TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
KJV (with Strong's)
Then G1161 God G2316 turned G4762, and G2532 gave G3860 them G846 up G3860 to worship G3000 the host G4756 of heaven G3772; as it G2531 is written G1125 in G1722 the book G976 of the prophets G4396, O ye house G3624 of Israel G2474, have ye offered G3361 G4374 to me G3427 slain beasts G4968 and G2532 sacrifices G2378 by the space of forty G5062 years G2094 in G1722 the wilderness G2048?
Complete Jewish Bible
So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the stars — as has been written in the book of the prophets,
‘People of Isra’el, it was not to me
that you offered slaughtered animals
and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness!
‘People of Isra’el, it was not to me
that you offered slaughtered animals
and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness!
Berean Standard Bible
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
American Standard Version
But God turned, and gave them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Did ye offer unto me slain beasts and sacrifices Forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
World English Bible Messianic
But God turned, 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?
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then God turned himselfe away, and gaue them vp to serue the host of heauen, as it is written in the booke of the Prophets, O house of Israel, haue ye offred to me slaine beasts and sacrifices by the space of fourtie yeres in the wildernes?
Young's Literal Translation
and God did turn, and did give them up to do service to the host of the heaven, according as it hath been written in the scroll of the prophets: Slain beasts and sacrifices did ye offer to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 27,159 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Acts 7 verses 42–50
42 ¶ Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points
Two things we have in these verses: -
I. Stephen upbraids them with the idolatry of their fathers, which God gave them up to, as a punishment for their early forsaking him in worshipping the golden calf; and this was the saddest punishment of all for that sin, as it was of the idolatry of the Gentile world that God gave them up to a reprobate mind. When Israel was joined to idols, joined to the golden calf, and not long after to Baal-peor, God said, Let them alone; let them go on (Act 7:42): Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven. He particularly cautioned them not to do it, at their peril, and gave them reasons why they should not; but, when they were bent upon it, he gave them up to their own hearts; lust, withdrew his restraining grace, and then they walked in their own counsels, and were so scandalously mad upon their idols as never any people were. Compare Deu 4:19 with Jer 8:2. For this he quotes a passage out of Amo 5:25. For it would be less invidious to tell them their own [character and doom] from an Old Testament prophet, who upbraids them,
1.For not sacrificing to their own God in the wilderness (Act 7:42): Have you offered to me slain beasts, and sacrifices, by the space of forty years in the wilderness? No; during all that time sacrifices to God were intermitted; they did not so much as keep the passover after the second year. It was God's condescension to them that he did not insist upon it during their unsettled state; but then let them consider how ill they requited him in offering sacrifices to idols, when God dispensed with their offering them to him. This is also a check to their zeal for the customs that Moses delivered to them, and their fear of having them changed by this Jesus, that immediately after they were delivered these customs were for forty years together disused as needless things.
2.For sacrificing to other gods after they came to Canaan (Act 7:43): You took up the tabernacle of Moloch. Moloch was the idol of the children of Ammon, to which they barbarously offered their own children in sacrifice, which they could not do without great terror and grief to themselves and their families; yet this unnatural idolatry they arrived at, when God gave them up to worship the host of heaven. See Ch2 28:3. It was surely the strongest delusion that ever people were given up to, and the greatest instance of the power of Satan in the children of disobedience, and therefore it is here spoken of emphatically: Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, you submitted even to that, and to the worship of the star of your god Remphan. Some think Remphan signifies the moon, as Moloch does the sun; others take it for Saturn, for that planet is called Remphan in the Syriac and Persian languages. The Septuagint puts it for Chiun, as being a name more commonly known. They had images representing the star, like the silver shrines for Diana, here called the figures which they made to worship. Dr. Lightfoot thinks they had figures representing the whole starry firmament, with all the constellations, and the planets, and these are called Remphan - "the high representation," like the celestial globe: a poor thing to make an idol of, and yet better than a golden calf! Now for this it is threatened, I will carry you away beyond Babylon. In Amos it is beyond Damascus, meaning to Babylon, the land of the north. But Stephen changes it, with an eye to the captivity of the ten tribes, who were carried away beyond Babylon, by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, Kg2 17:6. Let it not therefore seem strange to them to hear of the destruction of this place, for they had heard of it many a time from the prophets of the Old Testament, who were not therefore accused as blasphemers by any but the wicked rulers. It was observed, in the debate on Jeremiah's case, that Micah was not called to an account though he prophesied, saying, Zion shall be ploughed as a field, Jer 26:18, Jer 26:19.
