1 E disse o sumo sacerdote: Porventura é isto assim?
2 E ele disse: Homens, irmãos, e pais, ouvi. O Deus da glória apareceu a nosso pai Abraão, estando na mesopotâmia, antes de habitar em Harã,
3 E disse-lhe: Sai da tua terra e dentre a tua parentela, e dirige-te à terra que eu te mostrar.
4 Então saiu da terra dos caldeus, e habitou em Harã. E dali, depois que seu pai faleceu, Deus o trouxe para esta terra em que habitais agora.
5 E não lhe deu nela herança, nem ainda o espaço de um pé; mas prometeu que lhe daria a posse dela, e depois dele, à sua descendência, não tendo ele ainda filho.
6 E falou Deus assim: Que a sua descendência seria peregrina em terra alheia, e a sujeitariam à escravidão, e a maltratariam por quatrocentos anos.
7 E eu julgarei a nação que os tiver escravizado, disse Deus. E depois disto sairão e me servirão neste lugar.
8 E deu-lhe a aliança da circuncisão; e assim gerou a Isaque, e o circuncidou ao oitavo dia; e Isaque a Jacó; e Jacó aos doze patriarcas.
9 E os patriarcas, movidos de inveja, venderam José para o Egito; mas Deus era com ele.
10 E livrou-o de todas as suas tribulações, e lhe deu graça e sabedoria ante Faraó, rei do Egito, que o constituiu governador sobre o Egito e toda a sua casa.
11 Sobreveio então a todo o país do Egito e de Canaã fome e grande tribulação; e nossos pais não achavam alimentos.
12 Mas tendo ouvido Jacó que no Egito havia trigo, enviou ali nossos pais, a primeira vez.
13 E na segunda vez foi José conhecido por seus irmãos, e a sua linhagem foi manifesta a Faraó.
14 E José mandou chamar a seu pai Jacó, e a toda a sua parentela, que era de setenta e cinco almas.
15 E Jacó desceu ao Egito, e morreu, ele e nossos pais;
16 E foram transportados para Siquém, e depositados na sepultura que Abraão comprara por certa soma de dinheiro aos filhos de Emor, pai de Siquém.
17 Aproximando-se, porém, o tempo da promessa que Deus tinha feito a Abraão, o povo cresceu e se multiplicou no Egito;
18 Até que se levantou outro rei, que não conhecia a José.
19 Esse, usando de astúcia contra a nossa linhagem, maltratou nossos pais, ao ponto de os fazer enjeitar as suas crianças, para que não se multiplicassem.
20 Nesse tempo nasceu Moisés, e era mui formoso, e foi criado três meses em casa de seu pai.
21 E, sendo enjeitado, tomou-o a filha de Faraó, e o criou como seu filho.
22 E Moisés foi instruído em toda a ciência dos egípcios; e era poderoso em suas palavras e obras.
23 E, quando completou a idade de quarenta anos, veio-lhe ao coração ir visitar seus irmãos, os filhos de Israel.
24 E, vendo maltratado um deles, o defendeu, e vingou o ofendido, matando o egípcio.
25 E ele cuidava que seus irmãos entenderiam que Deus lhes havia de dar a liberdade pela sua mão; mas eles não entenderam.
26 E no dia seguinte, pelejando eles, foi por eles visto, e quis levá-los à paz, dizendo: Homens, sois irmãos; por que vos agravais um ao outro?
27 E o que ofendia o seu próximo o repeliu, dizendo: Quem te constituiu príncipe e juiz sobre nós?
28 Queres tu matar-me, como ontem mataste o egípcio?
29 E a esta palavra fugiu Moisés, e esteve como estrangeiro na terra de Midiã, onde gerou dois filhos.
30 E, completados quarenta anos, apareceu-lhe o anjo do Senhor no deserto do monte Sinai, numa chama de fogo no meio de uma sarça.
31 Então Moisés, quando viu isto, se maravilhou da visão; e, aproximando-se para observar, foi-lhe dirigida a voz do Senhor,
32 Dizendo: Eu sou o Deus de teus pais, o Deus de Abraão, e o Deus de Isaque, e o Deus de Jacó. E Moisés, todo trêmulo, não ousava olhar.
33 E disse-lhe o Senhor: Tira as alparcas dos teus pés, porque o lugar em que estás é terra santa.
34 Tenho visto atentamente a aflição do meu povo que está no Egito, e ouvi os seus gemidos, e desci a livrá-los. Agora, pois, vem, e enviar-te-ei ao Egito.
