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Acts 7:44-60
Contemporary English Version
Acts 7:44-60
Contemporary English Version
44 (A) The tent where our ancestors worshiped God was with them in the desert. This was the same tent that God had commanded Moses to make. And it was made like the model that Moses had seen. 45 (B) Later it was given to our ancestors, and they took it with them when they went with Joshua. They carried the tent along as they took over the land from those people that God had chased out for them. Our ancestors used this tent until the time of King David. 46 (C) He pleased God and asked him if he could build a house of worship for the people[a] of Israel. 47 (D) And it was finally King Solomon who built a house for God.[b]
48 But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,
49 (E) “Heaven is my throne,
and the earth
is my footstool.
What kind of house
will you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
50 I have made everything.”
51 (F) You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. 52 Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn't mistreat? They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the One Who Obeys God.[c] And now you have turned against him and killed him. 53 Angels gave you God's Law, but you still don't obey it.
Stephen Is Stoned to Death
54 When the council members heard Stephen's speech, they were angry and furious. 55 (G) But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side.[d] 56 Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”
57 The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen 58 and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.[e]
59 As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” 60 He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don't blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 7.46 people: Some manuscripts have “God.”
- 7.47 God: Or “the people.”
- 7.52 One Who Obeys God: That is, Jesus.
- 7.55 standing at his right side: The “right side” is the place of honor and power. “Standing” may mean that Jesus is welcoming Stephen (see verse 59).
- 7.58 Saul: Better known as Paul, who became a famous follower of Jesus.
Acts 7:44-60
New International Version
Acts 7:44-60
New International Version
44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law(A) with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.(B) 45 After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them.(C) It remained in the land until the time of David,(D) 46 who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.[a](E) 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.(F)
48 “However, the Most High(G) does not live in houses made by human hands.(H) As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.(I)
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’[b](J)
51 “You stiff-necked people!(K) Your hearts(L) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?(M) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him(N)— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels(O) but have not obeyed it.”
The Stoning of Stephen
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious(P) and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,(Q) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.(R) 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open(S) and the Son of Man(T) standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city(U) and began to stone him.(V) Meanwhile, the witnesses(W) laid their coats(X) at the feet of a young man named Saul.(Y)
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”(Z) 60 Then he fell on his knees(AA) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”(AB) When he had said this, he fell asleep.(AC)
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