Acts 7 contains Stephen's monumental speech before the Sanhedrin — the longest speech in Acts at 53 verses. Stephen recounts Israel's history from Abraham through Moses to Solomon, arguing that God's presence has never been confined to a single place, that Israel has a pattern of rejecting God's chosen messengers, and that the temple was never intended to contain God. His narrative moves from Abraham in Mesopotamia, to Joseph in Egypt, to Moses in the wilderness, to the tabernacle, and finally to Solomon's temple — where he turns accusatory. He charges his hearers with being stiff-necked resisters of the Holy Spirit who, like their ancestors, have betrayed and murdered the Righteous One. The council erupts in fury. Stephen sees a vision of Jesus standing at God's right hand, and they drag him out and stone him to death. He dies praying for his killers. Saul of Tarsus appears for the first time, approving Stephen's execution.
Stephen's speech is a radical rereading of Israel's sacred history. He systematically demonstrates that every pivotal encounter between God and his people happened outside the promised land: Abraham received his call in Mesopotamia, Joseph was God's instrument in Egypt, Moses met God at the burning bush in Midian, the Torah was given at Sinai — not in Jerusalem. The heroes of faith were all initially rejected by their own people before being vindicated. The theological implications are devastating: if God has never been bound to a place, the temple cannot contain him; if Israel has always resisted its prophets, rejecting Jesus fits the pattern. Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr, and his death mirrors Jesus's in profound ways: he prays for his persecutors and commits his spirit to the Lord.
Stephen's retelling contains several historical details that differ from the Genesis account: he says Abraham left Haran after his father died (v. 4, but Genesis 11:26, 32 and 12:4 suggest Terah lived another 60 years), he places 75 members of Jacob's family going to Egypt (v. 14, following the LXX) rather than 70 (Hebrew text), and he attributes the purchase of the Machpelah tomb to Abraham rather than to Jacob (v. 16, conflating Genesis 23 and 33:19). These discrepancies likely reflect Stephen's use of the Septuagint and Jewish interpretive tradition rather than strict historical error. We render the Greek as given without harmonizing.
Stephen's speech draws on Genesis 12-50 (Abraham, Joseph), Exodus 1-20 (Moses), Deuteronomy 18:15 (prophet like Moses), 1 Kings 6-8 (temple), Isaiah 66:1-2 (heaven as God's throne), and Amos 5:25-27 (idolatry). Stephen's martyrdom anticipates Paul's persecution-to-conversion arc. The stoning scene echoes Jesus's crucifixion (Luke 23:34, 46). Saul's introduction here foreshadows the dramatic reversal of chapter 9.
Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς· εἰ ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει;
The high priest said, "Are these things so?"
KJV Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
ὁ δὲ ἔφη· ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατε. ὁ θεὸς τῆς δόξης ὤφθη τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν Ἀβραὰμ ὄντι ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ πρὶν ἢ κατοικῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν Χαρράν
Stephen replied, "Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
KJV And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
The Greek doxa translates the Hebrew kavod. By calling God 'the God of glory,' Stephen invokes the weighty, luminous divine presence — and will argue that this presence cannot be confined to any structure.
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου, καὶ δεῦρο εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω.
Said to him, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and come into the land which I will shew you.
KJV And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
τότε ἐξελθὼν ἐκ γῆς Χαλδαίων κατῴκησεν ἐν Χαρράν. κἀκεῖθεν μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ μετῴκισεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς νῦν κατοικεῖτε,
Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God moved him from there into this land in which you are now living.
KJV Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἐν αὐτῇ οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός, καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο δοῦναι αὐτῷ εἰς κατάσχεσιν αὐτὴν καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτόν, οὐκ ὄντος αὐτῷ τέκνου.
He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but he promised to give it to him as a possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.
KJV And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
ἐλάλησεν δὲ οὕτως ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ πάροικον ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ καὶ δουλώσουσιν αὐτὸ καὶ κακώσουσιν ἔτη τετρακόσια·
And God spoke in this way: that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land, and that the people there would enslave and mistreat them for four hundred years.
KJV And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
καὶ τὸ ἔθνος ᾧ ἐὰν δουλεύσουσιν κρινῶ ἐγώ, ὁ θεὸς εἶπεν, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξελεύσονται καὶ λατρεύσουσίν μοι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ.
'But I will judge the nation they serve,' God said, 'and after that they will come out and worship me in this place.'
