Stephen's Speech
1 The high priest asked Stephen, “Are they telling the truth about you?”
2 Stephen answered:
Friends, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he had moved to Haran. 3 God told him, “Leave your country and your relatives and go to a land that I will show you.” 4 Then Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran.
After his father died, Abraham came and settled in this land where you now live. 5 God didn't give him any part of it, not even a square meter. But God did promise to give it to him and his family forever, even though Abraham didn't have any children. 6 God said Abraham's descendants would live for a while in a foreign land. There they would be slaves and would be mistreated 400 years. 7 But he also said, “I will punish the nation that makes them slaves. Then later they will come and worship me in this place.”
8 God said to Abraham, “Every son in each family must be circumcised to show you have kept your agreement with me.” So when Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. Later, Isaac circumcised his son Jacob, and Jacob circumcised his twelve sons. 9 These men were our ancestors.
Joseph was also one of our famous ancestors. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him as a slave to be taken to Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. God made him so wise that the Egyptian king Pharaoh thought highly of him. The king even made Joseph governor over Egypt and put him in charge of everything he owned.
11 Everywhere in Egypt and Canaan the grain crops failed. There was terrible suffering, and our ancestors could not find enough to eat. 12 But when Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there for the first time. 13 It was on their second trip that Joseph told his brothers who he was, and the king learned about Joseph's family.
14 Joseph sent for his father and his relatives. In all, there were 75 of them. 15 His father went to Egypt and died there, just as our ancestors did. 16 Later their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor.
17 Finally, the time came for God to do what he had promised Abraham. By then the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 18 Another king was ruling Egypt, and he didn't know anything about Joseph. 19 He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them. He even made them leave their babies outside, so they would die.
20 During this time Moses was born. He was a very beautiful child, and for three months his parents took care of him in their home. 21 Then when they were forced to leave him outside, the king's daughter found him and raised him as her own son. 22 Moses was given the best education in Egypt. He was a strong man and a powerful speaker.
23 When Moses was 40 years old, he wanted to help the Israelites because they were his own people. 24 One day he saw an Egyptian mistreating one of them. So he rescued the man and killed the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought the rest of his people would realize God was going to use him to set them free. But they didn't understand.
26 The next day Moses saw two of his own people fighting, and he tried to make them stop. He said, “Men, you are both Israelites. Why are you so cruel to each other?”
27 But the man who had started the fight pushed Moses aside and asked, “Who made you our ruler and judge? 28 Are you going to kill me, just as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” 29 When Moses heard this, he ran away to live in the country of Midian. His two sons were born there.
30 Forty years later, an angel appeared to Moses from a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 Moses was surprised by what he saw. He went closer to get a better look, and the Lord said, 32 “I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses started shaking all over and didn't dare to look at the bush.
33 The Lord said to him, “Take off your sandals, because the place where you are standing is holy. 34 With my own eyes I have seen the suffering of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now I am sending you back to Egypt.”
35 This was the same Moses that the people rejected by saying, “Who made you our leader and judge?” God's angel had spoken to Moses from the bush. And God had even sent the angel to help Moses rescue the people and be their leader.
36 In Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the desert, Moses rescued the people by working miracles and wonders for 40 years. 37 Moses is the one who told the people of Israel, “God will choose one of your people to be a prophet, just as he chose me.” 38 Moses brought our people together in the desert, and the angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. There he was given these life-giving words to pass on to us. 39 But our ancestors refused to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt.
40 The people said to Aaron, “Make some gods to lead us! Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don't know what's happened to him now.” 41 Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf. They offered sacrifices to the idol and were pleased with what they had done.
42 God turned his back on his people and left them. Then they worshiped the stars in the sky, just as it says in the Book of the Prophets, “People of Israel, you didn't offer sacrifices and offerings to me during those 40 years in the desert. 43 Instead, you carried the tent where the god Molech is worshiped, and you took along the star of your god Rephan. You made those idols and worshiped them. So now I will have you carried off beyond Babylonia.”
44 The tent where our ancestors worshiped God was with them in the desert. This was the same tent that God had commanded Moses to make. And it was made like the model that Moses had seen. 45 Later it was given to our ancestors, and they took it with them when they went with Joshua. They carried the tent along as they took over the land from those people that God had chased out for them. Our ancestors used this tent until the time of King David. 46 He pleased God and asked him if he could build a house of worship for the people of Israel. 47 And it was finally King Solomon who built a house for God.
48 But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,
49 “Heaven is my throne,
and the earth
is my footstool.
What kind of house
will you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
50 I have made everything.”
51 You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. 52 Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn't mistreat? They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the One Who Obeys God. And now you have turned against him and killed him. 53 Angels gave you God's Law, but you still don't obey it.
Stephen Is Stoned to Death
54 When the council members heard Stephen's speech, they were angry and furious. 55 But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. 56 Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”
57 The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen 58 and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” 60 He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don't blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.
