Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9)
1 UEB The high priest said, "Are these things true?" BSB BSB: Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 UEB Stephen said, "Brothers and fathers, listen to me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived 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 UEB he said to him, 'Leave your land and your relatives, and go into the land that I will show you.' BSB BSB: and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4 UEB Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran; from there, after his father died, God brought him into this land, where you live now. 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 UEB He gave none of it as an inheritance to him, no, not even enough to set a foot on. But he promised—even though Abraham had no child yet—that he would give the land as a possession to him and to his descendants after him. 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 UEB God was speaking to him like this, that his descendants would live for a while in a foreign land, and that the inhabitants there would bring them into slavery 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 UEB 'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they will come out and worship 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 UEB Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob 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 UEB Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him 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 UEB and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who had made him governor over Egypt and over all his household. 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 UEB Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our fathers could find no food. BSB BSB: Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
12 UEB But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first trip. BSB BSB: When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13 UEB On their second trip Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. BSB BSB: On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 UEB Joseph sent his brothers back to tell Jacob his father to come to Egypt, along with all his relatives, seventy-five persons in all. 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 UEB So Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers. BSB BSB: So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16 UEB They were carried over to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in 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 UEB As the time of the promise approached, the promise that God had made 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 UEB until there arose another king over Egypt, a king who did not know about Joseph. BSB BSB: Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 UEB He deceived our people and forced our fathers to expose their newborn infants so they would not 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 UEB At that time Moses was born; he was very beautiful before God and was nourished for three months in his father's house. 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 UEB When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and 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 UEB Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and works. 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 UEB But when he was about 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 UEB Seeing an Israelite being mistreated, Moses defended him and avenged him who was oppressed by striking 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 UEB he thought that his brothers would understand that God by his hand was rescuing them, but they did not understand. BSB BSB: He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
26 UEB On the next day he came to some Israelites as they were quarreling; he tried to put them at peace with each other; he said, 'Men, you are brothers; why are you hurting 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 UEB But the one who had wronged his neighbor pushed him away, and said, '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 UEB Would you like to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' BSB BSB: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 UEB Moses ran away after hearing this; he became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became 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 UEB When forty years were past, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, 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 UEB When Moses saw the fire, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look at it, there came a voice of the Lord, 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 UEB 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.' Moses trembled and 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 UEB The Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing 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 UEB I have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them; now come, I will send you to 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 UEB This Moses whom they rejected, when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'—he was the one whom God sent as both a ruler and deliverer. God sent him by the hand of the angel who appeared to Moses 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 UEB Moses led them out of Egypt, after doing miracles and signs in Egypt and at the Sea of Reeds, and in the wilderness during 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 UEB This is the man who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. This is the man who was with our fathers; this is the man who received living words 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 UEB This is the man whom our fathers refused to obey; they pushed him away from themselves, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt. BSB BSB: But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 UEB At that time they said to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will lead us. As for this Moses, who led us out of 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 UEB So they made a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced because of the work of their 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 UEB But God turned and gave them up to worship the stars in the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, 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 UEB You accepted the tabernacle of Molech and the star of the god Rephan, and the images that 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 UEB Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as God commanded when he spoke to Moses, that he should make it like the pattern 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 UEB Later, our fathers, under Joshua, received the tabernacle and brought it with them when they took possession of the land. God took the land from the nations and drove them out before the face of our fathers. The tabernacle remained in the land until the time 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 UEB who found favor in the sight of God, and he asked if he might find a dwelling place 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 UEB But it was Solomon who built the house for God. BSB BSB: But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 UEB However, the Most High does not live in houses made with hands, as the prophet says, BSB BSB: However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 UEB 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house can you build for me? says the Lord, or what is the place for 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 UEB Did my hand not make all these things?' BSB BSB: Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 UEB You people who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; you act just as your fathers acted. BSB BSB: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 UEB Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed the prophets who appeared in advance of the coming of the Righteous One; and you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him also, 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 UEB you people who received the law that angels had established, but you did not keep it." BSB BSB: you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
The Stoning of Stephen 54 UEB Now when the council members heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they ground their teeth at Stephen. BSB BSB: On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55 UEB But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up intently into heaven and saw the glory of God; and he saw Jesus 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.
56 UEB Stephen said, "Look, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at 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 UEB At this the council members covered their ears, and shouting out with a loud voice, altogether they rushed at him. BSB BSB: At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 UEB They dragged him out of the city where they began to stone him, and the witnesses laid down their outer clothing at the feet of a young man named 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 UEB As they were stoning Stephen, he was calling out to the Lord and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." BSB BSB: While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 UEB He knelt down and called out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." 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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