Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham
(Genesis 12:1–9)

1Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

2And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers {pateres}, listen to me! The God {Theos} of glory {doxēs} appeared to our father Abraham (father of many) while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran (hill), 3and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you <Gen 12:1>.’a 4So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran (hill). After his father {patera} died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you⁺ are now living.

5He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants (seed), even though he did not yet have a child. 6God {Theos} told him that his descendants (seed) would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 7‘But I will punish the nation {ethnos} that enslaves them,’ God {Theos} said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place <Gen 15:13–14>.’b

8Then God gave Abraham the covenant {diathēkēn} of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac (he will laugh) and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob (he grasps the heel), and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Joseph Sold into Egypt
(Genesis 37:12–30)

9Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph (he will add), they sold him as a slave into Egypt (land of bondage). But God {Theos} was with him 10and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt (land of bondage), who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

11Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt (land of bondage) and Canaan (low), and our fathers {pateres} could not find food. 12When Jacob (he grasps the heel) heard that there was grain in Egypt (land of bondage), he sent our fathers {pateras} on their first visit. 13On their second visit, Joseph (he will add) revealed his identity to (Joseph was made known to)c his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph (he will add) sent for his father {patera} Jacob (he grasps the heel) and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.

Israel Oppressed in Egypt
(Exodus 1:8–22)

15So Jacob (he grasps the heel) went down to Egypt (land of bondage), where he and our fathers {pateres} died. 16Their bones were carried back \And they were carried back/d to Shechem (shoulder) and placed in the tomb that Abraham (father of many) had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

17As the time drew near for God {Theos} to fulfill His promise to Abraham (father of many), our people in Egypt (land of bondage) increased greatly in number. 18Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph (he will add), arose over Egypt (land of bondage). 19He exploited our people and oppressed (afflicted) our fathers {pateras}, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

The Birth and Adoption of Moses
(Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 11:23–29)

20At that time Moses (drawn out) was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God (he was of great status in God’s eyes).e For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house. 21When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses (drawn out) was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (double straits) and was powerful in speech and action.

The Rejection and Flight of Moses
(Exodus 2:11–22)

23When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel (He wrestles with God). 24And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian (double straits) who was oppressing him. 25He assumed his brothers would understand that God {Theos} was using him to deliver them, but they did not.

26The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you⁺ are brothers. Why are you⁺ mistreating each other?’

27But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian (double straits) yesterday <Exo 2:13–14>?’f 29At this remark, Moses (drawn out) fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.

The Call of Moses
(Exodus 3:1–22)

30After forty years had passed, an angel (messenger) appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31When Moses (drawn out) saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord {Kyriou} came to him: 32‘I am the God {Theos} of your fathers {paterōn}, the God of Abraham (father of many), Isaac (he will laugh), and Jacob <Exo 3:6>.’g Moses (drawn out) trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

33Then the Lord {Kyrios} said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy (set apart) ground. 34I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt (land of bondage). I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt <Exo 3:5–10>.’h

35This Moses (drawn out), whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge <Exo 2:14>?’i is the one whom God {Theos} sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel (Angel)j who appeared to him in the bush. 36He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt (land of bondage), at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness (solitary place).

37This is the same Moses (drawn out) who told the Israelites, ‘God {Theos} will raise up for you⁺ a prophet like me from among your⁺ brothers <Deu 18:15>.’k 38He was in the assembly {ekklēsia} in the wilderness (solitary place) with the angel (messenger) who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers {paterōn}. And he received living words to pass on to us [to you].l

The Rebellion of Israel
(Exodus 32:1–35; Deuteronomy 9:7–29; Amos 5:16–27)

39But our fathers {pateres} refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt (land of bondage). 40They said to Aaron (exalted), ‘Make us gods {theous} who will go before us! As for this Moses (drawn out) who led us out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage), we do not know what has happened to him <Exo 32:1>.’m

41At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works (acts) of their hands. 42But God {Theos} turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book (papyrus roll) of the prophets:

‘Did you⁺ bring Me sacrifices and offerings

forty years in the wilderness (solitary place), O house of Israel (He wrestles with God)?

43You⁺ have taken along the tabernacle of Molech

and the star of your⁺ god {theou} Rephan,

the idols you⁺ made to worship.

Therefore I will send you⁺ into exile

beyond Babylon <Amo 5:25–27>.’n

The Tabernacle of the Testimony
(Exodus 40:1–33; Hebrews 9:1–10)

44Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness (solitary place). It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses (drawn out), according to the pattern he had seen. 45And our fathers {pateres} who received it brought it in with Joshua (YHWH saves) when they dispossessed the nations {ethnōn} God {Theos} drove out before them. It remained until the time of David (beloved), 46who found favor in the sight of God {Theou} and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God {Theō} of Jacob [a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.].o 47But it was Solomon (peace) who built the house for Him.

48However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

49‘Heaven is My throne

and the earth is My footstool.

What kind of house will you⁺ build for Me, says the Lord {Kyrios},

or where will My place of repose be?

50Has not My hand made all these things <Isa 66:1–2>?’p

51You⁺ stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You⁺ always resist the Holy Spirit {Hagiō Pneumati}, just as your⁺ fathers did. 52Which of the prophets did your⁺ fathers {pateres} fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you⁺ are His betrayers and murderers— 53you who received the law ordained by angels (messengers), yet have not kept it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged \On hearing these things, they were cut in their hearts/,q and they gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit {Hagiou Pneumatos}, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory {doxan} of God {Theou} and Jesus (YHWH saves) standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look (Behold),” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God {Theou}.”

57At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him. 58They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul (asked for).

59While they were stoning him, Stephen (that which surrounds) appealed, “Lord {Kyrie} Jesus (YHWH saves), receive my spirit {pneuma}.” 60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord {Kyrie}, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.