1 Augstais priesteris jautāja: „Vai tas tā ir?“
2 Bet viņš atbildēja: „Brāļi un tēvi, klausaities. Dievs savā godībā parādījās mūsu tēvam Ābrahāmam, kad viņš bija Mezopotamijā, pirms viņš apmetās uz dzīvi Chāranā,
3 Un sacīja viņam: Aizej no savas zemes un saviem radiem un ej uz zemi, ko es tev rādīšu.
4 Tad viņš, aizgājis no chaldiešu zemes, apmetās Chāranā; un vēlāk, kad viņa tēvs bija miris, Dievs viņu no turienes pārveda uz šo zemi, kur jūs tagad dzīvojat,
5 Un nedeva viņam tur nekādu mantojuma tiesu, pat ne pēdas platumā, un tomēr solīja to dot par īpašumu viņam un viņa pēcnācējiem, kad viņam bērnu vēl nebija.
6 Bet Dievs tā runāja: Tavi pēcnācēji būs piedzīvotāji svešā zemē, un tos verdzinās un vārdzinās četri simti gadu;
7 Bet to tautu, kam viņi vergos, es sodīšu, sacīja Dievs, un pēc tam tie aizies un kalpos man šinī vietā.
8 Un viņš tam deva apgraizīšanas derību; tad Ābrahāms dzemdināja īzāku un to apgraizīja astotajā dienā, un īzāks Jēkabu, un Jēkabs divpadsmit ciltstēvus.
9 Ciltstēvi apskauda Jāzepu un pārdeva to uz Ēģipti; bet Dievs bija ar viņu
10 Un to izglāba no visām viņa bēdām un deva viņam žēlastību un gudrību faraona, Ēģiptes ķēniņa, priekšā, un tas viņu iecēla par Ēģiptes zemes un visa sava nama pārvaldnieku.
11 Bet nāca bads un lielas bēdas pār visu Ēģipti un Kānaānu, un mūsu tēvi neatrada pārtikas.
12 Jēkabs dzirdējis, ka Ēģiptē ir labība, izsūtīja mūsu tēvus pirmoreiz.
13 Bet otrreiz Jāzeps atklāja sevi brāļiem, un Jāzepa radi faraonam kļuva zināmi.
14 Tad Jāzeps lika ataicināt savu tēvu Jēkabu un visus savus radus, septiņdesmit piecas dvēseles.
15 Jēkabs aizgāja uz Ēģipti, viņš un mūsu tēvi nomira,
16 Un tika pārvesti uz Sichemu un guldīti kapā, ko Ābrahāms, sudrabā maksādams, bija nopircis no Emmora bērniem Sichemā.
17 Bet kad tuvojās apsolījuma laiks, ko Dievs Ābrahāmam bija devis, tad tauta Ēģiptē auga un vairojās,
18 Tiekāms Ēģiptē sāka valdīt cits ķēniņš, kas par Jāzepu neko nezināja.
19 Tas mūsu tautu pievīla un mūsu tēviem darīja ļaunu, tā ka viņiem savi zīdaiņi bija jāizliek, lai tie nepaliktu dzīvi.
20 Tanī laikā Mozus piedzima un bija Dievam patīkams; un trīs mēnešus viņš auga sava tēva namā;
21 Un kad tas bija izlikts, faraona meita to pieņēma un audzināja sev pašai par dēlu.
22 Mozu mācīja visās ēģiptiešu gudrī-bās, viņš bija varens vārdos un darbos.
23 Kad viņš bija četrdesmit gadus vecs, viņam ienāca prātā apmeklēt savus brāļus, Israēla bērnus.
24 Un redzēdams kādu netaisni ciešam, viņš aizstāvēja un atrieba to, kam pāri darīja, nosizdams ēģiptieti.
25 Viņš domāja, ka viņa brāļi sapratīs, ka Dievs ar viņa roku tos izglābj; bet viņi to nesaprata.
26 Nākošajā dienā viņš pie tiem pienāca, kad tie ķildojās, un tos skubināja uz mieru, sacīgams: Vīri, jūs esat brāļi kāpēc jūs viens otram darāt pāri?
27 Bet tas, kas savam tuvākam darīja pāri, viņu atgrūda, sacīdams: Kas tevi iecēlis mums par valdnieku un tiesnesi?
28 Vai tu mani arī gribi nonāvēt, tāpat kā tu vakar nonāvēji ēģiptieti?
29 Šo vārdu dēļ Mozus bēga un piemita Midiana zemē, tur viņš dzem-dināja divi dēlus.
