Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9)
1 ULT Then the high priest said,“Are these things thus?” BSB BSB: Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 ULT Then he said,“Men, brothers and fathers, listen to me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, even 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 ULT and he said to him,‘Go out from your land and from your relatives, and come 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 ULT Then going out from the land of the Chaldeans, he lived in Haran. And from there, after the death of his father, he brought him into this land, in which 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 ULT But he did not give him an inheritance in it— not even a footstep. But he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him— although he did not have a 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 ULT But God spoke to him like this, that his seed would be a stranger in a foreign land, and that they would enslave him and treat him badly for 400 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 ULT ‘But I will judge the nation that will enslave him,’ said God,‘and after that they will come out 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 ULT And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac, Jacob; and Jacob, the 12 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 ULT And the patriarchs, envying Joseph, 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 ULT and he rescued him from all his afflictions, and he gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he appointed him governor over Egypt and 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 ULT Then came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and 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 ULT But having heard there was grain in Egypt, Jacob sent our fathers first. BSB BSB: When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13 ULT And during the second{ time}, Joseph was made known to his brothers, and the family of Joseph 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 ULT Then, sending them back, Joseph summoned Jacob, his father, and all{ his} relatives, in souls 75. 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 ULT So Jacob went down to Egypt, and he and our fathers died, BSB BSB: So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16 ULT And they were carried over to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham 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 ULT And as the time of the promise that God had sworn to Abraham approached, the people increased 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 ULT until another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. BSB BSB: Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 ULT He, exploiting our people, mistreated{ our} fathers, to make their babies exposed, in order not to keep them 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 ULT At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. He was raised 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 ULT But when he was exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up and raised him for herself as a son. BSB BSB: When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
22 ULT And 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 ULT But when a 40- year time was filled to him, it came up on his heart to 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 ULT And seeing a certain one being mistreated, he defended him and made vengeance for the one being oppressed, 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 ULT and he was thinking{ his} brothers would understand that God was giving salvation to them by his hand, 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 ULT And on the next day he appeared to them as they were quarreling, and he urged them to peace, saying,‘Men, you are brothers. Why is it that you are hurting each other?’ 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 ULT But the one injuring{ his} neighbor pushed him away, saying,‘Who appointed 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 ULT You do not want to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ BSB BSB: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 ULT Then Moses ran away at this word, and he became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he fathered 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 ULT And 40 years having been filled, 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 ULT And Moses, seeing it, admired the sight; and as he approached to look, the voice of the Lord came: 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 ULT ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.’ And Moses, becoming terrified, 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 ULT And the Lord said to him,‘Untie the sandal of your feet, for the place on which 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 ULT I have certainly seen the oppression of my people who{ are} in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. And now come, let me 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 ULT This Moses, whom they rejected, saying,‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?’— this one God sent as both a ruler and a redeemer with 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 ULT This one led them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness during 40 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 ULT This is the one having been in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel{ who was} speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, 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 ULT to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient; instead, they pushed him away and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, BSB BSB: But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 ULT saying to Aaron,‘Make for us gods who will go ahead of us. For this Moses, who brought us 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 ULT So they made an image of a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol and rejoiced in the works 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 ULT But God turned away and abandoned them to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets,‘You did not offer slain beasts and offerings to me for 40 years in the wilderness, did you, 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 ULT And you took up the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan— the images that you made to worship them— and I will remove you 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 ULT The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one speaking to Moses had commanded, to make it according to 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 ULT which also our fathers, having received it in turn, brought in with Joshua in the possessing of the nations that God drove out from the face of our fathers, 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 ULT who found favor before God, and he asked to find a dwelling for the house 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 ULT However, Solomon built the house for him. BSB BSB: But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 ULT But 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 ULT ‘Heaven{ is} my throne, and the earth{ is} the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will 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 ULT Did my hand not make all these things?’ BSB BSB: Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 ULT O stiff- necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers, also you. BSB BSB: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 ULT Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed the ones foretelling about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become, 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 ULT who received the law by directions of angels, but did not keep it.” BSB BSB: you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
The Stoning of Stephen 54 ULT Now hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts, and they ground{ their} teeth at him. BSB BSB: On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55 ULT But being full of the Holy Spirit, looking intently into heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right 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 ULT And he said,“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right of God.” BSB BSB: “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 ULT But shouting with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him unanimously. BSB BSB: At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 ULT And throwing him outside the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid aside their outer garments 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 ULT And they were stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying,“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” BSB BSB: While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 ULT But having put down{ his} knees, he cried out with a loud voice,“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And having 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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