Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Court » Accused spoke in his own defense
Then Peter and the apostles answering said, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom ye had killed, suspending him on a tree. Him hath God exalted at his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins. read more.
And we are witnesses of these things; and the Holy Ghost also, which God hath given to those who obey him.
And we are witnesses of these things; and the Holy Ghost also, which God hath given to those who obey him.
So calling them in, they charged them not to speak in any manner, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John, answering them, said, If it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, be yourselves the judges. For we cannot refrain from speaking the things which we have seen and heard.
And the chief priests laid many accusations against him. Then Pilate again interrogated him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they testify against thee. But Jesus notwithstanding made not a word of reply; so that Pilate marvelled.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined relative to the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he was restored; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him doth this man stand here sound in your presence. read more.
This is the stone which, though set at nought by you builders, is become the head of the corner. And there is no salvation in any other person: for there is no other name under heaven given unto men, whereby we must be saved.
This is the stone which, though set at nought by you builders, is become the head of the corner. And there is no salvation in any other person: for there is no other name under heaven given unto men, whereby we must be saved.
THEN said the high-priest, Are these things so? He replied, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said to him, Go forth out of thy country, and from among thy relations, and come hither to a land which I will shew thee. read more.
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther. Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt." This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear." This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built an house for him. Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, "Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? hath not my hand made all these things?" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it. Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther. Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt." This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear." This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built an house for him. Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, "Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? hath not my hand made all these things?" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it. Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
THEN Paul, looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience unto God even to this day. Then the high-priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God is ready to smite thee, thou whited wall: for art thou sitting to judge me according to the law, and violating that law, commandest me to be smitten? read more.
Then they who stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high-priest? And Paul said, I had not observed, brethren, that he was high-priest: for it is written, "Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." Now when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried in the sanhedrim, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I brought to this bar. So when he had said this, a great dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
Then they who stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high-priest? And Paul said, I had not observed, brethren, that he was high-priest: for it is written, "Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." Now when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried in the sanhedrim, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I brought to this bar. So when he had said this, a great dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
Government » Mosaic » Constitutes, with priests and scribes, a court for the trial of both civil and ecclesiastical causes
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be slain, and after three days rise again.
Verse Concepts
NOW when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus how they might put him to death. And having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him, as he was teaching, demanding, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?
Verse Concepts
AND immediately the chief priests having held a council in the morning, with the elders, and scribes, and the whole sanhedrim, after binding Jesus, led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.
Verse Concepts
Then were the chief priests and scribes, and the elders of the people gathered together in the palace of the high-priest, called Caiaphas. And they consulted together, how they might seize Jesus by guile, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be a tumult among the people.
Then they who had apprehended Jesus, brought him to Caiaphas the high-priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled. But Peter followed him at a great distance unto the palace of the high-priest, and entering in, sat down with the servants, to see the issue. Now the chief priests and elders and the whole sanhedrim, sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; read more.
and found none: and though many false witnesses came, they found it not [sufficient]. But at the last two false witnesses stepping forth, said, This fellow said, I am able to pull down the temple of God, and to build it up in three days. And the high-priest rising up, said to him, Answerest thou nothing? what do these men witness against thee? But Jesus was silent. And the high-priest addressing him, said, I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou tell us, if thou art the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus saith to him, Thou hast spoken [the fact]. Moreover I tell you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his garments, saying, he hath blasphemed: what farther need have we of witnesses? lo! now ye have heard his blasphemy: what think ye? They answered and said, He is deserving of death. Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him about; and some slapt his face with their hands, saying, Prophesy to us, you Messiah, who it is that struck thee!
and found none: and though many false witnesses came, they found it not [sufficient]. But at the last two false witnesses stepping forth, said, This fellow said, I am able to pull down the temple of God, and to build it up in three days. And the high-priest rising up, said to him, Answerest thou nothing? what do these men witness against thee? But Jesus was silent. And the high-priest addressing him, said, I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou tell us, if thou art the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus saith to him, Thou hast spoken [the fact]. Moreover I tell you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his garments, saying, he hath blasphemed: what farther need have we of witnesses? lo! now ye have heard his blasphemy: what think ye? They answered and said, He is deserving of death. Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him about; and some slapt his face with their hands, saying, Prophesy to us, you Messiah, who it is that struck thee!
And immediately, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, and a great multitude with him, with swords and staves, from the chief priests, and scribes, and elders. Now he that betrayed him, had given them a countersign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, seize him, and lead him off safely. And coming, he immediately drew up to him and said, Rabbi, Rabbi, and kissed him. read more.
