44
"Our fathershad1the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Mosesdirected him to make it 2according to the patternwhich he had seen.
45
"And having received it in their turn, our fathers3brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nationswhomGoddrove out before* our fathers, until the time of David.
46
"4David foundfavor in God'ssight, and 5asked that he might find a dwellingplace for the God of Jacob.
47
"But it was 6Solomon who built a house for Him.
48
"However, 7the MostHigh does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophetsays:
49
'8HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHATKIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord, 'ORWHATPLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50
'9WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADEALLTHESETHINGS?'
51
"You men who are 10stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are alwaysresisting the HolySpirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
52
"11Whichone of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killedthose who had previouslyannounced the coming of 12the RighteousOne, whosebetrayers and murderers13you have nowbecome;
53
you whoreceived the law as 14ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it."
Stephen Put to Death
54Now when they heardthis, they were 15cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.
55
But being16full of the HolySpirit, he 17gazedintently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesusstanding18at the righthand of God;
56
and he said, "Behold, I see the 19heavensopened up and 20the Son of Manstanding at the righthand of God."
57
But they cried out with a loudvoice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with oneimpulse.
58
When they had 21driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and 22the witnesses23laidaside their robes at the feet of 24a youngmannamedSaul.
59
They went on stoningStephen as he 25called on the Lord and said, "LordJesus, receive my spirit!"
60
Then26falling on his knees, he cried out with a loudvoice, "Lord, 27do not holdthissin against them!" Having saidthis, he 28fellasleep.