KJV And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ διαθήκην περιτομῆς· καὶ οὕτως ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰσαὰκ καὶ περιέτεμεν αὐτὸν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ, καὶ Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακώβ, καὶ Ἰακὼβ τοὺς δώδεκα πατριάρχας.
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered the twelve patriarchs.
KJV And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
Καὶ οἱ πατριάρχαι ζηλώσαντες τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἀπέδοντο εἰς Αἴγυπτον· καὶ ἦν ὁ θεὸς μετ' αὐτοῦ
The patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him
KJV And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
καὶ ἐξείλατο αὐτὸν ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ χάριν καὶ σοφίαν ἐναντίον Φαραὼ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου, καὶ κατέστησεν αὐτὸν ἡγούμενον ἐπ' Αἴγυπτον καὶ ἐφ' ὅλον τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.
Delivered him out of all his afflictions, and offered him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Then he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house.
KJV And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
ἦλθεν δὲ λιμὸς ἐφ' ὅλην τὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ Χανάαν καὶ θλῖψις μεγάλη, καὶ οὐχ ηὕρισκον χορτάσματα οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν.
Then a famine came over all of Egypt and Canaan, with great suffering, and our fathers could find no food.
KJV Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
ἀκούσας δὲ Ἰακὼβ ὄντα σιτία εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐξαπέστειλεν τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν πρῶτον·
When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there on their first visit.
KJV But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
καὶ ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ ἀνεγνωρίσθη Ἰωσὴφ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ φανερὸν ἐγένετο τῷ Φαραὼ τὸ γένος τοῦ Ἰωσήφ.
On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.
KJV And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
ἀποστείλας δὲ Ἰωσὴφ μετεκαλέσατο Ἰακὼβ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν συγγένειαν ἐν ψυχαῖς ἑβδομήκοντα πέντε.
Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five persons in all.
KJV Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
καὶ κατέβη Ἰακὼβ εἰς Αἴγυπτον. καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν,
So Jacob went down to Egypt, and he died there — he and our fathers.
KJV So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
καὶ μετετέθησαν εἰς Συχὲμ καὶ ἐτέθησαν ἐν τῷ μνήματι ᾧ ὠνήσατο Ἀβραὰμ τιμῆς ἀργυρίου παρὰ τῶν υἱῶν Ἑμμὼρ ἐν Συχέμ.
Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
KJV And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
Καθὼς δὲ ἤγγιζεν ὁ χρόνος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ἧς ὡμολόγησεν ὁ θεὸς τῷ Ἀβραάμ, ηὔξησεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ἐπληθύνθη ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ,
"As the time of the promise that God had made to Abraham drew near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,
KJV But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
ἄχρι οὗ ἀνέστη βασιλεὺς ἕτερος ἐπ' Αἴγυπτον ὃς οὐκ ᾔδει τὸν Ἰωσήφ.
Till another king arose, which recognized not Joseph.
KJV Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
οὗτος κατασοφισάμενος τὸ γένος ἡμῶν ἐκάκωσεν τοὺς πατέρας τοῦ ποιεῖν τὰ βρέφη ἔκθετα αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ μὴ ζῳογονεῖσθαι.
He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would not survive.
KJV The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ ἐγεννήθη Μωϋσῆς καὶ ἦν ἀστεῖος τῷ θεῷ· ὃς ἀνετράφη μῆνας τρεῖς ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός·
At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. He was raised for three months in his father's house,
KJV In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
ἐκτεθέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀνείλατο αὐτὸν ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ καὶ ἀνεθρέψατο αὐτὸν ἑαυτῇ εἰς υἱόν.
When he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter picked up him up, and nourished him for her own son.
KJV And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
καὶ ἐπαιδεύθη Μωϋσῆς ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ Αἰγυπτίων, ἦν δὲ δυνατὸς ἐν λόγοις καὶ ἔργοις αὐτοῦ.
Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.
KJV And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Ὡς δὲ ἐπληροῦτο αὐτῷ τεσσερακονταετὴς χρόνος, ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπισκέψασθαι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ.
When he was about forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
KJV And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
καὶ ἰδών τινα ἀδικούμενον ἠμύνατο καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐκδίκησιν τῷ καταπονουμένῳ πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον.
When he saw one of them being wronged, he came to his defense and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian.
KJV And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
ἐνόμιζεν δὲ συνιέναι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ ὅτι ὁ θεὸς διὰ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ δίδωσιν σωτηρίαν αὐτοῖς, οἱ δὲ οὐ συνῆκαν.
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was giving them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.