30 Kad četrdesmit gadu bija pagājis, Sinaja kalna tuksnesī viņam parādījās eņģelis degoša ērkšķu krūma liesmā.
31 To redzēdams, Mozus brīnījās par šo parādību; un kad viņš piegāja to aplūkot, tā Kunga balss atskanēja:
32 Es esmu tavu tēvu Dievs, Ābra-hāma, īzāka un Jēkaba Dievs. Mozus izbijās un neuzdrošinājās to uzlūkot.
33 Bet tas Kungs viņam sacīja: Noauj kurpes no savām kājām, jo tā vieta, kur tu stāvi, ir svēta zeme!
34 Es tiešām esmu redzējis savu ļaužu grūtības Ēģiptē, es esmu dzirdējis viņu nopūtas un nolaidies, lai tos glābtu; tagad nāc, es tevi sūtīšu uz Ēģipti.
35 Šo Mozu, ko tie aizliedza, sacīdami: Kas tevi iecēlis par valdnieku un soģi, Dievs ir sūtījis kā vadom un atbrīvotāju ar eņģeļa roku, kas viņam bija parādījies ērkšķu krūmā.
36 Tas viņus izveda, darīdams brīnumus un zīmes Ēģiptē, Sarkanajā jūpa un tuksnesī četrdesmit gadus.
37 Šis ir tas Mozus, kas Israēla bērniem sacījis: Dievs jums no jūsu brāļu vidus cels pravieti, tāpat kā mani.
38 Viņš bija draudzes vidū tuksnesī ar eņģeli, kas uz viņu runāja Sinaja kalnā, un bija ar mūsu tēviem, un saņēma dzīvus vārdus, lai dotu tos mums.
39 Tam mūsu tēvi negribēja paklausīt, bet viņu atstūma un savās sirdīs atgriezās Ēģiptē,
40 Sacīdami Aronam: Darini mums dievus, lai tie mūs vada; jo mēs nezinām, kas noticis šim Mozum, kurš mūs izveda no Ēģiptes.
41 Un viņi darināja tanīs dienās teļu, nesa elkam upupus un priecājās par savu roku darbu.
42 Bet Dievs novērsās un nodeva tos kalpot debess pulkiem, kā rakstīts praviešu grāmatā: Vai tu, Israēla nams, šinīs četrdesmit gados tuksnesi man esi atnesis dzīvnieku un citus upurus?
43 Jūs esat nesuši Molocha telti un sava dieva Romfana zvaigzni, attēlus, ko jūs esat darinājuši, lai viņus pielūgtu; un es jūs pārcelšu viņpus Bābeles.
44 Mūsu tēviem bija tuksnesī liecības telts, kā tas, kas ar Mozu runājis, bija pavēlējis, lai viņš to celtu pēc redzētā parauga.
45 To pārņēmuši, mūsu tēvi ar Jozuu ari ienesa to pagānu zemē, ko Dievs izdzina mūsu tēvu acu priekšā līdz Dāvida dienām;
46 Tas iemantoja Dieva žēlastību un lūdza, kaut viņš atļautu viņam gādāt svētnīcu Jēkaba Dievam.
47 Salamans uzcēla viņam namu.
48 Bet Visaugstākais nedzīvo rokām darinātos namos, kā pravietis saka:
49 Debess ir mans goda krēsls, un zeme manu kāju pamesls; kādu namu jūs man uztaisīsit, saka tas Kungs, vai kur ir mana dusas vieta?
50 Vai mana roka nav to visu darinājusi?
51 Jūs, stūrgalvji, ar nešķīstām sirdīm un nedzirdīgām ausīm, jūs vienmēr pretojaties Svētajam Garam, kā jūsu tēvi, tā ari jūs.
52 Kupu no praviešiem jūsu tēvi nav vajājuši? Viņi nonāvējuši tos, kas iepriekš sludinājusi Taisnā nākšanu, kūja nodevēji un slepkavas jūs tagad esat kļuvuši,
53 Jūs, kas bauslību no eņģeļu rokām esat dabūjuši un neesat sargājuši.“
54 Šie vārdi iedzēla viņiem sirdī, un viņi grieza zobus pret to.
55 Bet viņš, Svēta Gara pilns, skatījās uz debesīm un redzēja Dieva godību un Jēzu stāvam pie Dieva labās rokas
56 Un sacīja: „Lūk, es redzu debesis atvērtas un Cilvēka dēlu stāvam pie Dieva labās rokas.“
57 Bet tie, skaļā balsī brēkdami, aizsedza savas ausis un visi kopā viņam uzbruka
58 Un, izgrūduši no pilsētas ārā, nomētāja akmeņiem. Un liecinieki savas drēbes nolika pie kāda jaunekļa kājām, kam vārdā bija Sauls.
59 Tie nomētāja akmeņiem Stefanu, kas sauca un sacīja: „Kungs Jēzu, pieņem manu garu.“
60 Un, ceļos nometies, viņš sauca skaļā balsī: „Kungs, nepielīdzini tiem šo grēku!“ To sacījis, viņš aizmiga.
