1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said to him, Depart from thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. 4 Then he came from the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran. And from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land in which ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him no 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 offspring after him, when [as yet] he had no child. 6 And God spoke on this wise, That his offspring should sojourn in a foreign land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat [them] ill four hundred years. 7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that they shall come forth, and serve me in this place. 8 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. 9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt, and all his house. 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second [time] Joseph was made known to his brethren: and Joseph's kindred was made known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent, and called his father Jacob to [him] , and all his kindred, seventy five souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor [the father] of Sychem. 17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king arose, who knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and ill-treated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished in his father's house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him] , and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren to understand that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 And the next day he showed himself to them as they were contending, and would have constrained them to be at peace again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren: why do ye wrong one to another? 27 But he that did his neighbor wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then Moses fled at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. 30 And when forty years had 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 When Moses saw [it] , he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to behold [it] , the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 [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 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 seen, I have seen the affliction of my people who are 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 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 who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, A prophet will the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like me; him will ye hear. 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the living oracles to give to us: 39 Whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust [him] from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 Saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for [as for] this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 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 [during] forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yes, 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. 44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 45 Which also our fathers, that came after, brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David; 46 Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 Yet, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven [is] my throne, and earth [is] my footstool: What house will ye build for me? saith the Lord: or what [is] the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things? 51 Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers [did] , so [do] ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them who showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers; 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept [it] . 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 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 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God] , and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 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.
Acts · Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
Acts 7 Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Stephen
One of the seven chosen to serve tables, full of faith and the Holy Spirit; he was stoned after his speech to the Sanhedrin and became the first martyr.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5; Acts 7:59; Acts 8:2
Cross references (59)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 18:19–21; Matthew 26:61–62; Mark 14:58–60; John 18:33–35; Acts 6:13–14
- 2 Acts 22:1; Genesis 11:31; Psalm 29:3; Nehemiah 9:7; Hebrews 1:3
- 3 Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 15:7; Joshua 24:3; Luke 14:33
- 4 Genesis 12:4–5; Genesis 11:31–32; Isaiah 41:9; Isaiah 41:2
- 5 Genesis 17:8; Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 26:3
- 6 Genesis 15:13; Exodus 12:40–41; Galatians 3:17; Genesis 15:16
- 7 Exodus 3:12; Psalm 105:27–36; Exodus 7:1–14; Psalm 135:8–9; Genesis 15:14–16
- 8 Genesis 17:9–14; Genesis 35:23–26; Acts 2:29; Galatians 3:15; Galatians 3:17
- 9 Genesis 39:2; Psalm 105:17; Isaiah 43:2; Genesis 45:4; Isaiah 41:10
