Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9)
1 CPDV Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” BSB BSB: Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 CPDV And Stephen said: “Noble brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he stayed in Haran. 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 CPDV And God said to him, ‘Depart from your country and from your kindred, and go into the land that I will show to you.’ BSB BSB: and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4 CPDV Then he went away from the land of the Chaldeans, and he lived at Haran. And later, after his father was dead, God brought him into this land, in which 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 CPDV And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even the space of one step. But he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his offspring after him, though he did not have a son. 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 CPDV Then God told him that his offspring would be a settler in a foreign land, and that they would subjugate them, and treat them badly, for 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 CPDV ‘And the nation whom they will serve, I will judge,’ said the Lord. ‘And after these things, they shall depart and shall 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 CPDV And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so he conceived Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac conceived Jacob, and Jacob, 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 CPDV And the Patriarchs, being jealous, 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 CPDV And he rescued him from all his tribulations. And he gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And he appointed him as governor over Egypt and over 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 CPDV Then a famine occurred in all of Egypt and Canaan, and a great tribulation. And our fathers did not find food. BSB BSB: Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
12 CPDV But when Jacob had heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers first. BSB BSB: When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13 CPDV And on the second occasion, Joseph was recognized by his brothers, and his ancestry was made manifest to Pharaoh. BSB BSB: On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 CPDV Then Joseph sent for and brought his father Jacob, with all his kindred, seventy-five 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 CPDV And Jacob descended into Egypt, and he passed away, and so did our fathers. BSB BSB: So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16 CPDV And they crossed over into Shechem, and they were placed in the sepulcher which Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the son of Shechem. 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 CPDV And when the time of the Promise that God had revealed to Abraham drew near, the people increased and were 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 CPDV even until another king, who did not know Joseph, rose up in Egypt. BSB BSB: Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 CPDV This one, encompassing our kindred, afflicted our fathers, so that they would expose their infants, lest they be kept alive. 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 CPDV In the same time, Moses was born. And he was in the grace of God, and he was nourished for three months in the house of his father. 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 CPDV Then, having been abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh took him in, and she raised him as her own son. BSB BSB: When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
22 CPDV And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. And he was mighty in his words and in his 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 CPDV But when forty years of age were completed in him, it rose up in his heart that he should visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. BSB BSB: When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 CPDV And when he had seen a certain one suffering injury, he defended him. And striking the Egyptian, he wrought a retribution for him who was enduring the injury. 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 CPDV Now he supposed that his brothers would understand that God would grant them salvation through his hand. But they did not understand it. BSB BSB: He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
26 CPDV So truly, on the following day, he appeared before those who were arguing, and he would have reconciled them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. So why would you harm one 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 CPDV But he who was causing the injury to his neighbor rejected him, saying: ‘Who has appointed you as leader and 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 CPDV Could it be that you want to kill me, in the same way that you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ BSB BSB: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 CPDV Then, at this word, Moses fled. And he became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he produced 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 CPDV And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an Angel, 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 CPDV And upon seeing this, Moses was amazed at the sight. And as he drew near in order to gaze at it, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying: 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 CPDV ‘I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses, being made to tremble, did not dare to look. 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 CPDV But the Lord said to him: ‘Loosen the shoes from your feet. For the place in which 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 CPDV Certainly, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning. And so, I am coming down to free them. And now, go forth and 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 CPDV This Moses, whom they rejected by saying, ‘Who has appointed you as leader and judge?’ is the one God sent to be leader and redeemer, by the hand of the Angel who 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 CPDV This man led them out, accomplishing signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and at the Red Sea, and in the desert, for 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 CPDV This is he who was in the Church in the wilderness, with the Angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. It is he who received the words of life 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 CPDV It is he whom our fathers were not willing to obey. Instead, they rejected him, and in their hearts they turned away toward Egypt, BSB BSB: But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 CPDV saying to Aaron: ‘Make gods for us, which may go before us. For this Moses, who led us away from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to 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 CPDV And so they fashioned a calf in those days, and they offered sacrifices to an idol, and they 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 CPDV Then God turned, and he handed them over, to subservience to the armies of heaven, just as it was written in the Book of the Prophets: ‘Did you not offer victims and sacrifices to me for forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 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 CPDV And yet you took up for yourselves the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, figures which you yourselves formed in order to adore them. And so 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 CPDV The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the desert, just as God ordained for them, speaking to Moses, so that he would make it according to the form 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 CPDV But our fathers, receiving it, also brought it, with Joshua, into the land of the Gentiles, whom God expelled before the face of our fathers, even until 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 CPDV who found grace before God and who asked that he might obtain 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 CPDV But it was Solomon who built a house for him. BSB BSB: But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 CPDV Yet the Most High does not live in houses built by hands, just as he said through the prophet: BSB BSB: However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 CPDV ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house would you build for me? says the Lord. And which is my resting place? 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 CPDV Has not my hand made all these things?’ BSB BSB: Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 CPDV Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do. BSB BSB: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 CPDV Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him. 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 CPDV You received the law by the actions of Angels, and yet you have not kept it.” BSB BSB: you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
The Stoning of Stephen 54 CPDV Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him. BSB BSB: On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55 CPDV But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at 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.
57 CPDV Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him. BSB BSB: At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 CPDV And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called 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 CPDV And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” BSB BSB: While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 CPDV Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder. 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.