Acts 7:40-60 ▼

40 "make us gods, said they to Aaron, to be our guides: for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him."

41 'twas then they made a calf, and offered sacrifice to the idol, triumphing in the works of their own hands.

42 then God left them, and abandon'd them to the worship of the celestial army; as it is written in the book of the prophets, "O ye house of Israel, is it to me that ye have offered victims, and sacrifices, for the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 on the contrary, ye carried the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: wherefore I will transport you beyond Babylon."

44 our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, ordering Moses to make it according to the model that he had seen.

45 which our fathers and Joshua having receiv'd, they carry'd it into the territory of those nations whom God drove out upon their arrival: where it staid to the time of David, who was favoured by God,

46 and desired to have a settled tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 it was Solomon however that built him a temple.

48 altho' the most high does not dwell in temples made with hands; as the prophet said, "heaven is my throne,

49 and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 hath not my hand made all these things?"

51 stubborn people, whose hearts and ears like the uncircumcised, are always averse to the holy spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? have they not slain those who predicted the coming of that just person whom you have so lately betrayed and murder'd?

53 you, I say, who received the law by the administration of angels, but have not however observ'd it.

54 When they heard these things, they were transported with rage, and gnashed their teeth against him.

55 but he, full of the holy spirit, fix'd his eyes towards heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

56 and he said, there I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 then they broke out into a loud cry, and stopping their ears, fell upon him all at once.

58 then they dragg'd him out of the city, and stoned him: the false witnesses having laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 Thus they stoned Stephen, while he was calling upon God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

60 and on his knees he cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." and having said this, he expired.