II. He gives an answer particularly to the charge exhibited against him relating to the temple, that he spoke blasphemous words against that holy place, Act 7:44-50. He was accused for saying that Jesus would destroy this holy place: "And what if I did say so?" (saith Stephen) "the glory of the holy God is not bound up in the glory of this holy place, but that may be preserved untouched, though this be laid in the dust;" for, 1. "It was not till our fathers came into the wilderness, in their way to Canaan, that they had any fixed place of worship; and yet the patriarchs, many ages before, worshipped God acceptably at the altars they had adjoining to their own tents in the open air - sub dio; and he that was worshipped without a holy place in the first, and best, and purest ages of the Old Testament church, may and will be so when this holy place is destroyed, without any diminution to his glory." 2. The holy place was at first but a tabernacle, mean and movable, showing itself to be short-lived, and not designed to continue always. Why might not this holy place, though built of stones, be decently brought to its end, and give place to its betters, as well as that though framed of curtains? As it was no dishonour, but an honour to God, that the tabernacle gave way to the temple, so it is now that the material temple gives way to the spiritual one, and so it will be when, at last, the spiritual temple shall give way to the eternal one. 3. That tabernacle was a tabernacle of witness, or of testimony, a figure of good things to come, of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not men, Heb 8:2. This was the glory both of the tabernacle and temple, that they were erected for a testimony of that temple of God which in the latter days should be opened in heaven (Rev 11:19), and of Christ's tabernacling on earth (as the word is, Joh 1:14), and of the temple of his body. 4. That tabernacle was framed just as God appointed, and according to the fashion which Moses saw in the mount, which plainly intimates that it had reference to good things to come. Its rise being heavenly, its meaning and tendency were so; and therefore it was no diminution at all to its glory to say that this temple made with hands should be destroyed, in order to the building of another made without hands, which was Christ's crime (Mar 14:58), and Stephen's. 5. That tabernacle was pitched first in the wilderness; it was not a native of this land of yours (to which you think it must for ever be confined), but was brought in in the next age, by our fathers, who came after those who first erected it, into the possession of the Gentiles, into the land of Canaan, which had long been in the possession of the devoted nations whom God drove out before the face of our fathers. And why may not God set up his spiritual temple, as he had done the material tabernacle, in those countries that were now the possession of the Gentiles? That tabernacle was brought in by those who came with Jesus, that is, Joshua. And I think, for distinction sake, and to prevent mistakes, it ought to be so read, both here and Heb 4:8. Yet in naming Joshua here, which in Greek is Jesus, there may be a tacit intimation that as the Old Testament Joshua brought in that typical tabernacle, so the New Testament Joshua should bring in the true tabernacle into the possession of the Gentiles. 6. That tabernacle continued for many ages, even to the days of David, above four hundred years, before there was any thought of building a temple, Act 7:45. David, having found favour before God, did indeed desire this further favour, to have leave to build God a house, to be a constant settled tabernacle, or dwelling-place, for the Shechinah, or the tokens of the presence of the God of Jacob, Act 7:46. Those who have found favour with God should show themselves forward to advance the interests of his kingdom among men. 7. God had his heart so little upon a temple, or such a holy place as they were so jealous for, that, when David desired to build one, he was forbidden to do it; God was in no haste for one, as he told David (Sa2 7:7), and therefore it was not he, but his son Solomon, some years after, that built him a house. David had all that sweet communion with God in public worship which we read of in his Psalms before there was any temple built. 8. God often declared that temples made with hands were not his delight, nor could add any thing to the perfection of his rest and joy. Solomon, when he dedicated the temple, acknowledged that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands; he has not need of them, is not benefited by them, cannot be confined to them. The whole world is his temple, in which he is every where present, and fills it with his glory; and what occasion has he for a temple then to manifest himself in? Indeed the pretended deities of the heathen needed temples made with hands, for they were gods made with hands (Act 7:41), and had no other place to manifest themselves in than in their own temples; but the one only true and living God needs no temple, for the heaven is his throne, in which he rests, and the earth is his footstool, over which he rules (Act 7:49, Act 7:50), and therefore, What house will you build me, comparable to this which I have already? Or, what is the place of my rest? What need have I of a house, either to repose myself in or to show myself? Hath not my hand made all these things? And these show his eternal power and Godhead (Rom 1:20); they so show themselves to all mankind that those who worship other gods are without excuse. And as the world is thus God's temple, wherein he is manifested, so it is God's temple in which he will be worshipped. As the earth is full of his glory, and is therefore his temple (Isa 6:3), so the earth is, or shall be, full of his praise (Hab 3:3), and all the ends of the earth shall fear him (Psa 67:7), and upon this account it is his temple. It was therefore no reflection at all upon this holy place, however they might take it, to say that Jesus should destroy this temple, and set up another, into which all nations should be admitted, Act 15:16, Act 15:17. And it would not seem strange to those who considered that scripture which Stephen here quotes (Isa 66:1-3), which, as it expressed God's comparative contempt of the external part of his service, so it plainly foretold the rejection of the unbelieving Jews, and the welcome of the Gentiles that were of a contrite spirit into the church.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 42–50. Public domain.