35 A este Moisés, ao qual haviam negado, dizendo: Quem te constituiu príncipe e juiz? a este enviou Deus como príncipe e libertador, pela mão do anjo que lhe aparecera na sarça.
36 Foi este que os conduziu para fora, fazendo prodígios e sinais na terra do Egito, e no Mar Vermelho, e no deserto, por quarenta anos.
37 Este é aquele Moisés que disse aos filhos de Israel: O Senhor vosso Deus vos levantará dentre vossos irmãos um profeta como eu; a ele ouvireis.
38 Este é o que esteve entre a congregação no deserto, com o anjo que lhe falava no monte Sinai, e com nossos pais, o qual recebeu as palavras de vida para no-las dar.
39 Ao qual nossos pais não quiseram obedecer, antes o rejeitaram e em seu coração se tornaram ao Egito,
40 Dizendo a Arão: Faze-nos deuses que vão adiante de nós; porque a esse Moisés, que nos tirou da terra do Egito, não sabemos o que lhe aconteceu.
41 E naqueles dias fizeram o bezerro, e ofereceram sacrifícios ao ídolo, e se alegraram nas obras das suas mãos.
42 Mas Deus se afastou, e os abandonou a que servissem ao exército do céu, como está escrito no livro dos profetas: Porventura me oferecestes vítimas e sacrifícios No deserto por quarenta anos, ó casa de Israel?
43 Antes tomastes o tabernáculo de Moloque,E a estrela do vosso deus Renfã, figuras que vós fizestes para as adorar.Transportar-vos-ei, pois, para além da Babilônia.
44 Estava entre nossos pais no deserto o tabernáculo do testemunho, como ordenara aquele que disse a Moisés que o fizesse segundo o modelo que tinha visto.
45 O qual, nossos pais, recebendo-o também, o levaram com Josué quando entraram na posse das nações que Deus lançou para fora da presença de nossos pais, até aos dias de Davi,
46 Que achou graça diante de Deus, e pediu que pudesse achar tabernáculo para o Deus de Jacó.
47 E Salomão lhe edificou casa;
48 Mas o Altíssimo não habita em templos feitos por mãos de homens, como diz o profeta:
49 O céu é o meu trono,e a terra o estrado dos meus pés.Que casa me edificareis? diz o Senhor,Ou qual é o lugar do meu repouso?
50 Porventura não fez a minha mão todas estas coisas?
51 Homens de dura cerviz, e incircuncisos de coração e ouvido, vós sempre resistis ao Espírito Santo; assim vós sois como vossos pais.
52 A qual dos profetas não perseguiram vossos pais? Até mataram os que anteriormente anunciaram a vinda do Justo, do qual vós agora fostes traidores e homicidas;
53 Vós, que recebestes a lei por ordenação dos anjos, e não a guardastes.
54 E, ouvindo eles isto, enfureciam-se em seus corações, e rangiam os dentes contra ele.
55 Mas ele, estando cheio do Espírito Santo, fixando os olhos no céu, viu a glória de Deus, e Jesus, que estava à direita de Deus;
56 E disse: Eis que vejo os céus abertos, e o Filho do homem, que está em pé à mão direita de Deus.
57 Mas eles gritaram com grande voz, taparam os seus ouvidos, e arremeteram unânimes contra ele.
58 E, expulsando-o da cidade, o apedrejavam. E as testemunhas depuseram as suas capas aos pés de um jovem chamado Saulo.
59 E apedrejaram a Estêvão que em invocação dizia: Senhor Jesus, recebe o meu espírito.
60 E, pondo-se de joelhos, clamou com grande voz: Senhor, não lhes imputes este pecado. E, tendo dito isto, adormeceu.
1 Then the high priest said, Are these things true?
2 And he said, My brothers and fathers, give hearing. The God of glory came to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he was living in Haran,
3 And said to him, Go out of your land, and away from your family, and come into the land to which I will be your guide.
4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and went into Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he was guided by God into this land, where you are living now:
5 And God gave him no heritage in it, not even enough to put his foot on: but he gave him an undertaking that he would give it to him and to his children after him, though he had no child at that time.
6 And God said that his seed would be living in a strange land, and that they would make them servants, and be cruel to them for four hundred years.
7 And I will be the judge, said God, of that nation which made them servants: and after that, they will come out and give me worship in this place.
8 And he made with him the agreement of which circumcision was the sign. And so Abraham had a son, Isaac, and gave him circumcision on the eighth day; and Isaac had a son, Jacob, and Jacob was the father of the twelve heads of the families of Israel.
