Acts 7
1 Then the high priest asked, ‘Is this true?’
tataH paraM mahAyAjakaH pR^iShTavAn, eShA kathAM kiM satyA?
2 Stephen replied, ‘Brothers and fathers, hear what I have to say. God, who manifests himself in the glory, appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him –
tataH sa pratyavadat, he pitaro he bhrAtaraH sarvve lAkA manAMsi nidhaddhvaM|asmAkaM pUrvvapuruSha ibrAhIm hAraNnagare vAsakaraNAt pUrvvaM yadA arAm-naharayimadeshe AsIt tadA tejomaya Ishvaro darshanaM datvA
3 “Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.”
tamavadat tvaM svadeshaj nAtimitrANi parityajya yaM deshamahaM darshayiShyAmi taM deshaM vraja|
4 And so Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father’s death, God caused him to migrate into this country, in which you are now living.
ataH sa kasdIyadeshaM vihAya hAraNnagare nyavasat, tadanantaraM tasya pitari mR^ite yatra deshe yUyaM nivasatha sa enaM deshamAgachChat|
5 God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child.
kintvIshvarastasmai kamapyadhikAram arthAd ekapadaparimitAM bhUmimapi nAdadAt; tadA tasya kopi santAno nAsIt tathApi santAnaiH sArddham etasya deshasyAdhikArI tvaM bhaviShyasIti tampratya NgIkR^itavAn|
6 God’s words were these – “Abraham’s descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.
Ishvara ittham aparamapi kathitavAn tava santAnAH paradeshe nivatsyanti tatastaddeshIyalokAshchatuHshatavatsarAn yAvat tAn dAsatve sthApayitvA tAn prati kuvyavahAraM kariShyanti|
7 But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,” God said, “and after that they will leave the country and worship me in this place.”
aparam Ishvara enAM kathAmapi kathitavAn, ye lokAstAn dAsatve sthApayiShyanti tAllokAn ahaM daNDayiShyAmi, tataH paraM te bahirgatAH santo mAm atra sthAne seviShyante|
8 Then God made with Abraham the covenant of circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs.
pashchAt sa tasmai tvakChedasya niyamaM dattavAn, ata ishAkanAmni ibrAhIma ekaputre jAte, aShTamadine tasya tvakChedam akarot| tasya ishAkaH putro yAkUb, tatastasya yAkUbo. asmAkaM dvAdasha pUrvvapuruShA ajAyanta|
9 The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
te pUrvvapuruShA IrShyayA paripUrNA misaradeshaM preShayituM yUShaphaM vyakrINan|
10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favour and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household.
kintvIshvarastasya sahAyo bhUtvA sarvvasyA durgate rakShitvA tasmai buddhiM dattvA misaradeshasya rAj naH phirauNaH priyapAtraM kR^itavAn tato rAjA misaradeshasya svIyasarvvaparivArasya cha shAsanapadaM tasmai dattavAn|
11 Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
tasmin samaye misara-kinAnadeshayo rdurbhikShahetoratikliShTatvAt naH pUrvvapuruShA bhakShyadravyaM nAlabhanta|
12 Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
kintu misaradeshe shasyAni santi, yAkUb imAM vArttAM shrutvA prathamam asmAkaM pUrvvapuruShAn misaraM preShitavAn|
13 In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
tato dvitIyavAragamane yUShaph svabhrAtR^ibhiH parichito. abhavat; yUShapho bhrAtaraH phirauN rAjena parichitA abhavan|
14 Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
anantaraM yUShaph bhrAtR^igaNaM preShya nijapitaraM yAkUbaM nijAn pa nchAdhikasaptatisaMkhyakAn j nAtijanAMshcha samAhUtavAn|
15 and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
tasmAd yAkUb misaradeshaM gatvA svayam asmAkaM pUrvvapuruShAshcha tasmin sthAne. amriyanta|
16 and their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
tataste shikhimaM nItA yat shmashAnam ibrAhIm mudrAdatvA shikhimaH pitu rhamoraH putrebhyaH krItavAn tatshmashAne sthApayA nchakrire|
17 As the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
tataH param Ishvara ibrAhImaH sannidhau shapathaM kR^itvA yAM pratij nAM kR^itavAn tasyAH pratij nAyAH phalanasamaye nikaTe sati isrAyellokA simaradeshe varddhamAnA bahusaMkhyA abhavan|
