1 And the high priest said, Are these things then so? 2 And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 and said to him, Go out of thy land and out of thy kindred, and come into the land which I will shew thee. 4 Then going out of the land of the Chaldeans he dwelt in Charran, and thence, after his father died, he removed him into this land in which ye now dwell. 5 And he did not give him an inheritance in it, not even what his foot could stand on; and promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he had no child. 6 And God spoke thus: His seed shall be a sojourner in a strange land, and they shall enslave them and evil entreat them four hundred years; 7 and the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God; and after these things they shall come forth and serve me in this place. 8 And he gave to him the covenant of circumcision; and thus he begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. 9 And the patriarchs, envying Joseph, sold him away into Egypt. And God was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all his tribulations, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he appointed him chief over Egypt and all his house. 11 But a famine came upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, and our fathers found no food. 12 But Jacob, having heard of there being corn in Egypt, sent out our fathers first; 13 and the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and called down to him his father Jacob and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, 16 and were carried over to Sychem and placed in the sepulchre which Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

17 But as the time of promise drew near which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until another king over Egypt arose who did not know Joseph. 19 He dealt subtilly with our race, and evil entreated the fathers, casting out their infants that they might not live. 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceedingly lovely, who was nourished three months in the house of his father. 21 And when he was cast out, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and brought him up for herself to be for a son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. 23 And when a period of forty years was fulfilled to him, it came into his heart to look upon his brethren, the sons of Israel; 24 and seeing a certain one wronged, he defended him, and avenged him that was being oppressed, smiting the Egyptian. 25 For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand was giving them deliverance. But they understood not. 26 And on the morrow he shewed himself to them as they were contending, and compelled them to peace, saying, Ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one another? 27 But he that was wronging his neighbour thrust him away, saying, Who established thee ruler and judge over us? 28 Dost thou wish to kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? 29 And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Madiam, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai, in a flame of fire of a bush. 31 And Moses seeing it wondered at the vision; and as he went up to consider it, there was a voice of the Lord, 32 I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not consider it. 33 And the Lord said to him, Loose the sandal of thy feet, for the place on which thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the ill treatment of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groan, and have come down to take them out of it; and now, come, I will send thee to Egypt. 35 This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee ruler and judge? him did God send to be a ruler and deliverer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He led them out, having wrought wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up to you out of your brethren like me him shall ye hear. 38 This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received living oracles to give to us; 39 to whom our fathers would not be subject, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 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 has happened to him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 But God turned and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 Yea, ye took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, the forms which ye made to do homage to them; and I will transport you beyond Babylon. 44 Our fathers had the tent of the testimony in the wilderness, as he that spoke to Moses commanded to make it according to the model which he had seen; 45 which also our fathers, receiving from their predecessors, brought in with Joshua when they entered into possession of the lands of the nations, whom God drove out from the face of our fathers, until the days of David; 46 who found favour before God, and asked to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob; 47 but Solomon built him a house. 48 But the Most High dwells not in places made with hands; as says the prophet, 49 The heaven is my throne and the earth the footstool of my feet: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or where is the place of my rest? 50 has not my hand made all these things?

51 O stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers, ye also. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain those who announced beforehand concerning the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now become deliverers up and murderers! 53 who have received the law as ordained by the ministry of angels, and have not kept it.

54 And hearing these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed their teeth against him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, Lo, I behold the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. 57 And they cried out with a loud voice, and held their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; 58 and having cast him out of the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid aside their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, praying, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this, he fell asleep.

1 Ülempreester küsis temalt: „Kas need süüdistused vastavad tõele?"

2 Aga Stefanos vastas: „Mehed, vennad ja isad, kuulake mind! Au Jumal ilmus meie isale Aabrahamile, kui ta elas Mesopotaamias, enne Haaranisse siirdumist. 3 „Lahku oma maalt ja oma rahva hulgast," ütles Jumal, „ja mine sinna maale, mida ma sulle näitan!"

4 Nõnda ta lahkus kaldealaste maalt ja seadis end sisse Haaranis. Pärast tema isa surma saatis Jumal tema sealt siia maale, kus teie nüüd elate.

