Stephen's Speech
1 The High Priest asked Stephen, “Is this true?”
2 Stephen answered, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! Before our ancestor Abraham had gone to live in Haran, the God of glory appeared to him in Mesopotamia 3 and said to him, ‘Leave your family and country and go to the land that I will show you.’ 4 And so he left his country and went to live in Haran. After Abraham's father died, God made him move to this land where you now live. 5 God did not then give Abraham any part of it as his own, not even a square foot of ground, but God promised to give it to him, and that it would belong to him and to his descendants. At the time God made this promise, Abraham had no children. 6 This is what God said to him: ‘Your descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be slaves and will be badly treated for four hundred years. 7 But I will pass judgment on the people that they will serve, and afterward your descendants will come out of that country and will worship me in this place.’ 8 Then God gave to Abraham the ceremony of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. So Abraham circumcised Isaac a week after he was born; Isaac circumcised his son Jacob, and Jacob circumcised his twelve sons, the famous ancestors of our race.
9 “Jacob's sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him 10 and brought him safely through all his troubles. When Joseph appeared before the king of Egypt, God gave him a pleasing manner and wisdom, and the king made Joseph governor over the country and the royal household. 11 Then there was a famine all over Egypt and Canaan, which caused much suffering. Our ancestors could not find any food, 12 and when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons, our ancestors, on their first visit there. 13 On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and the king of Egypt came to know about Joseph's family. 14 So Joseph sent a message to his father Jacob, telling him and the whole family, seventy-five people in all, to come to Egypt. 15 Then Jacob went to Egypt, where he and his sons died. 16 Their bodies were taken to Shechem, where they were buried in the grave which Abraham had bought from the clan of Hamor for a sum of money.
17 “When the time drew near for God to keep the promise he had made to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had grown much larger. 18 At last a king who did not know about Joseph began to rule in Egypt. 19 He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them, forcing them to put their babies out of their homes, so that they would die. 20 It was at this time that Moses was born, a very beautiful child. He was cared for at home for three months, 21 and when he was put out of his home, the king's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 He was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man in words and deeds.
23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to find out how his fellow Israelites were being treated. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his help and took revenge on the Egyptian by killing him. ( 25 He thought that his own people would understand that God was going to use him to set them free, but they did not understand.) 26 The next day he saw two Israelites fighting, and he tried to make peace between them. ‘Listen, men,’ he said, ‘you are fellow Israelites; why are you fighting like this?’ 27 But the one who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?’ he asked. 28 ‘Do you want to kill me, just as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 When Moses heard this, he fled from Egypt and went to live in the land of Midian. There he had two sons.
30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 Moses was amazed by what he saw, and went near the bush to get a better look. But he heard the Lord's voice: 32 ‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and dared not look. 33 The Lord said to him, ‘Take your sandals off, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have seen the cruel suffering of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans, and I have come down to set them free. Come now; I will send you to Egypt.’
35 “Moses is the one who was rejected by the people of Israel. ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?’ they asked. He is the one whom God sent to rule the people and set them free with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush. 36 He led the people out of Egypt, performing miracles and wonders in Egypt and at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert. 37 Moses is the one who said to the people of Israel, ‘God will send you a prophet, just as he sent me, and he will be one of your own people.’ 38 He is the one who was with the people of Israel assembled in the desert; he was there with our ancestors and with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and he received God's living messages to pass on to us.
39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him; they pushed him aside and wished that they could go back to Egypt. 40 So they said to Aaron, ‘Make us some gods who will lead us. We do not know what has happened to that man Moses, who brought us out of Egypt.’ 41 It was then that they made an idol in the shape of a bull, offered sacrifice to it, and had a feast in honor of what they themselves had made. 42 So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the stars of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
‘People of Israel! It was not to me
that you slaughtered and sacrificed animals
for forty years in the desert.
43 It was the tent of the god Molech that you carried,
and the image of Rephan, your star god;
they were idols that you had made to worship.
And so I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
44 “Our ancestors had the Tent of God's presence with them in the desert. It had been made as God had told Moses to make it, according to the pattern that Moses had been shown. 45 Later on, our ancestors who received the tent from their fathers carried it with them when they went with Joshua and took over the land from the nations that God drove out as they advanced. And it stayed there until the time of David. 46 He won God's favor and asked God to allow him to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built him a house.
48 “But the Most High God does not live in houses built by human hands; as the prophet says,
49 ‘Heaven is my throne, says the Lord,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house would you build for me?
Where is the place for me to live in?
50 Did not I myself make all these things?’
51 “How stubborn you are!” Stephen went on to say. “How heathen your hearts, how deaf you are to God's message! You are just like your ancestors: you too have always resisted the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there any prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God's messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous Servant. And now you have betrayed and murdered him. 53 You are the ones who received God's law, that was handed down by angels—yet you have not obeyed it!”
The Stoning of Stephen
54 As the members of the Council listened to Stephen, they became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God. 56 “Look!” he said. “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”
57 With a loud cry the Council members covered their ears with their hands. Then they all rushed at him at once, 58 threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses left their cloaks in the care of a young man named Saul. 59 They kept on stoning Stephen as he called out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!” He said this and 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.