Then they laid their hands on him, and seized him. And one particular person of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus addressing them said, Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and staves, to apprehend me? Daily was I with you in the temple teaching, and ye laid no hold upon me: but [this is done] that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Then they all deserting him, fled. And a certain youth followed him, having a linen cloth wrapped round his naked body; and the young men laid hold of him; and leaving the linen cloth behind, he fled naked from them. And they led Jesus unto the high-priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes. And Peter followed him at a distance, until he came into the palace of the high-priest: and was seated with the servants, and warming himself at the fire. Then the chief priests, and the whole sanhedrim, sought for witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; yet found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their attestations did not correspond. And certain persons rising up, bore false witness against him, saying, We have heard him affirm, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and after three days I will build another not made with hands. But even then their testimony was not correspondent. So the high-priest rising up in the midst interrogated Jesus, Answerest thou nothing? What is it that these witness against thee? But he kept silence, and made them not a word of reply. Again the high-priest questioned him, and said to him, Art thou the Messiah, the Son of the blessed? Then said Jesus, I am. And ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his clothes, and said, What farther need have we of witnesses? Ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? And they all adjudged him to be deserving of death. And some began to spit upon him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, Prophesy: and the servants slapped him on the face with their hands.
Then they laid their hands on him, and seized him. And one particular person of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus addressing them said, Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and staves, to apprehend me? Daily was I with you in the temple teaching, and ye laid no hold upon me: but [this is done] that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Then they all deserting him, fled. And a certain youth followed him, having a linen cloth wrapped round his naked body; and the young men laid hold of him; and leaving the linen cloth behind, he fled naked from them. And they led Jesus unto the high-priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes. And Peter followed him at a distance, until he came into the palace of the high-priest: and was seated with the servants, and warming himself at the fire. Then the chief priests, and the whole sanhedrim, sought for witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; yet found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their attestations did not correspond. And certain persons rising up, bore false witness against him, saying, We have heard him affirm, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and after three days I will build another not made with hands. But even then their testimony was not correspondent. So the high-priest rising up in the midst interrogated Jesus, Answerest thou nothing? What is it that these witness against thee? But he kept silence, and made them not a word of reply. Again the high-priest questioned him, and said to him, Art thou the Messiah, the Son of the blessed? Then said Jesus, I am. And ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his clothes, and said, What farther need have we of witnesses? Ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? And they all adjudged him to be deserving of death. And some began to spit upon him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, Prophesy: and the servants slapped him on the face with their hands.
Then said Jesus to the chief priests and captains of the temple, and to the elders who were come forth against him, Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched out no hands upon me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then seizing upon him, they led him away, and brought him into the palace of the high-priest. But Peter followed at a distance. read more.
And as they had lighted a fire in the middle of the hall, and had seated themselves in a company, Peter sat down in the midst of them. But a certain maid-servant who sat at the fire, eyeing him, and looking at him stedfastly, said, This man was also with him. But he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another seeing him, said, Surely thou art one of them. Then said Peter, Man, I am not. And at about an hour's distance, another person strongly asserted, saying, Of a certainty this fellow was also with him: for he too is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And instantly, while he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord, turning round, looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, That before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter going without, wept bitterly. And the men who held Jesus insulted him, beating him with rods; and blindfolding him, smote him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is he that struck thee? And many other things, blaspheming, spake they against him. And when the day broke, the elders of the people and the chief priests and scribes assembled, and brought him into their sanhedrim, saying, If thou art the Messiah, tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I shall ask you any question, ye will neither answer me, nor let me go free. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit at the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Yourselves say that I am. Then they said, What further need have we of witness? for we have heard it from his own mouth.
And as they had lighted a fire in the middle of the hall, and had seated themselves in a company, Peter sat down in the midst of them. But a certain maid-servant who sat at the fire, eyeing him, and looking at him stedfastly, said, This man was also with him. But he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another seeing him, said, Surely thou art one of them. Then said Peter, Man, I am not. And at about an hour's distance, another person strongly asserted, saying, Of a certainty this fellow was also with him: for he too is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And instantly, while he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord, turning round, looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, That before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter going without, wept bitterly. And the men who held Jesus insulted him, beating him with rods; and blindfolding him, smote him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is he that struck thee? And many other things, blaspheming, spake they against him. And when the day broke, the elders of the people and the chief priests and scribes assembled, and brought him into their sanhedrim, saying, If thou art the Messiah, tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I shall ask you any question, ye will neither answer me, nor let me go free. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit at the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Yourselves say that I am. Then they said, What further need have we of witness? for we have heard it from his own mouth.