- 10 2 Timothy 4:18; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 2:6; Genesis 48:16; Psalm 22:24
- 11 Genesis 41:54–57; Genesis 42:5; Genesis 47:13–15; Psalm 105:16; Genesis 45:11
- 12 Genesis 42:1–24; Genesis 43:2
- 13 Genesis 45:1–18; Genesis 46:31–47:10
- 14 Genesis 46:26–27; Deuteronomy 10:22; Exodus 1:5; Genesis 45:9–11; 1 Chronicles 2:5–6
- 15 Genesis 49:33; Exodus 1:6; Genesis 46:3–7; Deuteronomy 10:22; Joshua 24:4
- 16 Joshua 24:32; Genesis 23:16; Exodus 13:19; Genesis 34:2–31; Genesis 50:13
- 17 Exodus 1:7–12; Psalm 105:24–25; Acts 7:6; Genesis 15:13–16; Acts 13:17
- 18 Exodus 1:8
- 19 Psalm 105:25; Exodus 1:9–22; Revelation 12:4–5; Psalm 83:4–5; Psalm 129:1–3
- 20 Hebrews 11:23; Exodus 2:2–10; 1 Samuel 16:12
- 21 Hebrews 11:24; Exodus 2:2–10; Deuteronomy 32:26
- 22 Isaiah 19:11; Luke 24:19; 2 Chronicles 9:22; Daniel 1:17–20; Daniel 1:4
- 23 Exodus 2:11–12; Philippians 2:12–13; Proverbs 21:1; Hebrews 11:24–26; Revelation 17:17
- 24 John 18:10–11; Acts 7:28; John 18:25–27
- 25 Luke 9:45; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Luke 18:34; Acts 14:27
- 26 Exodus 2:13–15; 1 John 3:11–15; Psalm 133:1; John 15:17–18; Genesis 13:8
- 27 Luke 12:14; Acts 7:35; Proverbs 9:7–8; Acts 4:11–12; 1 Samuel 25:14–15
- 29 Exodus 18:2–4; Exodus 2:14–22; Exodus 4:19–20
- 30 Exodus 3:1–2; Acts 7:35; Isaiah 43:2; Isaiah 63:9; Exodus 3:6
- 31 Exodus 3:3–4
- 32 Exodus 3:6; Matthew 22:32; Job 37:1–2; Hebrews 11:16; Matthew 17:6
- 33 Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15; Ecclesiastes 5:1; 2 Peter 1:18
- 34 Exodus 3:7–10; Psalm 106:44; Exodus 4:31; Nehemiah 9:9; Exodus 3:14
- 35 Psalm 118:22–23; Luke 19:14; Psalm 75:7; Psalm 113:7–8; Numbers 20:16
- 36 Exodus 12:41; Exodus 14:21; Exodus 33:1; Psalm 78:12–33; Exodus 16:35
- 37 Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Acts 3:22–23; John 18:37; Matthew 17:3–5; Acts 7:38
- 38 Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; John 1:17; 1 Peter 4:11; Deuteronomy 33:4
- 39 Numbers 14:3–4; Numbers 11:5; Nehemiah 9:16–17; Acts 7:51–52; Ezekiel 20:6–14
- 40 Exodus 32:1; Exodus 32:23
- 41 Psalm 106:19–21; Nehemiah 9:18; Revelation 9:20; Hosea 9:10; Habakkuk 2:18–20
- 42 Amos 5:25–26; Ezekiel 20:39; Jeremiah 19:13; Psalm 81:11–12; Job 31:26–28
- 43 Amos 5:26–27; Exodus 20:4–5; Deuteronomy 5:8–9; Leviticus 20:2–5; 2 Kings 17:16–18
- 44 Exodus 25:40; Exodus 38:21; Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 8:2; Exodus 26:30
- 45 Psalm 44:2; Joshua 24:18; Joshua 18:1; Joshua 23:9; Judges 18:31
- 46 Psalm 132:1–5; Acts 13:22; 2 Samuel 7:1–5; 1 Samuel 16:11–13; 1 Samuel 16:1
- 47 1 Kings 8:20; 2 Samuel 7:13; 1 Kings 6:37–38; 1 Kings 7:13–51; 2 Chronicles 3:1
- 48 Acts 17:24–25; Isaiah 66:1–2; 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:5–6; 2 Chronicles 6:18
- 49 Isaiah 66:1; Psalm 11:4; John 4:21; Matthew 5:34–35; Revelation 3:21
- 50 Jeremiah 32:17; Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 33:6–9; Isaiah 45:12; Exodus 20:11
- 51 Deuteronomy 10:16; Isaiah 63:10; Jeremiah 4:4; Ephesians 4:30; Leviticus 26:41
- 52 Matthew 5:12; 1 Kings 19:10; 2 Chronicles 36:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Jeremiah 2:30
- 53 Hebrews 2:2; Galatians 3:19; Acts 7:38; John 7:19; Deuteronomy 33:2
- 54 Acts 5:33; Psalm 35:16; Matthew 25:30; Job 16:9; Luke 13:28
- 55 Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Psalms 109:31–110:1; Acts 6:8
- 56 Matthew 26:64–65; Acts 10:11; Revelation 11:19; Matthew 3:16; Revelation 19:11
- 57 Zechariah 7:11; Psalm 58:4; Acts 23:27; Acts 7:54; Proverbs 21:13
- 58 Acts 22:20; Acts 8:1; Leviticus 24:14–16; Acts 6:13; Acts 22:4
- 59 Luke 23:46; Psalm 31:5; Acts 22:16; Joel 2:32; Acts 9:14
- 60 Matthew 5:44; Luke 23:34; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Romans 12:14–21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
See, what a number of years the Promise has been given, and the manner of the Promise, and nowhere sacrifice, nowhere circumcision! He here shows, how God Himself suffered them to be afflicted, not that He had anything to lay to their charge. "And they shall bring them into bondage," etc. But nevertheless, they did not these things with impunity.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so [Abraham] begat Isaac." And the rest of his words announce the same God, who was with Joseph and with the patriarchs, and who spake with Moses.
And so it has pleased Divine Providence, as I have said, and as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, that the law enjoining the worship of one God should be given by the disposition of angels.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
And from many other things too one might perceive, that it is not possible for a disembodied soul to remain here. For both Stephen saith, "Receive my spirit;" and Paul, "To depart and to be with Christ is far better;" and of the patriarch too the Scripture saith, that "he was gathered unto his fathers, being cherished in a good …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Moses then, the prophet, saith, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me: but let that "like unto me" be reserved awhile to be examined in its proper place.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)