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6 God {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 8 Then 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. 9 Because 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 10 and 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. 11 Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt (land of bondage) and Canaan (low), and our fathers {pateres} could not find food. 12 When Jacob (he grasps the heel) heard that there was grain in Egypt (land of bondage), he sent our fathers {pateras} on their first visit. 13 On their second visit, Joseph (he will add) revealed his identity to (Joseph was made known to) his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph (he will add) sent for his father {patera} Jacob (he grasps the heel) and all his relatives, seventy-five in all. 15 So Jacob (he grasps the heel) went down to Egypt (land of bondage), where he and our fathers {pateres} died. 16 Their bones were carried back \And they were carried back/ 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. 17 As 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. 18 Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph (he will add), arose over Egypt (land of bondage). 19 He exploited our people and oppressed (afflicted) our fathers {pateras}, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. 20 At 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). For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house. 21 When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 So Moses (drawn out) was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (double straits) and was powerful in speech and action. 23 When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel (He wrestles with God). 24 And 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. 25 He assumed his brothers would understand that God {Theos} was using him to deliver them, but they did not. 26 The 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? 27 But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian (double straits) yesterday 29 At this remark, Moses (drawn out) fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons. 30 After forty years had passed, an angel (messenger) appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When 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 33 Then the Lord {Kyrios} said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy (set apart) ground. 34 I 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 35 This Moses (drawn out), whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge 36 He 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). 37 This 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 38 He 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]. 39 But our fathers {pateres} refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt (land of bondage). 40 They 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 41 At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works (acts) of their hands. 42 But 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)? 43 You⁺ 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 44 Our 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. 45 And 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), 46 who 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.]. 47 But it was Solomon (peace) who built the house for Him. 48 However, 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? 50 Has not My hand made all these things 51 You⁺ stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You⁺ always resist the Holy Spirit {Hagiō Pneumati}, just as your⁺ fathers did. 52 Which 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— 53 you who received the law ordained by angels (messengers), yet have not kept it. 54 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged \On hearing these things, they were cut in their hearts/, and they gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But 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}. 57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him. 58 They 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). 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen (that which surrounds) appealed, “Lord {Kyrie} Jesus (YHWH saves), receive my spirit {pneuma}. 60 Falling 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. Acts 7:6-60, Berean Annotated Bible. Public domain.
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