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Acts 7 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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Stephen’s Defense

7 The high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 And he said, “Hear me, (A)brethren and fathers! (B)The God of glory (C)appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in [a]Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘(D)Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ 4 (E)Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in [b]Haran. (F)From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5 But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, (G)He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him. 6 But (H)God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would [c]be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘And whatever nation to which they will be in bondage I Myself will judge,’ said God, ‘and (I)after that they will come out and [d]serve Me in this place.’ 8 And He (J)gave him [e]the covenant of circumcision; and so (K)Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and (L)Isaac became the father of Jacob, and (M)Jacob of the twelve (N)patriarchs.

9 “The patriarchs (O)became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and (P)granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.

11 “Now (Q)a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers [f]could find no food. 12 But (R)when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 On the second visit (S)Joseph [g]made himself known to his brothers, and (T)Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14 Then (U)Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, (V)seventy-five [h](W)persons in all. 15 And (X)Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16 From there they were removed to [i](Y)Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of [j]Hamor in [k]Shechem.

17 “But as the (Z)time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, (AA)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until (AB)there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. 19 It was he who took (AC)shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would [l](AD)expose their infants and they would not survive. 20 It was at this time that (AE)Moses was born; and he was lovely [m]in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been set outside, (AF)Pharaoh’s daughter [n]took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all (AG)the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. 23 But when he was approaching the age of forty, (AH)it entered his [o]mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. 25 And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them [p]deliverance [q]through him, but they did not understand. 26 (AI)On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ 27 But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘(AJ)Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 28 (AK)You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ 29 At this remark, (AL)Moses fled and became an alien in the land of [r]Midian, where he (AM)became the father of two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed, (AN)an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘(AO)I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. 33 (AP)But the Lord said to him, ‘(AQ)Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 34 (AR)I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them; [s](AS)come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they (AT)disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God [t]sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the [u]help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 (AU)This man led them out, performing (AV)wonders and [v]signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the (AW)wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘(AX)God will raise up for you a prophet [w]like me from your brethren.’ 38 This is the one who was in (AY)the [x]congregation in the wilderness together with (AZ)the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received (BA)living (BB)oracles to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but (BC)repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 (BD)saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ 41 [y]At that time (BE)they made a [z]calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in (BF)the works of their hands. 42 But God (BG)turned away and delivered them up to [aa]serve the [ab]host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘(BH)It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices (BI)forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel? 43 (BJ)You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god [ac]Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had (BK)the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it (BL)according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 And having received it in their turn, our fathers (BM)brought it in with [ad]Joshua upon dispossessing the [ae]nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 (BN)David found favor in God’s sight, and (BO)asked that he might find a dwelling place for the [af]God of Jacob. 47 But it was (BP)Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 However, (BQ)the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49 ‘(BR)Heaven is My throne,
And earth is the footstool of My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My repose?
50 ‘(BS)Was it not My hand which made all these things?’

51 “You men who are (BT)stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 (BU)Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of (BV)the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers (BW)you have now become; 53 you who received the law as (BX)ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Stephen Put to Death

54 Now when they heard this, they were (BY)cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being (BZ)full of the Holy Spirit, he (CA)gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing (CB)at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the (CC)heavens opened up and (CD)the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had (CE)driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and (CF)the witnesses (CG)laid aside their robes at the feet of (CH)a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he (CI)called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then (CJ)falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, (CK)do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he [ag](CL)fell asleep.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:2 Gr Charran
  2. Acts 7:4 Gr Charran
  3. Acts 7:6 Lit enslave them and mistreat them
  4. Acts 7:7 Or worship
  5. Acts 7:8 Or a
  6. Acts 7:11 Lit were not finding
  7. Acts 7:13 Or was made known
  8. Acts 7:14 Lit souls
  9. Acts 7:16 Gr Sychem
  10. Acts 7:16 Gr Emmor
  11. Acts 7:16 Gr Sychem
  12. Acts 7:19 Or put out to die
  13. Acts 7:20 Lit to God
  14. Acts 7:21 Or adopted him
  15. Acts 7:23 Lit heart
  16. Acts 7:25 Or salvation
  17. Acts 7:25 Lit through his hand
  18. Acts 7:29 Gr Madiam
  19. Acts 7:34 Lit and now come!
  20. Acts 7:35 Lit has sent
  21. Acts 7:35 Lit hand
  22. Acts 7:36 Or attesting miracles
  23. Acts 7:37 Or as He raised up me
  24. Acts 7:38 Gr ekklesia
  25. Acts 7:41 Lit in those days
  26. Acts 7:41 Or young bull
  27. Acts 7:42 Or worship
  28. Acts 7:42 I.e. heavenly bodies
  29. Acts 7:43 Other mss spell it: Romphan, or Rempham, or Raiphan, or Rephan
  30. Acts 7:45 Gr Jesus
  31. Acts 7:45 Or Gentiles
  32. Acts 7:46 The earliest mss read house instead of God; the Septuagint reads God
  33. Acts 7:60 I.e. died