KJV For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
τῇ τε ἐπιούσῃ ἡμέρᾳ ὤφθη αὐτοῖς μαχομένοις καὶ συνήλλασσεν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην εἰπών· ἄνδρες, ἀδελφοί ἐστε· ἱνατί ἀδικεῖτε ἀλλήλους;
The next day he appeared to them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers! Why are you wronging each other?'
KJV And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
ὁ δὲ ἀδικῶν τὸν πλησίον ἀπώσατο αὐτὸν εἰπών· τίς σε κατέστησεν ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστὴν ἐφ' ἡμῶν;
But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed him away, saying, 'Who appointed you as a ruler and judge over us?
KJV But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
μὴ ἀνελεῖν με σὺ θέλεις ὃν τρόπον ἀνεῖλες ἐχθὲς τὸν Αἰγύπτιον;
Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
KJV Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
ἔφυγεν δὲ Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ καὶ ἐγένετο πάροικος ἐν γῇ Μαδιάμ, οὗ ἐγέννησεν υἱοὺς δύο.
At this remark, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons.
KJV Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
Καὶ πληρωθέντων ἐτῶν τεσσεράκοντα ὤφθη αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τοῦ ὄρους Σινᾶ ἄγγελος ἐν φλογὶ πυρὸς βάτου.
"When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.
KJV And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
ὁ δὲ Μωϋσῆς ἰδὼν ἐθαύμαζεν τὸ ὅραμα, προσερχομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ κατανοῆσαι ἐγένετο φωνὴ κυρίου·
When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:
KJV When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
ἐγὼ ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων σου, ὁ θεὸς Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακώβ. ἔντρομος δὲ γενόμενος Μωϋσῆς οὐκ ἐτόλμα κατανοῆσαι.
'I am the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled and did not dare to look.
KJV Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος· λῦσον τὸ ὑπόδημα τῶν ποδῶν σου, ὁ γὰρ τόπος ἐφ' ᾧ ἕστηκας γῆ ἁγία ἐστίν.
The Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'
KJV Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
ἰδὼν εἶδον τὴν κάκωσιν τοῦ λαοῦ μου τοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ αὐτῶν ἤκουσα, καὶ κατέβην ἐξελέσθαι αὐτούς· καὶ νῦν δεῦρο ἀποστείλω σε εἰς Αἴγυπτον.
'I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.'
KJV I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
Τοῦτον τὸν Μωϋσῆν ὃν ἠρνήσαντο εἰπόντες· τίς σε κατέστησεν ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστήν; τοῦτον ὁ θεὸς καὶ ἄρχοντα καὶ λυτρωτὴν ἀπέσταλκεν σὺν χειρὶ ἀγγέλου τοῦ ὀφθέντος αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ βάτῳ.
"This Moses whom they rejected, saying, 'Who appointed you as ruler and judge?' — this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
KJV This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Used only here in the New Testament. The corresponding Hebrew concept is go'el — the kinsman-redeemer who reclaims what was lost. Stephen applies this title to Moses as a type of Christ: the rejected brother who becomes the divinely appointed rescuer.
οὗτος ἐξήγαγεν αὐτοὺς ποιήσας τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐν ἐρυθρᾷ θαλάσσῃ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἔτη τεσσεράκοντα.
This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.
KJV He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Μωϋσῆς ὁ εἴπας τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ· προφήτην ὑμῖν ἀναστήσει ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν ὡς ἐμέ.
This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.'
KJV This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ γενόμενος ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ μετὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου τοῦ λαλοῦντος αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Σινᾶ καὶ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, ὃς ἐδέξατο λόγια ζῶντα δοῦναι ἡμῖν,
This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.
KJV This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
ᾧ οὐκ ἠθέλησαν ὑπήκοοι γενέσθαι οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ἀλλὰ ἀπώσαντο καὶ ἐστράφησαν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν εἰς Αἴγυπτον
Our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
KJV To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
εἰπόντες τῷ Ἀαρών· ποίησον ἡμῖν θεοὺς οἳ προπορεύσονται ἡμῶν· ὁ γὰρ Μωϋσῆς οὗτος, ὃς ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, οὐκ οἴδαμεν τί ἐγένετο αὐτῷ.
Indeed, declaring to Aaron, Make us gods to go prior to us — for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
KJV Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
καὶ ἐμοσχοποίησαν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ ἀνήγαγον θυσίαν τῷ εἰδώλῳ καὶ εὐφραίνοντο ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.
They made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and celebrated the works of their hands.
