Abraham, the Patriarchs, and God's Covenant
Study note
Stephen begins his defense by recounting how God appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia and called him to a land he would later possess. Though Abraham never owned that land, God promised it to his descendants and foretold their enslavement in a foreign land for four hundred years before their deliverance. The covenant of circumcision sealed God's relationship with Abraham's line through Isaac and Jacob.
1 The high priest asked Stephen, "Is what they are saying about you true?" Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2 Stephen began his answer: "Brothers and fathers, hear me out. The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he still lived in Mesopotamia. This was before he moved to Charran." 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,
3 "God told him, 'Pack up and leave your country and your relatives behind. Go to the land I will point you toward.'" And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4 "So Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and moved to Charran. Then after his father died, God brought him here to this land where you and I live today." Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 "But God did not give Abraham any of this land as his own -- not even a tiny piece of ground to stand on. Still, God made Abraham a promise: he and his descendants would one day own all of it. This was before Abraham even had any children." 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.
6 "God told him: 'Your descendants will live as outsiders in a land that is not theirs. The people there will force them into slavery and treat them cruelly for four hundred years.'" 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.
7 "'But I will punish that nation for what they did,' God said. 'Afterward, your descendants will leave that land and come here to worship me.'" 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.
8 "God also made a covenant with Abraham that included circumcision. When Abraham's son Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs." 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.
Joseph: Rejected by His Brothers, Exalted by God
Study note
Stephen narrates how the patriarchs sold Joseph into Egypt out of jealousy, yet God was with him. God gave Joseph favor before Pharaoh, who made him governor. When famine struck, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt where Joseph eventually revealed himself. Stephen highlights the pattern of God's chosen one being rejected by his own people yet ultimately being used to save them.
9 "The patriarchs got jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him as a slave to people heading to Egypt. But God never left Joseph's side." And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 "God got Joseph through every hardship and gave him favor and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of all Egypt and his entire royal household." 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.
11 "Then a terrible famine hit all of Egypt and Chanaan. The suffering was extreme, and our ancestors could not find enough food to eat." Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 "When Jacob found out that Egypt had grain, he sent our ancestors there on their first trip." But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 "On their second visit, Joseph revealed who he truly was to his brothers. That is also when Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family." And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 "Joseph then sent a message to his father Jacob. He invited the whole family to come to Egypt — seventy-five people in all." Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 "So Jacob moved down to Egypt. Eventually he died there, and so did our other ancestors." So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16 "Their bodies were taken back to Sychem. They were placed in the burial site that Abraham bought from the sons of Emmor in Sychem." 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.
Moses: Rejected Leader and Deliverer
Study note
Stephen describes Moses' birth during Israel's oppression, his education in Egypt, and his flight to Midian after being rejected by his own people when he tried to help them. After forty years, God called Moses through the burning bush to deliver Israel. Stephen emphasizes the irony: the very Moses whom Israel rejected with the words 'Who made you a ruler and judge?' was the one God sent as both ruler and deliverer, performing wonders in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness.
17 "The time was getting close for God to keep his promise to Abraham. The number of our people in Egypt kept growing and growing." But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 "Then a new king took power in Egypt -- one who had never heard of Joseph." Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 "This king tricked our people and was horribly cruel to our ancestors. He even forced them to leave their newborn babies outside to die." 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.
20 "That was exactly the time when Moses was born. He was an extraordinarily beautiful child in God's sight. His parents hid him and cared for him at home for three months." In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
21 "When they finally had to put him outside, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and raised him as if he were her own son." And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22 "Moses received the best education Egypt had to offer. He became impressive both in what he said and what he did." And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 "When Moses turned forty, he felt a strong desire to go visit his own people, the Israelites." And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 "He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian. Moses stepped in to defend him, struck the Egyptian down, and killed him." And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 "Moses assumed his people would realize that God was using him to set them free. But they did not get it." For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 "The very next day, Moses found two Israelites fighting each other. He tried to settle the argument, saying, 'Men, you are brothers! Why are you hurting one another?'" 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?
27 "But the one who had started the fight shoved Moses away and said, 'Who put you in charge of us? Who made you our judge?'" But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 "'Are you planning to kill me like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?'" Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29 "That scared Moses, so he ran away to the land of Madian, where he lived as an outsider. He had two sons while he was there." Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 "Forty years went by. Then an angel appeared to Moses in the wilderness near mount Sina -- right in the flames of a burning bush." 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.
