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.
1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2 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, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 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. 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him , and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 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. 17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 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. 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him , and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 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? 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. 30 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. 31 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, 32 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. 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 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. 35 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. 36 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.
37 ¶ 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. 38 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: 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 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. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 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? 43 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. 44 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. 45 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; 46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him an house. 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 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? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
51 ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did , so do ye. 52 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: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 ¶ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 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, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 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. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God , and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 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.