5 Jumal ei andnud Aabrahamile siin jalatäitki maad pärandiks. Aga tõotas selle maa anda omandiks talle ja ta järeltulijatele ajal, mil tal lapsi ei olnud. 6 Jumal rääkis nõnda: „Tema järeltulijad elavad võõrana võõral maal ja nad tehakse orjadeks ja neile tehakse kurja nelisada aastat. 7 Ja rahvast, keda nad orjavad, mina karistan," ütles Jumal, „ja pärast seda nad lähevad välja ja teenivad mind selles paigas." 8 Ja Jumal andis Aabrahamile ümberlõikamislepingu. Ja Aabrahamile sündis Iisak ja ta lõikas tema ümber kaheksandal päeval. Ja Iisakile sündis Jaakob, ja Jaakobile need kaksteist patriarhi.

9 Kuna patriarhid olid Joosepi peale kadedad, müüsid nad ta Egiptusesse orjaks. Ent Jumal oli temaga 10 ja päästis ta kõigist tema hädadest. Ta andis Joosepile armu ja tarkust vaarao, Egiptuse kuninga ees, ning tema tõstis ta kogu Egiptuse ja terve oma koja valitsejaks.

11 Siis tabas Egiptust ja Kaananit nälg, mis tõi kaasa suuri kannatusi, ja meie isad ei leidnud enam toitu. 12 Aga kui Jaakob kuulis, et Egiptuses on vilja, läkitas ta meie isad sinna esimest korda. 13 Ja teisel korral rääkis Joosep vendadele, kes ta on, ja vaarao sai teada Joosepi päritolu. 14 Pärast seda laskis Joosep enda juurde tuua oma isa Jaakobi ja kogu oma suguvõsa, seitsekümmend viis hinge. 15 Ja Jaakob läks Egiptusesse, kus tema ja meie isad surid. 16 Nende põrmud viidi Sekemisse ja pandi hauda, mille Aabraham oli hõbeda eest ostnud Hamori poegadelt Sekemis.

17 Kui lähenes aeg Jumalal täita Aabrahamile antud tõotus, kasvas meie rahvas jõudsasti Egiptuses. 18 Kuni tõusis Egiptuse valitsejaks teine kuningas, kes Joosepist midagi ei teadnud. 19 Tema käitus salakavalalt meie rahvaga ja tegi kurja meie esiisadele, sundides neid vastsündinud lapsi ära heitma, et nad sureksid.

20 Sel ajal sündis Mooses ja ta meeldis Jumalale. Tema eest hoolitseti kolm kuud tema isa majas. 21 Aga kui ta oli ära heidetud, võttis vaarao tütar tema ja kasvatas enesele pojaks. 22 Ja Moosesele õpetati kogu egiptlaste tarkust ja tema oli vägev sõnadelt ja tegudelt.

23 Kui Mooses oli nelikümmend aastat vana, tuli talle südamesse minna vaatama oma vendade, Iisraeli laste olukorda. 24 Ja nähes ühele ülekohut tehtavat, läks ta teda kaitsma ja lõi egiptlase maha. 25 Mooses arvas, et ta inimesed mõistavad, kuidas Jumal teda kasutab nende päästeks, aga nad ei mõistnud. 26 Järgmisel päeval kohtas Mooses kaht riidlevat iisraellast. Ta püüdis neid lepitada, öeldes: „Mehed, te olete vennad, miks te tahate üksteisele haiget teha?"

27 Aga mees, kes teist halvasti kohtles, tõukas ta eemale ja sõnas: „Kes sind on määranud meile valitsejaks ja kohtumõistjaks? 28 Kas sa tahad ka mind tappa, nagu sa eile tapsid egiptlase?" 29 Nende sõnade peale Mooses põgenes ja elas võõrana Midjanimaal, ja talle sündis kaks poega.

30 Ja kui nelikümmend aastat sai täis, ilmus Moosesele ingel Siinai mäe lähedal kõrbes põlevas kibuvitsapõõsas. 31 Mooses oli vaatepildist hämmastunud. Ja kui ta läks seda lähemalt uurima, kuulis ta Issanda häält: 32 „Mina olen sinu isade Jumal, Aabrahami, Iisaki ja Jaakobi Jumal." Mooses värises hirmust ega julgenud vaadata.

33 Siis ütles Issand talle: „Võta sandaalid jalast, sest paik, kus sa seisad, on püha maa! 34 Ma olen küllalt näinud oma rahva rõhumist Egiptuses. Ma olen kuulnud nende oigamist ning olen alla tulnud neid vabastama. Tule nüüd, ma läkitan sind Egiptusesse!"