Cross references

  1. Acts 7:2 : Acts 22:1
  2. Acts 7:2 : Ps 29:3; 1 Cor 2:8
  3. Acts 7:2 : Gen 11:31; 15:7
  4. Acts 7:3 : Gen 12:1
  5. Acts 7:4 : Gen 11:31; 15:7
  6. Acts 7:4 : Gen 12:4, 5
  7. Acts 7:5 : Gen 12:7; 13:15; 15:18; 17:8
  8. Acts 7:6 : Gen 15:13f
  9. Acts 7:7 : Ex 3:12
  10. Acts 7:8 : Gen 17:10ff
  11. Acts 7:8 : Gen 21:2-4
  12. Acts 7:8 : Gen 25:26
  13. Acts 7:8 : Gen 29:31ff; 30:5ff; 35:23ff
  14. Acts 7:8 : Acts 2:29
  15. Acts 7:9 : Gen 37:11, 28; 39:2, 21f; 45:4
  16. Acts 7:10 : Gen 39:21; 41:40-46; Ps 105:21
  17. Acts 7:11 : Gen 41:54f; 42:5
  18. Acts 7:12 : Gen 42:2
  19. Acts 7:13 : Gen 45:1-4
  20. Acts 7:13 : Gen 45:16
  21. Acts 7:14 : Gen 45:9, 10, 17, 18
  22. Acts 7:14 : Gen 46:26f; Ex 1:5; Deut 10:22
  23. Acts 7:14 : Acts 2:41
  24. Acts 7:15 : Gen 46:1-7; 49:33; Ex 1:6
  25. Acts 7:16 : Gen 23:16; 33:19; 50:13; Josh 24:32
  26. Acts 7:17 : Gen 15:13
  27. Acts 7:17 : Ex 1:7f
  28. Acts 7:18 : Ex 1:8
  29. Acts 7:19 : Ex 1:10f, 16ff
  30. Acts 7:19 : Ex 1:22
  31. Acts 7:20 : Ex 2:2; Heb 11:23
  32. Acts 7:21 : Ex 2:5f, 10
  33. Acts 7:22 : 1 Kin 4:30; Is 19:11
  34. Acts 7:23 : Ex 2:11f; Heb 11:24-26
  35. Acts 7:26 : Ex 2:13f
  36. Acts 7:27 : Ex 2:14; Acts 7:35
  37. Acts 7:28 : Ex 2:14
  38. Acts 7:29 : Ex 2:15, 22
  39. Acts 7:29 : Ex 18:3, 4
  40. Acts 7:30 : Ex 3:1f; Is 63:9
  41. Acts 7:32 : Ex 3:6; Matt 22:32
  42. Acts 7:33 : Ex 3:5
  43. Acts 7:33 : Josh 5:15
  44. Acts 7:34 : Ex 3:7f
  45. Acts 7:34 : Ex 3:10
  46. Acts 7:35 : Ex 2:14; Acts 7:27
  47. Acts 7:36 : Ex 12:41; 33:1; Heb 8:9
  48. Acts 7:36 : Ex 7:3; 14:21; John 4:48
  49. Acts 7:36 : Ex 16:35; Num 14:33; Ps 95:8-10; Acts 7:42; 13:18; Heb 3:8f
  50. Acts 7:37 : Deut 18:15, 18; Acts 3:22
  51. Acts 7:38 : Ex 19:17
  52. Acts 7:38 : Acts 7:53
  53. Acts 7:38 : Deut 32:47; Heb 4:12
  54. Acts 7:38 : Rom 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1 Pet 4:11
  55. Acts 7:39 : Num 14:3f
  56. Acts 7:40 : Ex 32:1, 23
  57. Acts 7:41 : Ex 32:4, 6
  58. Acts 7:41 : Rev 9:20
  59. Acts 7:42 : Josh 24:20; Is 63:10; Jer 19:13; Ezek 20:39
  60. Acts 7:42 : Amos 5:25
  61. Acts 7:42 : Acts 7:36
  62. Acts 7:43 : Amos 5:26, 27
  63. Acts 7:44 : Ex 25:8, 9; 38:21
  64. Acts 7:44 : Ex 25:40
  65. Acts 7:45 : Deut 32:49; Josh 3:14ff; 18:1; 23:9; 24:18; Ps 44:2f
  66. Acts 7:46 : 2 Sam 7:8ff; Ps 132:1-5; Acts 13:22
  67. Acts 7:46 : 2 Sam 7:1-16; 1 Chr 17:1-14
  68. Acts 7:47 : 1 Kin 6:1-38; 8:20; 2 Chr 3:1-17
  69. Acts 7:48 : Luke 1:32
  70. Acts 7:49 : Is 66:1; Matt 5:34f
  71. Acts 7:50 : Is 66:2
  72. Acts 7:51 : Ex 32:9; 33:3, 5; Lev 26:41; Num 27:14; Is 63:10; Jer 6:10; 9:26
  73. Acts 7:52 : 2 Chr 36:15f; Matt 5:12; 23:31, 37
  74. Acts 7:52 : Acts 3:14; 22:14; 1 John 2:1
  75. Acts 7:52 : Acts 3:14; 5:28
  76. Acts 7:53 : Deut 33:2; Acts 7:38; Gal 3:19; Heb 2:2
  77. Acts 7:54 : Acts 5:33
  78. Acts 7:55 : Acts 2:4
  79. Acts 7:55 : John 11:41
  80. Acts 7:55 : Mark 16:19
  81. Acts 7:56 : John 1:51
  82. Acts 7:56 : Matt 8:20
  83. Acts 7:58 : Lev 24:14, 16; Luke 4:29
  84. Acts 7:58 : Deut 13:9f; 17:7; Acts 6:13
  85. Acts 7:58 : Acts 22:20
  86. Acts 7:58 : Acts 8:1; 22:20; 26:10
  87. Acts 7:59 : Acts 9:14, 21; 22:16; Rom 10:12-14; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Tim 2:22
  88. Acts 7:60 : Luke 22:41
  89. Acts 7:60 : Matt 5:44; Luke 23:34
  90. Acts 7:60 : Dan 12:2; Matt 27:52; John 11:11f; Acts 13:36; 1 Cor 15:6, 18, 20; 1 Thess 4:13ff; 2 Pet 3:4

