ACT 7:44-53

The Tabernacle of the Testimony

44Our fathers had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. [7:45] Our fathers received it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers, until the days of David. [7:46] David found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [7:47] But Solomon built him a house. [7:48] Yet the Most High does not dwell in what is hand-made, as the prophet says: [7:49] 'Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool of my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? [7:50] Did not my hand make all these things?' [7:51] Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears — you are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. [7:52] Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become — [7:53] you who received the law as ordinances delivered by angels and did not keep it.

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 7:44-53, Stephen addresses a Jewish audience deeply rooted in Second-Temple Judaism, emphasizing the continuity and discontinuity of God’s presence among His people. The tabernacle, constructed under Moses’ leadership, symbolized God’s dwelling with Israel during their wilderness journey. Its portable nature reflected God’s guidance and provision. Later, Solomon built the temple, a permanent structure, which became the central locus of Jewish worship and identity. Stephen critiques the temple’s perceived permanence, echoing prophetic traditions that God does not dwell in man-made structures (Isaiah 66:1-2). The term ('made by hands') underscores this critique, contrasting human efforts with divine transcendence. Stephen’s reference to Israel’s history, including Joshua and David, highlights their faithfulness in contrast to the current generation’s resistance, labeled as ('stiff-necked'). This term, drawn from the Septuagint, accuses them of rejecting God’s prophets, culminating in the betrayal and murder of the Righteous One. Stephen’s speech challenges the temple-centric theology of his audience, redirecting focus to God’s sovereign presence beyond physical confines.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ACT 7:44

KJV: Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
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.
Koinōnos: Our fathers had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.

ACT 7:45

KJV: Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
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,
Koinōnos: Our fathers received it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers, until the days of David.

ACT 7:46

KJV: Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
BSB: who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
Koinōnos: David found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

ACT 7:47

KJV: But Solomon built him an house.
BSB: But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
Koinōnos: But Solomon built him a house.

ACT 7:48

KJV: Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
BSB: However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Koinōnos: Yet the Most High does not dwell in what is hand-made, as the prophet says:

ACT 7:49

KJV: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
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?
Koinōnos: Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool of my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?

ACT 7:50

KJV: Hath not my hand made all these things?
BSB: Has not My hand made all these things?’
Koinōnos: Did not my hand make all these things?

ACT 7:51

KJV: Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
BSB: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Koinōnos: Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears — you are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

ACT 7:52

KJV: Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
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—
Koinōnos: Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become —

ACT 7:53

KJV: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
BSB: you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
Koinōnos: you who received the law as ordinances delivered by angels and did not keep it.

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

Translator's notes

ACT 7:45

Joshua:The name translated 'Joshua' is the same name as 'Jesus' in Greek. The early readers would have recognized this connection, highlighting Joshua as a type of Christ.

ACT 7:48

hand-made:The word translated 'hand-made' emphasizes something constructed by human effort, in contrast to something natural or divinely created. It carries a sense of human limitation.

ACT 7:51

Stiff-necked:The term 'stiff-necked' was a common idiom in the ancient world, referring to stubbornness and resistance to authority, like an ox refusing to be led.
uncircumcised:To be 'uncircumcised' here is not just a physical description but a metaphor for being spiritually unrepentant and resistant to God's covenant, even for those who were physically circumcised.