348G1909G224828Do you intend to slay me as you slew the Egyptian yesterday?G3361G2309G4771G337G3165G3739G5158G337G124G550429At that reply Moses sought safety by flight and he was an exile {and} an alien in the country of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.G1161G5343G3475G1722G5129G3056G2532G1096G3941G1722G1093G3099G3757G1080G1417G520730And when forty years had gone by, there appeared to him in the wilderness (desert) of Mount Sinai an angel, in the flame of a burning bramblebush.G2532G5062G2094G4137G3700G846G1722G2048G3735G4614G32G2962G1722G5395G4442G94231When Moses saw it, he was astonished {and} marveled at the sight; but when he went close to investigate, there came to him the voice of the Lord, saying,G1161G3475G1492G2296G3705G1161G846G4334G2657G5456G2962G1096G4314G84632I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. And Moses trembled {and} was so terrified that he did not venture to look.G1473G2316G4675G3962G2316G11G2532G2316G2464G2532G2316G2384G1161G3475G1096G1790G5111G3756G265733Then the Lord said to him, Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground {and} worthy of veneration.G1161G2036G2962G846G3089G5266G4675G4228G1063G5117G1722G3739G2476G2076G40G109334Because I have most assuredly seen the abuse {and} oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their sighing {and} groaning, I have come down to rescue them. So, now come! I will send you back to Egypt [as My messenger].G1492G1492G2561G3450G2992G3588G1722G125G2532G191G846G4726G2532G2597G1807G846G2532G3568G1204G649G4571G1519G12535It was this very Moses whom they had denied (disowned and rejected), saying, Who made you our ruler (referee) and judge? whom God sent to be a ruler and deliverer {and} redeemer, by {and} with the [protecting and helping] hand of the Angel that appeared to him in the bramblebush.G5126G3475G3739G720G2036G5101G2525G4571G758G2532G1348G5126G2316G649G758G2532G3086G1722G5495G32G3588G3700G846G1722G94236He it was who led them forth, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and during the forty years in the wilderness (desert).G3778G1806G846G1806G4160G5059G2532G4592G1722G1093G125G2532G1722G2063G2281G2532G1722G2048G5062G209437It was this [very] Moses who said to the children of Israel, God will raise up for you a Prophet from among your brethren as He raised me up.G3778G2076G3475G3588G2036G5207G2474G4396G450G2962G5216G2316G450G5213G1537G5216G80G5613G1691G846G19138This is he who in the assembly in the wilderness (desert) was the go-between for the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and our forefathers, and he received living oracles (words that still live) to be handed down to us.G3778G2076G1096G1722G1577G1722G2048G3326G32G3588G2980G846G1722G3735G4614G2532G2257G3962G3739G1209G2198G3051G1325G225439[And yet] our forefathers determined not to be subject to him [refusing to listen to {or} obey him]; but thrusting him aside they rejected him, and in their hearts yearned for {and} turned back to Egypt.G3739G2257G3962G2309G3756G1096G5255G235G683G2532G846G2588G4762G1519G12540And they said to Aaron, Make us gods who shall [be our leaders and] go before us; as for this Moses who led us forth from the land of Egypt--we have no knowledge of what has happened to him.G2036G2G4160G2254G2316G3739G4313G2257G1063G3778G3475G3739G1806G2248G1537G1093G125G1492G3756G5101G1096G84641And they [even] made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol and made merry {and} exulted in the work of their [own] hands.G2532G3447G1722G1565G2250G2532G321G2378G1497G2532G2165G1722G2041G846G549542But God turned [away from them] and delivered them up to worship {and} serve the host (stars) of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: Did you [really] offer to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness (desert), O house of Israel?G1161G2316G4762G2532G3860G846G3860G3000G4756G3772G2531G1125G1722G976G4396G3624G2474G3361G4374G3427G4968G2532G2378G5062G2094G1722G204843[No!] You took up the tent (the portable temple) of Moloch {and} carried it [with you], and the star of the god Rephan, the images which you [yourselves] made that you might worship them; and I will remove you [carrying you away into exile] beyond Babylon.G2532G353G4633G3434G2532G798G5216G2316G4481G5179G3739G4160G4352G846G2532G3351G5209G3351G1900G89744Our forefathers had the tent (tabernacle) of witness in the wilderness, even as He Who directed Moses to make it had ordered, according to the pattern {and} model he had seen.G2257G3962G2258G4633G3142G1722G1722G2048G2531G1299G2980G3475G4160G846G2596G5179G3739G370845Our forefathers in turn brought it [this tent of witness] in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before the face of our forefathers. [So it remained here] until the time of David,G3739G2532G2257G3962G1237G1521G3326G2424G1722G2697G1484G3739G2316G1856G575G4383G2257G3962G2193G2250G113846Who found grace (favor and spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and prayed that he might be allowed to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [II Sam. 7:8-16; Ps. 132:1-5.]G3739G2147G5485G1799G2316G2532G154G2147G4638G2316G238447But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. [I Kings 6.]G1161G4672G3618G846G362448However, the Most High does not dwell in houses {and} temples made with hands; as the prophet says,G235G5310G2730G3756G1722G3485G5499G2531G3004G439649Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?G3772G3427G2362G1161G1093G3450G4228G5286G4169G3624G3618G3427G3004G2962G2228G5101G5117G3450G266350Was it not My hand that made all these things?G4160G3780G3450G5495G4160G3956G502351You stubborn {and} stiff-necked people, still heathen {and} uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers [were], so you [are and so you do]!G4644G2532G564G2588G2532G3775G5210G496G104G496G40G4151G5613G5216G3962G2532G521052Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? And they slew those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed and murdered--G5101G4396G1377G3756G5216G3962G1377G2532G615G3588G4293G4012G1660G1342G3739G5210G1096G3568G4273G2532G540653You who received the Law as it was ordained {and} set in order {and} delivered by angels, and [yet] you did not obey it!G3748G2983G3551G1519G1296G32G2532G5442G3756G5442

Stephen Put to Death

54Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews] were cut to the heart {and} infuriated, and they ground their teeth against [Stephen].G1161G191G5023G1282G2588G846G2532G1031G1909G846G359955But he, full of the Holy Spirit {and} controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand;G1161G5225G4134G40G4151G816G1519G3772G1492G1391G2316G2532G2424G2476G1537G1188G231656And he said, Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!G2532G2036G2400G2334G3772G455G2532G5207G444G2476G1537G1188G231657But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him.G1161G2896G3173G5456G4912G846G3775G2532G3729G1909G846G366158Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.G2532G1544G1854G4172G3036G2532G3144G659G846G2440G3844G3494G4228G2564G456959And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive {and} accept {and} welcome my spirit!G2532G3036G4736G1941G2532G3004G2962G2424G1209G3450G415160And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].G1161G5087G1119G2896G3173G5456G2962G2476G3361G5026G266G846G2532G2036G5124G2837