9 And the brothers, moved with envy against Joseph, gave him to the Egyptians for money: but God was with him,
10 And made him free from all his troubles, and gave him wisdom and the approval of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now there was no food to be had in all Egypt and Canaan, and there was great trouble: and our fathers were not able to get food.
12 But Jacob, hearing that there was grain in Egypt, sent out our fathers the first time.
13 And the second time his brothers had a meeting with Joseph, and Pharaoh had knowledge of Joseph's family.
14 Then Joseph sent for Jacob his father and all his family, seventy-five persons.
15 And Jacob went down to Egypt, and came to his end there, and so did our fathers;
16 And they were taken over to Shechem, and put to rest in the place which Abraham got for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 But when the time was near for putting into effect the undertaking which God had given to Abraham, the people were increasing in Egypt,
18 Till another king came to power, who had no knowledge of Joseph.
19 He, having evil designs against our nation, was cruel to our fathers, and they were forced to put out their young children, so that they might not go on living.
20 At which time Moses came to birth, and he was very beautiful; and he was kept for three months in his father's house:
21 And when he was put out, Pharaoh's daughter took him and kept him as her son.
22 And Moses was trained in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was great in his words and works.
23 But when he was almost forty years old, it came into his heart to go and see his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them being attacked, he went to his help and gave the Egyptian a death-blow:
25 And he was hoping that his brothers would see that God had sent him to be their saviour; but they did not see.
26 And the day after, he came to them, while they were having a fight, and would have made peace between them, saying, Sirs, you are brothers; why do you do wrong to one another?
27 But the man who was doing wrong to his neighbour, pushing him away, said, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Will you put me to death as you did the Egyptian yesterday?
29 And at these words, Moses went in flight to the land of Midian, and was living there for a time, and had two sons.
30 At the end of forty years, an angel came to him in the waste land of Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn-tree.
31 And Moses, seeing it, was full of wonder, and when he came up to have a nearer view of it, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying,
32 I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. And Moses, shaking with fear, kept his eyes from looking at it.
33 And the Lord said, Take off the shoes from your feet, for the place where you are is holy.
34 Truly, I have seen the sorrows of my people in Egypt, and their cries have come to my ears, and I have come down to make them free: and now, come, I will send you to Egypt.
35 This Moses, whom they would not have, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? him God sent to be a ruler and a saviour, by the hand of the angel whom he saw in the thorn-tree.
36 This man took them out, having done wonders and signs in Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the waste land, for forty years.
37 This is the same Moses, who said to the children of Israel, God will give you a prophet from among your brothers, like me.
38 This is the man who was in the church in the waste land with the angel who was talking to him in Sinai, and with our fathers; and to him were given the living words of God, so that he might give them to you.
39 By whom our fathers would not be controlled; but they put him on one side, turning back in their hearts to Egypt,
40 And saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: as for this Moses, who took us out of the land of Egypt, we have no idea what has become of him.
41 And they made the image of a young ox in those days, and made an offering to it, and had joy in the work of their hands.
42 But God was turned from them and let them give worship to the stars of heaven, as it says in the book of the prophets, Did you make offerings to me of sheep and oxen for forty years in the waste land, O house of Israel?
43 And you took up the tent of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, images which you made to give worship to them: and I will take you away, farther than Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the Tent of witness in the waste land, as God gave orders to Moses to make it after the design which he had seen.
45 Which our fathers, in their turn, took with them when, with Joshua, they came into the heritage of the nations whom God was driving out before the face of our fathers, till the time of David,
46 Who was pleasing to God; and he had a desire to make a holy tent for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon was the builder of his house.
48 But still, the Most High has not his resting-place in houses made with hands, as the prophet says,
49 Heaven is the seat of my power, and earth is a resting-place for my feet: what sort of house will you make for me, says the Lord, or what is my place of rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?
51 You whose hearts are hard and whose ears are shut to me; you are ever working against the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
52 Which of the prophets was not cruelly attacked by your fathers? and they put to death those who gave them the news of the coming of the Upright One; whom you have now given up and put to death;
53 You, to whom the law was given as it was ordered by angels, and who have not kept it.
54 Hearing these things, they were cut to the heart and moved with wrath against him.
55 But he was full of the Holy Spirit, and looking up to heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus at the right hand of God.
56 And he said, Now I see heaven open, and the Son of man at the right hand of God.
57 But with loud cries, and stopping their ears, they made an attack on him all together,
58 Driving him out of the town and stoning him: and the witnesses put their clothing at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And Stephen, while he was being stoned, made prayer to God, saying, Lord Jesus, take my spirit.
60 And going down on his knees, he said in a loud voice, Lord, do not make them responsible for this sin. And when he had said this, he went to his rest.