Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9)
1 AKJV Then said the high priest, Are these things so? BSB BSB: Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 AKJV And he said, Men, brothers, and fathers, listen; The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelled in Charran, BSB BSB: And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3 AKJV And said to him, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and come into the land which I shall show you. BSB BSB: and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4 AKJV Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelled in Charran: and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell. BSB BSB: So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.
5 AKJV And he gave him none 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 seed after him, when as yet he had no child. BSB BSB: He 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, even though he did not yet have a child.
6 AKJV And God spoke on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. BSB BSB: God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
7 AKJV And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. BSB BSB: ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’
8 AKJV And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham was the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac was the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of the twelve patriarchs. BSB BSB: Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
Joseph Sold into Egypt (Genesis 37:12–30)
9 AKJV And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, BSB BSB: Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
10 AKJV And delivered him out of 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. BSB BSB: and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
11 AKJV Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. BSB BSB: Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
12 AKJV But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. BSB BSB: When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13 AKJV And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers; and Joseph’s kindred was made known to Pharaoh. BSB BSB: On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 AKJV Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, three score and fifteen souls. BSB BSB: Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.
Israel Oppressed in Egypt (Exodus 1:8–22)
15 AKJV So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, BSB BSB: So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.
17 AKJV But when the time of the promise drew near, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, BSB BSB: As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
18 AKJV Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. BSB BSB: Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 AKJV The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. BSB BSB: He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
The Birth and Adoption of Moses (Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 11:23–29)
20 AKJV In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: BSB BSB: At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.
21 AKJV And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. BSB BSB: When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
22 AKJV And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. BSB BSB: So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
The Rejection and Flight of Moses (Exodus 2:11–22)
23 AKJV And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers the children of Israel. BSB BSB: When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 AKJV And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: BSB BSB: And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.
25 AKJV For he supposed his brothers would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. BSB BSB: He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
26 AKJV And the next day he showed himself to them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, you are brothers; why do you wrong one to another? BSB BSB: 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 AKJV But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? BSB BSB: But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
28 AKJV Will you kill me, as you did the Egyptian yesterday? BSB BSB: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 AKJV Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he was the father of two sons. BSB BSB: At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
The Call of Moses (Exodus 3:1–22)
30 AKJV And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. BSB BSB: After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
31 AKJV 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, BSB BSB: When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:
32 AKJV Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and dared not behold. BSB BSB: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
33 AKJV Then said the Lord to him, Put off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is holy ground. BSB BSB: Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34 AKJV I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you into Egypt. BSB BSB: I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’
35 AKJV This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. BSB BSB: This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 AKJV He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. BSB BSB: He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
38 AKJV This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give to us: BSB BSB: He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
The Rebellion of Israel (Exodus 32:1–35; Deuteronomy 9:7–29; Amos 5:16–27)
39 AKJV To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, BSB BSB: But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 AKJV Saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. BSB BSB: They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’
41 AKJV And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. BSB BSB: At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
42 AKJV Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? BSB BSB: But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 AKJV Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. BSB BSB: You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
The Tabernacle of the Testimony (Exodus 40:1–33; Hebrews 9:1–10)
44 AKJV Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. BSB BSB: Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
45 AKJV 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; BSB BSB: And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,
46 AKJV Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. BSB BSB: who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
47 AKJV But Solomon built him an house. BSB BSB: But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 AKJV However, the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, BSB BSB: However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 AKJV Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? says the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? BSB BSB: ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?
50 AKJV Has not my hand made all these things? BSB BSB: Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 AKJV You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you. BSB BSB: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 AKJV Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: BSB BSB: Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
53 AKJV Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. BSB BSB: you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
The Stoning of Stephen 54 AKJV When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. BSB BSB: On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55 AKJV But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, BSB BSB: But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 AKJV And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. BSB BSB: “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 AKJV Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran on him with one accord, BSB BSB: At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: 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.
59 AKJV And they stoned Stephen, calling on God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. BSB BSB: While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
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