AND as they were thus speaking, the priests, and the captain of the temple-guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them, worn down with vexation, because they taught the people, and preached by Jesus the resurrection of the dead. And they laid hands on them, and committed them to prison till the next day: for it was then evening. read more.
But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Now it came to pass that the next morning, their rulers, and elders, and scribes, were assembled at Jerusalem, and Annas the high-priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were the high-priest's relations. And placing them in the midst, they interrogated them, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this thing? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined relative to the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he was restored; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him doth this man stand here sound in your presence. This is the stone which, though set at nought by you builders, is become the head of the corner. And there is no salvation in any other person: for there is no other name under heaven given unto men, whereby we must be saved. Attentively regarding then the noble confidence of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were men unlettered, and destitute of education, they were astonished; and they recollected them, that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had not a word to reply in contradiction. But bidding them retire out of the council-chamber, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do with these men? for that an acknowledged miracle hath been wrought by them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it be no farther spread among the people, we will menace them with threats, no more to speak in this name to any man. So calling them in, they charged them not to speak in any manner, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John, answering them, said, If it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, be yourselves the judges. For we cannot refrain from speaking the things which we have seen and heard. Then they with many additional threatenings dismissed them, finding no pretext how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for what had been done.
But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Now it came to pass that the next morning, their rulers, and elders, and scribes, were assembled at Jerusalem, and Annas the high-priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were the high-priest's relations. And placing them in the midst, they interrogated them, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this thing? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined relative to the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he was restored; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him doth this man stand here sound in your presence. This is the stone which, though set at nought by you builders, is become the head of the corner. And there is no salvation in any other person: for there is no other name under heaven given unto men, whereby we must be saved. Attentively regarding then the noble confidence of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were men unlettered, and destitute of education, they were astonished; and they recollected them, that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had not a word to reply in contradiction. But bidding them retire out of the council-chamber, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do with these men? for that an acknowledged miracle hath been wrought by them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it be no farther spread among the people, we will menace them with threats, no more to speak in this name to any man. So calling them in, they charged them not to speak in any manner, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John, answering them, said, If it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, be yourselves the judges. For we cannot refrain from speaking the things which we have seen and heard. Then they with many additional threatenings dismissed them, finding no pretext how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for what had been done.
Then rose up certain men of the synagogue of the freed-men, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they could not resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they suborned men to say, We heard him speak blasphemous things against Moses, and against God. read more.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him together, and dragged him to the sanhedrim; and they set up false witnesses, saying, This man doth not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him affirm, that Jesus the Nazarean, even he, will destroy this place, and change the accustomed ordinances which Moses delivered to us. And fixing their eyes upon him, all who sat in the sanhedrim, beheld his face as the face of an angel.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him together, and dragged him to the sanhedrim; and they set up false witnesses, saying, This man doth not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him affirm, that Jesus the Nazarean, even he, will destroy this place, and change the accustomed ordinances which Moses delivered to us. And fixing their eyes upon him, all who sat in the sanhedrim, beheld his face as the face of an angel.
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THEN said the high-priest, Are these things so? He replied, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said to him, Go forth out of thy country, and from among thy relations, and come hither to a land which I will shew thee. read more.
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther. Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt." This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear." This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built an house for him. Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, "Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? hath not my hand made all these things?" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it. Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. Then they screamed out with a great cry, and stopped their ears, and rushed all together upon him, and dragging him out of the city, stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, in the act of prayer, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther. Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt." This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear." This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built an house for him. Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, "Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? hath not my hand made all these things?" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it. Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. Then they screamed out with a great cry, and stopped their ears, and rushed all together upon him, and dragging him out of the city, stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, in the act of prayer, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!
Israel » Oppressed » Enslaved » Egyptians
until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: read more.
and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son.
and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son.
Select readings » Stephen's defense
THEN said the high-priest, Are these things so? He replied, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said to him, Go forth out of thy country, and from among thy relations, and come hither to a land which I will shew thee. read more.
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther. Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt." This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear." This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built an house for him. Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, "Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? hath not my hand made all these things?" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it. Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther. Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt." This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear." This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built an house for him. Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, "Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? hath not my hand made all these things?" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it. Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
Servant » Bond » Cruelty to » The israelites
Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt."
Verse Concepts
This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race.
Verse Concepts