Acts 7

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

The high priest asked, with a hint of disbelief and curiosity in his voice, "Is this really true?"

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,

He pleaded, "Listen, my brothers and fathers! Our glorious God revealed Himself to our ancestor Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Charran."

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

He gently told him, "Leave your homeland, your family, and journey to the land I will reveal to you."

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.

He left his homeland, the Chaldean territory, and settled in Charran. After his father's death, he moved to the land you now call home.

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.

Though he was given no land to even place his foot upon, he was assured that he and his future children, whom he didn't have yet, would one day own it.

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.

God emotionally declared that His people would live as strangers in a foreign land, where they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred long years.

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.

God promised, "I will hold accountable the nation that enslaves them. After their liberation, they will worship me here with devotion and gratitude."

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.

God made a sacred promise with Abraham, symbolized by circumcision. From Abraham came Isaac, who was circumcised on his eighth day, following the divine pact. Isaac then fathered Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

Overcome by jealousy, the forefathers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Yet, God never left his side.

And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

He was freed from all his troubles, and was blessed with wisdom and favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. This led to him becoming the ruler of Egypt and his entire household.

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

A severe famine swept across Egypt and Canaan, causing immense suffering. Our ancestors struggled, unable to find food.

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

When Jacob discovered there was grain in Egypt, he eagerly sent our forefathers ahead.

And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

On their second meeting, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers. His family lineage was also disclosed to Pharaoh.

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

Joseph, filled with longing, summoned his father Jacob and his entire family of seventy-five, his heart brimming with anticipation.

So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

Jacob journeyed to Egypt, where he and our ancestors breathed their last, leaving us in sorrow.

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

They were gently taken to Sychem, and peacefully laid to rest in the tomb that Abraham, with a heavy heart, had purchased from Emmor's sons, the patriarchs of Sychem.

But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

As God's promise to Abraham neared fulfillment, the people flourished and multiplied abundantly in Egypt, their hearts filled with anticipation and hope.

Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

Then came a new king, oblivious to who Joseph was.

The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

They cunningly betrayed our family, treating our ancestors cruelly, forcing them to abandon their innocent children, intending to end their lives.

In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:

During the era when Moses was born, he was extraordinarily beautiful. He was lovingly cared for in his father's home for three months.

And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

When he was set outside to die, Pharaoh's daughter took him in, lovingly raising him as her own son.

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

Moses, well-versed in Egyptian wisdom, was powerful in speech and action.

And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

When he reached the milestone age of forty, a deep longing stirred within him to reconnect with his Israeli brothers and sisters.

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

Witnessing one of them in pain, he stood up for him. He sought justice for the oppressed, striking down the Egyptian.

For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

He thought his brothers would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they just didn't get it.

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

The following day, he appeared before them as they argued, trying to reconcile them. He said, "Gentlemen, you're brothers; why are you hurting each other?"

But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

But the one who wronged his friend pushed him aside, questioning, "Who appointed you as our leader and judge?"

Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

Are you going to kill me, like you killed the Egyptian yesterday?

Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

Overwhelmed by fear, Moses fled, finding himself a foreigner in the land of Madian. There, he became a father to two sons.

And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

After four long decades, in the solitude of Mount Sinai's wilderness, he was awestruck by the sight of an angel from God, brilliantly appearing within a fiery bush.

When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the LORD came unto him,

Moses was awestruck by the sight before him. As he moved closer, curiosity piqued, he heard the deep, resonant voice of the Lord calling out to him.

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.

"I am the divine guide of your ancestors, the sacred protector of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Hearing this, Moses was overcome with awe and fear, unable to meet the gaze.

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

The Lord gently told him, "Remove your shoes, for you're standing on sacred ground."

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

I've witnessed the suffering of my people in Egypt, their cries of pain have reached me. I'm here to free them. Now, I'm sending you to Egypt.

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 which appeared to him in the bush.

The very Moses they rejected, questioning his authority to lead, was the one God chose. God appointed him as their leader and savior, guided by an angel who revealed itself in the burning bush.

He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

After showcasing miracles in Egypt, the Red Sea, and the wilderness for forty years, He led them out with awe and wonder.

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

This is about Moses, who told the people of Israel, "God will bring forth a prophet from among your own, just like me. Listen to him."

This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

This is the one who was with the assembly of God's people in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He was entrusted with living words from God to share with us.

To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

Our ancestors refused to listen, pushing away guidance, their hearts yearning for their past life in Egypt.

Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

They pleaded with Aaron, "Create gods for us to follow! Moses, who led us out of Egypt, has disappeared and we don't know what's happened to him."

And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

In those times, they crafted a calf idol, joyfully offering it sacrifices, taking pride in their own creation.

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 by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

So God turned away from them and gave them over to worshipping the stars of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets: "People of Israel, did you really offer me sacrifices and slaughtered animals for forty years in the desert?"

Yea, 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.

Indeed, you embraced the shrine of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, idols crafted by your own hands for worship. But know this, I will exile you far beyond Babylon.

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.

Our ancestors carried a sacred tent in the desert, as instructed by God. He told Moses to build it just as he had envisioned.

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;

Our ancestors who received the sacred tent brought it with them under Joshua when they took the land of the nations God drove out before them, and it stayed until the time of David.

Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

He who was cherished by God, yearned to create a sacred home for the God of Jacob.

But Solomon built him an house.

With great passion and dedication, Solomon constructed a home for Him.

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

The Almighty doesn't reside in man-made temples, as the prophet declared:

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?

The Lord declares, "The sky is my royal seat, and the earth, a place for my feet. What home could you possibly build for me? Where could I possibly rest?"

Hath not my hand made all these things?

Didn't my own hands create everything you see?

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

You stubborn and closed-minded people, you constantly oppose the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.

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:

Didn't your ancestors torment every prophet? They even killed those who predicted the arrival of the Righteous One. And now, you've betrayed and murdered Him.

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Those who were given God's laws through angelic guidance, yet failed to uphold them.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

Upon hearing his words, they were furious, and they ground their teeth at him in rage.

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Overflowing with the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into the heavens, witnessing the radiant majesty of God and seeing Jesus at God's right hand.

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

With awe, he exclaimed, "Look, I see heaven open, and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!"

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

In a unified surge of emotion, they screamed loudly, covered their ears, and rushed towards him.

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.

They expelled him from the city, pelting him with stones. The witnesses, in a solemn act, placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

In a heart-wrenching moment, Stephen was pelted with stones. As he endured the pain, he cried out to God, pleading, "Lord Jesus, welcome my soul."

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.

He fell to his knees, his voice echoing with a heartfelt plea, "Lord, don't blame them for this sin." Having spoken, he fell asleep in death.