ACT 7:1-8

Stephenʼs Address: The Call of Abraham

1The high priest said, "Are these things so?"

2Stephen said, "Men, brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

3and said to him, 'Depart from your land and from your kindred, and come into the land that I will show you.'

4Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God moved him into this land where you now dwell.

5And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a pace of ground — yet he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his offspring after him, even though he had no child.

6God spoke to this effect: that his offspring would be sojourners in a foreign land, and they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.

7'And the nation to which they are enslaved I will judge,' said God, 'and after these things they will come out and worship me in this place.'

8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered the twelve patriarchs."

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 7:1-8, Stephen recounts the call of Abraham, a foundational narrative for Jewish identity. For first-century Jewish listeners, Abraham’s story was not merely historical but theological, affirming their covenantal relationship with God. Stephen’s emphasis on God’s appearance to Abraham in Mesopotamia would evoke the Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God’s presence, familiar from Temple worship and Exodus narratives. The command to leave his homeland resonated with Jewish diaspora communities, who saw themselves as sojourners in foreign lands, awaiting fulfillment of God’s promises. The mention of Abraham’s inheritance of land underscored the covenantal promise of territory, a contentious issue under Roman occupation. Stephen’s audience, steeped in Second Temple Judaism, would also recognize the phrase 'serve Me' as invoking Temple worship, linking Abraham’s obedience to their own religious obligations. This framing positioned Abraham as a model of faithfulness amidst displacement, a theme relevant to Jews living under Roman rule.

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How other translations render this

ACT 7:1

KJV: Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
BSB: Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
Koinōnos: The high priest said, "Are these things so?

ACT 7:2

KJV: And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
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,
Koinōnos: Stephen said, "Men, brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

ACT 7:3

KJV: And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
BSB: and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
Koinōnos: and said to him, 'Depart from your land and from your kindred, and come into the land that I will show you.

ACT 7:4

KJV: Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
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.
Koinōnos: Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God moved him into this land where you now dwell.

ACT 7:5

KJV: 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: 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.
Koinōnos: And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a pace of ground — yet he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his offspring after him, even though he had no child.

ACT 7:6

KJV: And God spake 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: God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
Koinōnos: God spoke to this effect: that his offspring would be sojourners in a foreign land, and they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.

ACT 7:7

KJV: 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: ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’
Koinōnos: And the nation to which they are enslaved I will judge,' said God, 'and after these things they will come out and worship me in this place.

ACT 7:8

KJV: 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: 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.
Koinōnos: And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered the twelve patriarchs.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 7:2

of glory:The word translated 'glory' here often referred to the visible manifestation of God's presence and majesty, a radiant display of his power and holiness.

ACT 7:5

[the] length:The term used here for 'length' literally referred to a step or a pace, implying a very small, measured amount of ground, emphasizing the limited possession.

ACT 7:6

a sojourner:The word translated 'a sojourner' describes someone living in a foreign land without full citizenship rights, often temporarily, highlighting their outsider status.

ACT 7:7

they will serve:The word translated 'they will serve' carried the sense of religious service or worship, often involving ritual acts, not just general labor or servitude.