KJV And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
ἔστρεψεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς λατρεύειν τῇ στρατιᾷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ τῶν προφητῶν· μὴ σφάγια καὶ θυσίας προσηνέγκατέ μοι ἔτη τεσσεράκοντα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οἶκος Ἰσραήλ;
But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: 'Did you bring me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during those forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?
KJV Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
καὶ ἀνελάβετε τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ Μολὸχ καὶ τὸ ἄστρον τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν Ῥαιφάν, τοὺς τύπους οὓς ἐποιήσατε προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς. καὶ μετοικιῶ ὑμᾶς ἐπέκεινα Βαβυλῶνος.
You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images you made to worship. I will exile you beyond Babylon.'
KJV Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καθὼς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ ποιῆσαι αὐτὴν κατὰ τὸν τύπον ὃν ἑωράκει,
"Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.
KJV Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
ἣν καὶ εἰσήγαγον διαδεξάμενοι οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν μετὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῇ κατασχέσει τῶν ἐθνῶν ὧν ἐξῶσεν ὁ θεὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν ἕως τῶν ἡμερῶν Δαυίδ·
Our fathers who received it in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. It remained until the days of David,
KJV Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
ὃς εὗρεν χάριν ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ᾐτήσατο εὑρεῖν σκήνωμα τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰακώβ.
Who discovered favour prior to God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
KJV Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Σολομῶν δὲ οἰκοδόμησεν αὐτῷ οἶκον.
But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
KJV But Solomon built him an house.
ἀλλ' οὐχ ὁ ὕψιστος ἐν χειροποιήτοις κατοικεῖ, καθὼς ὁ προφήτης λέγει·
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says:
KJV Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
ὁ οὐρανός μοι θρόνος, ἡ δὲ γῆ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν μου· ποῖον οἶκον οἰκοδομήσετέ μοι, λέγει κύριος, ἢ τίς τόπος τῆς καταπαύσεώς μου;
'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?
KJV Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
οὐχὶ ἡ χείρ μου ἐποίησεν ταῦτα πάντα;
Did not my hand make all these things?'
KJV Hath not my hand made all these things?
Σκληροτράχηλοι καὶ ἀπερίτμητοι καρδίαις καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν, ὑμεῖς ἀεὶ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ ἀντιπίπτετε, ὡς οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν καὶ ὑμεῖς.
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
KJV Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
τίνα τῶν προφητῶν οὐκ ἐδίωξαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν; καὶ ἀπέκτειναν τοὺς προκαταγγείλαντας περὶ τῆς ἐλεύσεως τοῦ δικαίου, οὗ νῦν ὑμεῖς προδόται καὶ φονεῖς ἐγένεσθε,
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become —
KJV Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers;
οἵτινες ἐλάβετε τὸν νόμον εἰς διαταγὰς ἀγγέλων καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξατε.
Who possess received the instruction of Moses by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
KJV Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Ἀκούοντες δὲ ταῦτα διεπρίοντο ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν καὶ ἔβρυχον τοὺς ὀδόντας ἐπ' αὐτόν.
When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts and ground their teeth at him.
KJV When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
ὑπάρχων δὲ πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου ἀτενίσας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶδεν δόξαν θεοῦ καὶ Ἰησοῦν ἑστῶτα ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θεοῦ
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
KJV But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ θεωρῶ τοὺς οὐρανοὺς διηνοιγμένους καὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ δεξιῶν ἑστῶτα τοῦ θεοῦ.
He said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
KJV And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
The title from Daniel 7:13-14 denoting a heavenly figure who receives universal dominion from God. Jesus used it as his primary self-designation. Stephen's use confirms Jesus's exaltation to the position Daniel described.
κράξαντες δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ συνέσχον τὰ ὦτα αὐτῶν καὶ ὥρμησαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐπ' αὐτόν,
But they cried out with a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed at him with one impulse.
KJV Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
καὶ ἐκβαλόντες ἔξω τῆς πόλεως ἐλιθοβόλουν. καὶ οἱ μάρτυρες ἀπέθεντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας νεανίου καλουμένου Σαύλου.
They drove him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
KJV And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
καὶ ἐλιθοβόλουν τὸν Στέφανον ἐπικαλούμενον καὶ λέγοντα· κύριε Ἰησοῦ, δέξαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
KJV And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
θεὶς δὲ τὰ γόνατα ἔκραξεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· κύριε, μὴ στήσῃς αὐτοῖς ταύτην τὴν ἁμαρτίαν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐκοιμήθη.
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep.
KJV And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.