1 The high priest said, "Are these things so?"

2 He said, "Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ 4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child. 6 God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’ 8 He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

9 "The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13 On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 15 Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers; 16 and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.

17 "But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until there arose a different king who didn’t know Joseph. 19 The same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive. 20 At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome to God. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. 21 When he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. 22 Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. 23 But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.

26 "The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

30 "When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled and dared not look. 33 The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’

35 "This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’ 38 This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us, 39 to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ 41 They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets,

‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices

forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch,

the star of your god Rephan,

the figures which you made to worship,

so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45 which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations whom God drove out before the face of our fathers to the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,

49 ‘heaven is my throne,

and the earth a footstool for my feet.

What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord.

‘Or what is the place of my rest?

50 Didn’t my hand make all these things?’

51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53 You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!"

54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord. 58 They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60 He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep.

1 Siis ütles ülempreester: „Kas see on nõnda?"

2 Aga tema ütles: „Mehed, vennad ja isad, kuulge! Au Jumal ilmus meie esiisale Aabrahamile, kui ta oli Mesopotaamias enne oma siirdumist Haaranisse,

3 ning ütles temale: „Mine välja omalt maalt ja omast sugukonnast ja tule sinna maale, mille Ma sulle näitan."

4 Siis ta läks kaldealaste maalt ja asus elama Haaranisse. Ja kui tema isa suri, saatis Jumal tema sealt siia maale, kus teie nüüd elate,

5 ega andnud siin temale pärandiks mitte jalatäitki, aga tõotas selle anda omandiks temale ja tema järglasile pärast teda ajal, mil ta oli alles lasteta.

6 Ent Jumal rääkis nõnda: tema järglased peavad olema võõrastena võõral maal ja seal nad tehakse orjadeks ja neid vaevatakse nelisada aastat,

7 ja rahvast, keda nad orjavad, Mina karistan, ütles Jumal, ja selle järel nad lähevad välja ja teenivad Mind siin selles paigas.

8 Ja Ta andis temale ümberlõikamislepingu; ja nii sündis Aabrahamile Iisak ja ta lõikas tema ümber kaheksandal päeval. Ja Iisakile sündis Jaakob, ja Jaakobile need kaksteist peavanemat.

9 Ja peavanemad kadestasid Joosepit ning müüsid ta ära Egiptusesse; aga Jumal oli temaga

10 ja päästis tema kõigist ta viletsustest ja andis temale armu ja tarkust, kui ta oli Egiptuse kuninga, vaarao ees; ja see tõstis ta kogu Egiptuse ja oma koja ülemaks.

11 Aga nälg tuli kogu Egiptusesse ja Kaananisse ja suur viletsus; ja meie esiisad ei leidnud toidust.

12 Aga kui Jaakob kuulis, et Egiptuses oli vilja, läkitas ta meie esiisad sinna esimest korda;

13 ja teisel korral andis Joosep ennast tunda oma vendadele ja vaarao sai teada Joosepi päritolu.

14 Siis Joosep läkitas järele ja laskis kutsuda oma isa Jaakobi ja kogu oma suguvõsa, seitsekümmend viis hinge.

15 Ja Jaakob läks alla Egiptusesse ja suri, tema ja meie esiisad,

16 ja nad viidi Sekemisse ja pandi hauda, mille Aabraham oli ostnud raha eest Emori, Sekemi isa lastelt.

17 Kui nüüd lähenes tõotuse aeg, mille Jumal Aabrahamile oli vandega tõotanud, kasvas rahvas ja sigis paljuks Egiptuses,

18 seni kui tõusis teine kuningas, kes Joosepist midagi ei teadnud.

19 See tarvitas kavalust meie soo kallal ja tegi paha meie esivanemaile neid sundides ära heitma oma lapsukesed, et need ei jääks ellu.

20 Sel ajal sündis Mooses ja ta meeldis Jumalale. Teda toideti kolm kuud tema isa majas.

21 Aga kui ta oli kõrvale heidetud, võttis vaarao tütar tema ja kasvatas ta enesele pojaks.

22 Ja Moosesele õpetati kõike egiptlaste tarkust ja tema oli vägev sõnades ja tegudes.

23 Aga kui ta oli nelikümmend aastat vanaks saanud, tuli tema südamesse mõte oma vendi, Iisraeli lapsi, vaatama minna.

24 Ja nähes ühele ülekohut tehtavat, läks ta appi ja tasus kätte selle eest, kellele liiga tehti, ja lõi egiptlase maha.

25 Ent ta mõtles, et tema vennad saavad sellest aru, et Jumal tema käe läbi annab neile pääste; aga nad ei saanud aru.

26 Ja järgmisel päeval ta juhtus nende juurde, kui nad riidlesid, ja sundis neid rahule ning ütles: „Mehed, te olete vennad, miks teete liiga üksteisele?"

27 Aga see, kes tegi liiga oma ligimesele, lükkas ta enesest ära ja ütles: „Kes on sind seadnud meie ülemaks ja kohtumõistjaks?