18 until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
sheShe yUShaphaM yo na parichinoti tAdR^isha eko narapatirupasthAya
19 This king acted deceitfully towards our people and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.
asmAkaM j nAtibhiH sArddhaM dhUrttatAM vidhAya pUrvvapuruShAn prati kuvyavaharaNapUrvvakaM teShAM vaMshanAshanAya teShAM navajAtAn shishUn bahi rnirakShepayat|
20 It was just at this time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father’s house;
etasmin samaye mUsA jaj ne, sa tu paramasundaro. abhavat tathA pitR^igR^ihe mAsatrayaparyyantaM pAlito. abhavat|
21 and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
kintu tasmin bahirnikShipte sati phirauNarAjasya kanyA tam uttolya nItvA dattakaputraM kR^itvA pAlitavatI|
22 So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
tasmAt sa mUsA misaradeshIyAyAH sarvvavidyAyAH pAradR^iShvA san vAkye kriyAyA ncha shaktimAn abhavat|
23 When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
sa sampUrNachatvAriMshadvatsaravayasko bhUtvA isrAyelIyavaMshanijabhrAtR^in sAkShAt kartuM matiM chakre|
24 and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
teShAM janamekaM hiMsitaM dR^iShTvA tasya sapakShaH san hiMsitajanam upakR^itya misarIyajanaM jaghAna|
25 He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
tasya hasteneshvarastAn uddhariShyati tasya bhrAtR^igaNa iti j nAsyati sa ityanumAnaM chakAra, kintu te na bubudhire|
26 The next day he again appeared on the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. “Men,” he said, “you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?”
tatpare. ahani teShAm ubhayo rjanayo rvAkkalaha upasthite sati mUsAH samIpaM gatvA tayo rmelanaM karttuM matiM kR^itvA kathayAmAsa, he mahAshayau yuvAM bhrAtarau parasparam anyAyaM kutaH kuruthaH?
27 But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
tataH samIpavAsinaM prati yo jano. anyAyaM chakAra sa taM dUrIkR^itya kathayAmAsa, asmAkamupari shAstR^itvavichArayitR^itvapadayoH kastvAM niyuktavAn?
28 Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?”
hyo yathA misarIyaM hatavAn tathA kiM mAmapi haniShyasi?
29 At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
tadA mUsA etAdR^ishIM kathAM shrutvA palAyanaM chakre, tato midiyanadeshaM gatvA pravAsI san tasthau, tatastatra dvau putrau jaj nAte|
30 Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
anantaraM chatvAriMshadvatsareShu gateShu sInayaparvvatasya prAntare prajvalitastambasya vahnishikhAyAM parameshvaradUtastasmai darshanaM dadau|
31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say –
mUsAstasmin darshane vismayaM matvA visheShaM j nAtuM nikaTaM gachChati,
32 “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
etasmin samaye, ahaM tava pUrvvapuruShANAm Ishvaro. arthAd ibrAhIma Ishvara ishAka Ishvaro yAkUba Ishvarashcha, mUsAmuddishya parameshvarasyaitAdR^ishI vihAyasIyA vANI babhUva, tataH sa kampAnvitaH san puna rnirIkShituM pragalbho na babhUva|
33 Then the Lord said to him – “Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
parameshvarastaM jagAda, tava pAdayoH pAduke mochaya yatra tiShThasi sA pavitrabhUmiH|
34 I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.”
ahaM misaradeshasthAnAM nijalokAnAM durddashAM nitAntam apashyaM, teShAM kAtaryyokti ncha shrutavAn tasmAt tAn uddharttum avaruhyAgamam; idAnIm AgachCha misaradeshaM tvAM preShayAmi|
35 This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words – “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” was the man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush.
kastvAM shAstR^itvavichArayitR^itvapadayo rniyuktavAn, iti vAkyamuktvA tai ryo mUsA avaj nAtastameva IshvaraH stambamadhye darshanadAtrA tena dUtena shAstAraM muktidAtAra ncha kR^itvA preShayAmAsa|
36 He it was who led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years.
sa cha misaradeshe sUphnAmni samudre cha pashchAt chatvAriMshadvatsarAn yAvat mahAprAntare nAnAprakArANyadbhutAni karmmANi lakShaNAni cha darshayitvA tAn bahiH kR^itvA samAninAya|
37 This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel – “God will raise up for you, from among yourselves, a prophet, as he raised up me.”
prabhuH parameshvaro yuShmAkaM bhrAtR^igaNasya madhye mAdR^isham ekaM bhaviShyadvaktAram utpAdayiShyati tasya kathAyAM yUyaM mano nidhAsyatha, yo jana isrAyelaH santAnebhya enAM kathAM kathayAmAsa sa eSha mUsAH|
38 He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you.
mahAprAntarasthamaNDalImadhye. api sa eva sInayaparvvatopari tena sArddhaM saMlApino dUtasya chAsmatpitR^igaNasya madhyasthaH san asmabhyaM dAtavyani jIvanadAyakAni vAkyAni lebhe|
39 Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
asmAkaM pUrvvapuruShAstam amAnyaM katvA svebhyo dUrIkR^itya misaradeshaM parAvR^itya gantuM manobhirabhilaShya hAroNaM jagaduH,
40 while they said to Aaron – “Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
asmAkam agre. agre gantum asmadarthaM devagaNaM nirmmAhi yato yo mUsA asmAn misaradeshAd bahiH kR^itvAnItavAn tasya kiM jAtaM tadasmAbhi rna j nAyate|
41 That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honour of their own handiwork!
tasmin samaye te govatsAkR^itiM pratimAM nirmmAya tAmuddishya naivedyamutmR^ijya svahastakR^itavastunA AnanditavantaH|
42 So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets – “Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel, all those forty years in the desert?