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Acts 7 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

7 And the chief priest said, `Are then these things so?' 2 and he said, `Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken: The God of the glory did appear to our father Abraham, being in Mesopotamia, before his dwelling in Haran, 3 and He said to him, Go forth out of thy land, and out of thy kindred, and come to...
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Acts 7 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

7 And the prince of priests said to Stephen, Whether these things have them so? 2 Which said, Brethren and fathers [Which saith, Men, brethren, and fathers], hear ye. [The] God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before that he dwelt in Charran [before he dwelt in C...
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Acts 7 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

7 Then the high priest asked, `Is this true?' 2 Stephen replied, `Men, brothers and fathers, listen to me. When our father Abraham was in the country of Mesopotamia, before he lived in the country of Haran, the God who is great and wonderful came to him. 3 God said, "Leave your country and your fami...
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Acts 7 - World English Bible (WEB)

7 The high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will sho...
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Acts 7 - The Voice (VOICE)

7 High Priest: What do you have to say for yourself? Are these accusations accurate? Stephen: 2 Brothers, fathers, please listen to me. Our glorious God revealed Himself to our common ancestor Abraham, when he lived far away in Mesopotamia before he immigrated to Haran. 3 God gave him this command:...
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Acts 7 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

7 Then the kohen gadol said, “Are these things so?” 2 Stephen declared, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 3 He said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come here to the land that I wil...
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Acts 7 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Stephen’s Speech to the Council7 And the high priest said, “Is this so?” 2 And Stephen said:“Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopota′mia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Depart from your land and from your kindred and go...
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Acts 7 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Stephen’s Speech to the Council7 And the high priest said, “Is this so?” 2 And Stephen said:“Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopota′mia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Depart from your land and from your kindred and go...
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Acts 7 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

7 Then the High Priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “You men! Brothers and fathers! Listen! The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia (before he lived in Haran), 3 “and said to him, ‘Come out of our country, and from your kindred. And come into the la...
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Acts 7 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Stephen Tells the Story7 The high priest addressed Stephen.‘Are these things true?’ he said. 2 ‘My brothers and fathers,’ replied Stephen, ‘please give me a hearing.‘The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he moved to live in Haran. 3 “Leave your land and ...
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Acts 7 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Stephen’s Speech to the Council7 Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen replied:“Brothers[a] and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Leave your country and y...
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Acts 7 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Stephen’s Speech to the Council7 Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are these things so?’ 2 And Stephen replied:‘Brothers[a] and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, “Leave your country and y...
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Acts 7 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Stephen’s Speech to the Council7 Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen replied:“Brothers[a] and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,(A)3 and said to him, ‘Leave your country and y...
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Acts 7 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Stephen makes answer to his accusation, rebukes the hard-necked Jews, and is stoned to death. 7 Then the chief priest said, Is it really so? 2 And Stephen said, Men, brethren and fathers, hearken to: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in ...
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Acts 7 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Stephen Addresses the Council7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?” 2 This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran.[a] 3 God told him, ‘Leave your native land an...
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Acts 7 - New Life Version (NLV)

Stephen Speaks about the God of Abraham7 The head religious leader asked Stephen, “Are these things true?” 2 Stephen said, “My brothers and fathers, listen to me. The great God showed Himself to our early father Abraham while he lived in the country of Mesopotamia. This was before he moved to the c...
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Acts 7 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham7 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, (A)“Brethren and fathers, listen: The (B)God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in (C)Haran, 3 and said to him, (D)‘Get out of your country and f...
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