35 Sellesama Moosese, kelle nad olid hüljanud sõnadega: „Kes sind on määranud meile valitsejaks ja kohtumõistjaks?", sellesama läkitas Jumal neile valitsejaks ja lunastajaks ingli läbi, kes talle oli ilmunud kibuvitsapõõsas. 36 Mooses juhtis nad Egiptusest välja, tehes imesid ja tunnustähti Egiptuses, Punases meres ja kõrbes neljakümne aasta jooksul.

37 Ja nii ütles Mooses Iisraeli poegadele: „Jumal tõstab teile teie rahva seast Prohveti, sellise nagu mina." 38 Tema oli kõrbes koos ingliga, kes kõneles talle Siinai mäel, ja meie isadega, ning ta võttis vastu elavad sõnad meile edasiandmiseks.

39 Aga meie isad keeldusid talle allumast. Nad tõukasid ta eemale ja pöördusid oma südames tagasi Egiptusesse. 40 Nad ütlesid Aaronile: „Tee meile jumalaid, kes käiksid meie ees. Aga mis puutub vend Moosesesse, kes meid Egiptusest välja tõi, siis me ei tea, mis temaga juhtunud on!" 41 See oli aeg, kui nad tegid vasika kuju. Nad viisid ebajumalale ohvreid ja pidutsesid oma käte tegude üle. 42 Kuid Jumal pöördus neist ära ja jättis nad teenima taeva vägesid. Nõnda on ka prohvetite raamatus kirjutatud:

„Kas teie, Iisraeli sugu, tõite mulle ohvreid ja ande

nelikümmend aastat kõrbes olles?

43 Ei, vaid te võtsite Mooloki telgi

ja oma jumala Raifa tähe,

kujud, mis te olite teinud kummardamiseks.

Seepärast pagendan ma teid teisele poole Paabelit."

44 Meie esiisadel oli tunnistustelk kõrbes. Nõnda nagu oli juhatanud Jumal, kes Moosesel käskis selle teha eeskuju järgi, mida ta oli näinud. 45 Selle telgi tõid meie isad Joosua juhtimisel endaga kaasa, kui nad võtsid maa rahvastelt, kelle Jumal nende eest minema ajas. Nii see oli Taaveti päevini, 46 kes elas Jumala soosingus ja palus, et ta leiaks eluaseme Jaakobi soole. 47 See oli aga Saalomon, kes ehitas temale koja.

48 Kuid Kõigekõrgem ei ela kätega tehtud kodades. Nõnda nagu prohvet ütleb:

49 „Taevas on minu troon ja maa minu jalajäri.

Millise koja teie tahate mulle ehitada,

ütleb Issand,

või kus on mu puhkepaik?

50 Eks minu käsi ole selle kõik teinud?"

51 Te kangekaelsed ja ümberlõikamatud südamelt ja kõrvadelt! Teie seisate alati vastu Pühale Vaimule, nii nagu teie isad, nõnda olete ka teie. 52 Kas on olnud prohvetit, keda teie isad ei ole taga kiusanud? Nad on tapnud isegi need, kes kuulutasid ette Õige tulemist. Ja nüüd olete teie ta ära andnud ja tapnud, 53 kes saite Seaduse inglite kaudu, ent ei ole seda pidanud."

54 Aga kui Suurkohtu liikmed seda kuulsid, lõikas see neil südamesse ja nad kiristasid hambaid. 55 Stefanos aga, täis Püha Vaimu, vaatas taevasse ja nägi Jumala kirkust ning Jeesust seismas Jumala paremal käel. 56 „Vaata," ütles ta, „ma näen taevast avatuna ja Inimese Poega seismas Jumala paremal käel!"

57 Selle peale nad karjusid valju häälega ja oma kõrvu kätega kinni kattes tormasid nad tema kallale. 58 Nad tirisid ta linnast välja ja viskasid teda kividega. Samal ajal panid tunnistajad oma rõivad ühe noormehe jalge ette, kelle nimi oli Saulus.

59 Ja nad viskasid kividega Stefanost, kes valjusti palvetas: „Issand Jeesus, võta mu vaim vastu!" 60 Siis ta laskus põlvili ja hüüdis valju häälega: „Issand, ära arva seda pattu neile süüks!" Ja kui ta seda oli öelnud, uinus ta.