tasmAd IshvarasteShAM prati vimukhaH san AkAshasthaM jyotirgaNaM pUjayituM tebhyo. anumatiM dadau, yAdR^ishaM bhaviShyadvAdinAM grantheShu likhitamAste, yathA, isrAyelIyavaMshA re chatvAriMshatsamAn purA| mahati prAntare saMsthA yUyantu yAni cha| balihomAdikarmmANi kR^itavantastu tAni kiM| mAM samuddishya yuShmAbhiH prakR^itAnIti naiva cha|
43 You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshipped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.”
kintu vo molakAkhyasya devasya dUShyameva cha| yuShmAkaM rimphanAkhyAyA devatAyAshcha tArakA| etayorubhayo rmUrtI yuShmAbhiH paripUjite| ato yuShmAMstu bAbelaH pAraM neShyAmi nishchitaM|
44 Our ancestors had the tent where they worshipped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen.
apara ncha yannidarshanam apashyastadanusAreNa dUShyaM nirmmAhi yasmin Ishvaro mUsAm etadvAkyaM babhAShe tat tasya nirUpitaM sAkShyasvarUpaM dUShyam asmAkaM pUrvvapuruShaiH saha prAntare tasthau|
45 This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David.
pashchAt yihoshUyena sahitaisteShAM vaMshajAtairasmatpUrvvapuruShaiH sveShAM sammukhAd IshvareNa dUrIkR^itAnAm anyadeshIyAnAM deshAdhikR^itikAle samAnItaM tad dUShyaM dAyUdodhikAraM yAvat tatra sthAna AsIt|
46 David found favour with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
sa dAyUd parameshvarasyAnugrahaM prApya yAkUb IshvarArtham ekaM dUShyaM nirmmAtuM vavA nCha;
47 But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
kintu sulemAn tadarthaM mandiram ekaM nirmmitavAn|
48 Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –
tathApi yaH sarvvoparisthaH sa kasmiMshchid hastakR^ite mandire nivasatIti nahi, bhaviShyadvAdI kathAmetAM kathayati, yathA,
49 “The heavens are a throne for me, and the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord, or what place is there where I may rest?
paresho vadati svargo rAjasiMhAsanaM mama| madIyaM pAdapITha ncha pR^ithivI bhavati dhruvaM| tarhi yUyaM kR^ite me kiM pranirmmAsyatha mandiraM| vishrAmAya madIyaM vA sthAnaM kiM vidyate tviha|
50 Was it not my hand that made all these things?”
sarvvANyetAni vastUni kiM me hastakR^itAni na||
51 Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still.
he anAj nAgrAhakA antaHkaraNe shravaNe chApavitralokAH yUyam anavarataM pavitrasyAtmanaH prAtikUlyam Acharatha, yuShmAkaM pUrvvapuruShA yAdR^ishA yUyamapi tAdR^ishAH|
52 Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers –
yuShmAkaM pUrvvapuruShAH kaM bhaviShyadvAdinaM nAtADayan? ye tasya dhArmmikasya janasyAgamanakathAM kathitavantastAn aghnan yUyam adhUnA vishvAsaghAtino bhUtvA taM dhArmmikaM janam ahata|
53 you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.’
yUyaM svargIyadUtagaNena vyavasthAM prApyApi tAM nAcharatha|
54 As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
imAM kathAM shrutvA te manaHsu biddhAH santastaM prati dantagharShaNam akurvvan|
55 He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
kintu stiphAnaH pavitreNAtmanA pUrNo bhUtvA gagaNaM prati sthiradR^iShTiM kR^itvA Ishvarasya dakShiNe daNDAyamAnaM yIshu ncha vilokya kathitavAn;
56 ‘Look,’ he exclaimed, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!’
pashya, meghadvAraM muktam Ishvarasya dakShiNe sthitaM mAnavasuta ncha pashyAmi|
57 At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
tadA te prochchaiH shabdaM kR^itvA karNeShva NgulI rnidhAya ekachittIbhUya tam Akraman|
58 and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
pashchAt taM nagarAd bahiH kR^itvA prastarairAghnan sAkShiNo lAkAH shaulanAmno yUnashcharaNasannidhau nijavastrANi sthApitavantaH|
59 And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, ‘Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!’
anantaraM he prabho yIshe madIyamAtmAnaM gR^ihANa stiphAnasyeti prArthanavAkyavadanasamaye te taM prastarairAghnan|
60 Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, ‘Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;’ and with these words he fell asleep.
tasmAt sa jAnunI pAtayitvA prochchaiH shabdaM kR^itvA, he prabhe pApametad eteShu mA sthApaya, ityuktvA mahAnidrAM prApnot|
