Acts 7:46-60 : Easy-to-Read Version
Stephen's Speech (cont.)
46God was very pleased with David. David asked God to let him build a house (temple*) for him, the God of Jacob. 47But Solomon (David's son) was the person who built the temple. 48"But the Most High (God) does not live in houses that men build with their hands. This is what the prophet* writes: 'The Lord says, Heaven is my throne. 49The earth is a place to rest my feet. What kind of house can you build for me? There is no place where I need to rest! 50Remember, I made all these things!'" Isaiah 66:1-2
51[Then Stephen said,] "You stubborn Jewish leaders! You have not given your hearts to God! You won't listen to him! You are always against what the Holy Spirit* is trying to tell you. Your fathers* did this, and you are just like them! 52Your fathers persecuted* every prophet* that ever lived. Those prophets said long ago that the Righteous One (Christ*) would come. But your fathers killed those prophets. And now you have turned against the Righteous One and killed him. 53You are the people that received the law [of Moses]. God gave you this law through his angels. But you don't obey this law!"
Stephen Is Killed
54The Jewish leaders heard Stephen say these things. They became very angry. The Jewish leaders were so mad that they were grinding their teeth at Stephen. 55But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.* Stephen looked up into the sky. He saw the Glory of God. He saw Jesus standing at God's right side. 56Stephen said, "Look! I see heaven open. And I see the Son of Man* standing at God's right side!" 57Then the Jewish leaders all shouted with a loud voice. They closed (covered) their ears with their hands. They all ran at Stephen together. 58They took him out of the city and threw rocks at him until he was dead. The men who told lies against Stephen gave their coats to a young man named Saul. 59Then they threw rocks at Stephen. But Stephen was praying. He said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60He fell on his knees and shouted, "Lord, don't blame them for this sin!" After Stephen said this, he died.
temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. prophet Isaiah, who spoke for God about 740-700 B.C. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. father(s) Important ancestors of the Jews; the leaders of the twelve Jewish family groups. persecuted To persecute is to hurt or do bad things to. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people.