28 Kas tahad tappa mind, nagu sa eile tapsid egiptlase?"

29 Selle kõne peale Mooses põgenes ja elas võõrana Midjanimaal; seal sündis temale kaks poega.

30 Ja kui nelikümmend aastat möödas oli, ilmus temale Siinai mäe kõrbes Issanda Ingel tuleleegis kibuvitsapõõsas.

31 Kui Mooses seda nägi, pani ta nägemust imeks. Ja kui ta ligi astus vaatama, kostis Issanda hääl:

32 „Mina olen sinu vanemate Jumal, Aabrahami Jumal ja Iisaki Jumal ja Jaakobi Jumal!" Aga Mooses hakkas värisema ega julgenud sinna vaadata.

33 Aga Issand ütles temale: „Võta kingad jalast, sest paik, kus sa seisad, on püha maa!

34 Mina olen küllalt näinud Oma rahva vaeva Egiptuses ja olen kuulnud nende ohkamist ning olen tulnud alla neid vabastama. Siis tule nüüd, Ma läkitan sind Egiptusesse!"

35 Selle Moosese, kelle nemad ära salgasid, öeldes: „Kes on sind seadnud ülemaks ja kohtumõistjaks?", selle läkitas Jumal ülemaks ja lunastajaks selle ingli kaudu, kes temale ilmus kibuvitsapõõsas.

36 See viis nad välja ja tegi imetegusid ja tunnustähti Egiptuses ja Punases meres ja kõrbes nelikümmend aastat.

37 See on see Mooses, kes ütles Iisraeli lastele: „Ühe prohveti äratab teile Jumal teie vendade hulgast, minu sarnase",

38 tema on see, kes oli koguduse seas kõrbes ühes selle Ingliga, kes temaga kõneles Siinai mäel, ja oli ühes meie esiisadega ja sai elavaid sõnu meile edasiandmiseks.

39 Temale meie esivanemad ei tahtnud olla sõnakuulelikud, vaid tõukasid ta ära ja pöördusid oma südamega Egiptuse poole,

40 öeldes Aaronile: „Tee meile jumalaid, kes käiksid meie ees, sest me ei tea, mis on sündinud selle Moosesega, kes meid tõi Egiptusest välja!"

41 Ja nad tegid noil päevil vasika ja viisid sellele ebajumalale ohvreid ning rõõmustusid oma käte tegudest.

42 Kuid Jumal pöördus neist ära ja jättis nad teenima taeva vägesid, nõnda nagu on kirjutatud prohvetite raamatus: „Kas teie, Iisraeli sugu, nelikümmend aastat kõrbes tõite Mulle tapaohvreid ja muid ohvreid?

43 Ei, vaid te kandsite Mooloki telki ja oma jumala Romfa tähte, kujusid, mis te olite teinud, et neid kummardada: sellepärast Ma siirutan teid teispoole Baabüloni!"

44 Meie esiisadel oli tunnistustelk kõrbes, nõnda nagu oli määranud see, Kes Moosesega rääkis, et ta pidi selle valmistama eeskuju järgi, mida ta oli näinud.

45 Selle meie esiisad ühes Joosuaga võtsid ning viisid paganate maa-alale, keda Jumal ajas minema meie esiisade eest kuni Taaveti päevini,

46 kes leidis armu Jumala ees ja palus, et ta leiaks elamu Jaakobi kodakonnale.

47 Ent Saalomon ehitas Temale koja.

48 Kuid Kõigekõrgem ei ela kätega tehtud kodades, nõnda nagu ütleb prohvet:

49 „Taevas on Minu aujärg ja maa Minu jalgealune järg! Mis koda te Mulle tahate ehitada", ütleb Issand, „või mis on Mu hingamise ase?

50 Eks Minu käsi ole selle kõik teinud?"

51 Te kangekaelsed ja ümberlõikamatud südamest ja kõrvust! Te panete ikka vastu Pühale Vaimule! Nõnda nagu teie esiisad, nõnda teete teiegi.

52 Keda prohvetitest teie esiisad ei ole taga kiusanud? Nad tapsid need, kes ennustasid selle Õige tulemist, Kelle äraandjaiks ja tapjaiks nüüd olete saanud teie,

53 kes saite käsuõpetuse Inglite teenistuse kaudu ega pidanud seda mitte.

54 Aga kui nad seda kuulsid, lõikas see neile südamesse ja nad kiristasid hambaid ta peale.

55 Tema aga täis Püha Vaimu vaatas üksisilmi taeva poole ja nägi Jumala auhiilgust ning Jeesust seisvat Jumala paremal poolel,

56 ja ta ütles: „Ennäe! Ma näen taevad lahti olevat ja Inimese Poja seisvat Jumala paremal poolel!"

57 Siis nad karjusid suure häälega ning pidasid oma kõrvad kinni ja kargasid kõik ühel meelel tema kallale

58 ning lükkasid ta linnast välja ja viskasid teda kividega. Ja tunnistajad panid oma riided maha ühe noore mehe jalgade ette, kelle nimi oli Saulus.

59 Ja nad viskasid Stefanost kividega, kuna tema palus Jumalat ja ütles: „Issand Jeesus, võta minu vaim vastu!"

60 Ja ta heitis põlvili ning hüüdis suure häälega: „Issand, ära arva seda pattu neile süüks!" Ja kui ta seda oli öelnud, uinus ta.