Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9)
1 WBS Then said the high priest, Are these things so? BSB BSB: Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 WBS And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt 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 WBS And said to him, Depart from thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. BSB BSB: and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4 WBS Then he came from the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran. And from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land in which ye 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 WBS And he gave him no 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 offspring 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 WBS And God spoke on this wise, That his offspring should sojourn in a foreign land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill 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 WBS And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that they shall 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 WBS And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat 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 WBS 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 WBS And delivered him from 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 WBS Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, 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 WBS 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 WBS And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren: 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 WBS Then Joseph sent, and called his father Jacob to him , and 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS But when the time of the promise drew nigh, 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 WBS Till another king arose, who knew not Joseph. BSB BSB: Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 WBS The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and ill-treated 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 WBS In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. BSB BSB: When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 WBS 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 WBS For he supposed his brethren to understand 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 WBS And the next day he showed himself to them as they were contending, and would have constrained them to be at peace again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren: why do ye 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 WBS But he that did his neighbor wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee 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 WBS Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? BSB BSB: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 WBS Then Moses fled at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat 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 WBS And when forty years had 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 WBS 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 WBS Saying , I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst 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 WBS Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest 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 WBS I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee 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 WBS This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer 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 WBS He brought them out, after 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 WBS This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the living 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 WBS 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 WBS Saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, who 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 WBS 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 WBS Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices during 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 WBS Yes, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your God Remphan, figures which ye 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 WBS Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS But Solomon built him a house. BSB BSB: But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 WBS Yet, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, BSB BSB: However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 WBS Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: What house will ye build for me? saith 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 WBS Hath not my hand made all these things? BSB BSB: Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 WBS Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did , so do ye. BSB BSB: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 WBS Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them who showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, 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 WBS 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 WBS Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, BSB BSB: At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 WBS 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 WBS And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God , and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. BSB BSB: While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 WBS 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.