31 "Moses was stunned by what he saw. As he walked closer to get a better look, the Lord's voice spoke to him:" 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,
32 "'I am the God of your ancestors -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Moses started shaking and was too afraid to keep looking." 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.
33 "The Lord told him, 'Take your sandals off. You are standing on holy ground.'" Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 "'I have watched my people suffer in Egypt. I have heard their cries for help, and I have come down to rescue them. Now get ready -- I am sending you back to Egypt.'" 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.
35 "This is the very same Moses they rejected when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and judge?' Yet God sent him to be their ruler and the one who would set them free, with the help of the angel who appeared in the bush." 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.
36 "Moses led them out of Egypt. He performed incredible wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red sea, and all through the forty years in the wilderness." 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.
Israel's Pattern of Rebellion
Study note
Stephen recalls Moses' prophecy about a future prophet like himself and then describes Israel's repeated rebellion in the wilderness. Despite Moses receiving living words from God, the people refused to obey him, turned their hearts back to Egypt, and made a golden calf. God gave them over to the worship of heavenly bodies, as the prophets attested, leading ultimately to the Babylonian exile.
37 "This is the same Moses who told the people of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among your own people -- a prophet just like me. Make sure you listen to him.'" 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.
38 "Moses was the one who stood between the angel on mount Sina and our ancestors when they gathered in the wilderness. He received living, powerful words from God to pass along to us." 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:
39 "But our ancestors refused to follow Moses. They pushed him aside and started longing to go back to Egypt." To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 "They told Aaron, 'Make some gods for us to follow. We have no idea what happened to this Moses who brought us out of Egypt.'" 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.
41 "So they made a golden calf and offered sacrifices to it. They threw a party to celebrate something they had made with their own hands." And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 "God turned his back on them and let them worship the stars in the sky. The prophet's book says it clearly: 'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?'" 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?
43 "'No! Instead, you carried around the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan -- idols you created for yourselves. Therefore I will send you away as captives beyond Babylon.'" 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.
The Tabernacle, the Temple, and God's Dwelling
Study note
Stephen traces the tabernacle from the wilderness through Joshua's conquest into Solomon's temple, but declares that the Most High does not live in temples made by human hands. Quoting Isaiah, he argues that heaven is God's throne and earth his footstool, challenging the council's idolatrous attachment to the temple as though God could be confined to a building.
44 "Our ancestors had the tabernacle in the wilderness -- the special tent for worship. God had told Moses exactly how to build it, following the design God showed him." 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.
45 "The next generation of our ancestors inherited that tabernacle. They brought it along when Joshua led them into the land that had been occupied by other nations, which God drove out ahead of them. It stayed there until David's time." 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;
46 "God was pleased with David, and David asked if he could build a permanent home for the God of Jacob." Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 "But Solomon was the one who built the temple." But Solomon built him an house.
48 "The thing is, the Most High God does not live in buildings made by people. The prophet makes that clear:" Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 "'Heaven is where I sit as king, and the earth is my footrest,' says the Lord. 'What kind of house could you possibly build for me? Where would I go to rest?'" 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?
50 "'Did I not make all of this with my own hands?'" Hath not my hand made all these things?
Stephen's Accusation and Martyrdom
Study note
Stephen directly confronts the council, calling them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart, saying they always resist the Holy Spirit just as their fathers did. He accuses them of betraying and murdering the Righteous One, having received the law through angels but not obeying it. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen sees heaven opened and Jesus standing at God's right hand. The council rushes upon him, drags him out of the city, and stones him. Stephen prays for the Lord to receive his spirit and to forgive his killers. Saul witnesses and approves of the execution.
51 "You stubborn people! Your hearts and ears are closed to God! You are just like your ancestors -- you always push back against the Holy Spirit." Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 "Name one prophet your ancestors did not attack! They killed the messengers who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have turned him over to be murdered." 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:
53 "You received God's law -- it was delivered by angels -- but you never bothered to follow it." Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When the council members heard all this, they were enraged. They ground their teeth at Stephen in fury. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But Stephen, completely filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up toward heaven. He saw God's brilliant glory, and he saw Jesus standing there at God's right side. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 "Look!" Stephen exclaimed. "The heavens are wide open! I can see the Son of Man standing at God's right hand!" And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 At that, they screamed at the top of their lungs, covered their ears, and charged at him all at once. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 They dragged him outside the city and started throwing stones at him. The men who testified against him set their coats down at the feet of a young man named Saul. 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.
59 As the stones rained down on him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 Then he dropped to his knees and shouted, "Lord, please do not blame them for this sin!" And after saying that, he died. 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.