The Tabernacle of the Testimony

Stephen says the fathers had the tabernacle in the wilderness according to the pattern shown to Moses, and that it came into the land with Joshua and remained until David. David asks for a dwelling place for the God of Jacob, but Solomon is the one who builds the house.

O⁴⁴ur fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. ⁴⁵And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, ⁴⁶who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.

Stephen then says the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands and cites the prophet on heaven as God's throne and earth as his footstool. The created order itself witnesses that no house can contain the God whose hand made all things.

⁴⁸However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ⁴⁹‘Heaven is My throne ⁵⁰Has not My hand made all these things?’

Stephen turns directly on the council, calling them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears and saying they always resist the Holy Spirit like their fathers. He says their fathers persecuted the prophets, they themselves betrayed and murdered the Righteous One, and though they received the law through angels they have not kept it.

⁵¹You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. ⁵²Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers — ⁵³you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”