Copy as
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 17
"Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the Prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?" The expression, "gave them up," means, He suffered. Even when there was a Tabernacle, yet there were no sacrifices. "Did ye offer unto Me slain beasts and sacrifices?" There was "the tabernacle of witness," and yet it profited them nothing, but they were consumed. But neither before, nor afterwards, did the miracles profit them aught.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 17
"As it is written in the Book of the Prophets"-and observe, he does not cite the text without a purpose, but shows by it that there is no need of sacrifices; saying: "Did ye offer slain beasts and sacrifice to Me?"-He lays an emphasis on this word (to Me?). "Ye cannot say that it was from sacrificing to Me, that ye proceeded to sacrifice to them:-"by the space of forty years:" and this too, "in the wilderness," where He had most signally shown Himself their Protector.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Acts
Did you offer to me victims and sacrifices for forty years in the desert? Although they offered libations to the Lord out of necessity, they are said to have truly served idols with their hearts turned away, from the time when they transformed gold into the head of a calf. For afterwards, we read that they offered certain things to the Lord, not out of will, but as we learn from this place, out of the fear of punishments and the destruction of those who fell because of idols. However, the Lord regards not what is offered, but the will of the one offering. Therefore, wherever there was an occasion, they always turned back to Egypt in their hearts.
BedeAD 735
Retractions on Acts
And he handed them over to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets. He says this in the singular because among the Hebrews there is one book of the twelve prophets, and not twelve books, according to the number of those same prophets. The host of heaven, however, is sometimes referred to as the army of angels: but in this place, it seems more consistent that he called the host of heaven the stars, since he immediately adds the testimony of the prophet, in which the star of their god is taken in place of God; they are convicted of having accepted the tabernacle of Moloch instead of the tabernacle of the true God.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Acts 7:42 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
CNTR CollationThe earliest Greek manuscripts of this verse, collated letter by letter.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Acts 7:42 captures a pivotal moment in Stephen's defense, where he powerfully indicts Israel for its historical pattern of rebellion and idolatry, particularly during the wilderness wanderings. Quoting from the prophet Amos, Stephen reveals that God, in His righteous judgment, "turned and gave them up" to worship celestial bodies, exposing the profound hypocrisy of their outward religious practices that failed to stem their deep-seated inclination towards false gods, even amidst divine provision and presence.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is embedded within Stephen's extensive sermon in Acts 7, which serves as his defense before the Sanhedrin. Rather than directly refuting the charges against him, Stephen launches into a sweeping historical review of Israel, beginning with Abraham and progressing through Moses, the wilderness generation, and the building of the Temple. His narrative highlights a recurring theme: Israel's persistent rejection of God's chosen messengers and their tendency towards idolatry and disobedience despite God's faithfulness. Verse 42 specifically hones in on the wilderness period, challenging the idealized view of this foundational era by exposing the nation's spiritual infidelity, setting the stage for Stephen's ultimate accusation that his audience is merely continuing this long-standing pattern of resistance to the Holy Spirit and rejection of God's Christ.
Historical & Cultural Context: Stephen's quotation in Acts 7:42 comes directly from Amos 5:25-27, a scathing indictment of Israel's ritualistic worship that lacked true devotion and was accompanied by social injustice and idolatry. The "host of heaven" refers to astral worship—the adoration of the sun, moon, stars, and constellations—a prevalent practice among ancient Near Eastern cultures, which Israel was explicitly forbidden to engage in (Deuteronomy 4:19). Despite God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt and His manifest presence in the wilderness through the pillar of cloud and fire, Israel repeatedly succumbed to pagan influences, as evidenced by the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:1-6) and their later adoption of cultic practices associated with Molech and Rephan, as alluded to in the subsequent verses of Stephen's speech. Stephen's rhetorical question, "have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices...forty years in the wilderness?" challenges the notion that their wilderness worship was pure or exclusive to Yahweh, implying that much of it was tainted by syncretism.
Key Themes: Acts 7:42 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Stephen's discourse and the book of Acts. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Judgment and Consequences. God's act of "giving them up" signifies a severe form of judgment where He withdraws His restraining hand, allowing humanity to experience the destructive consequences of its chosen path of rebellion. This is not arbitrary punishment but a natural unfolding of human choices. Secondly, the verse highlights the pervasive theme of Idolatry and Rebellion that characterized Israel's history. Despite being God's covenant people, their hearts were often turned away from Him, seeking satisfaction and security in false gods and human constructs, a pattern that Stephen argues culminated in their rejection of Jesus. Lastly, it speaks to God's Sovereignty and Patience, demonstrating that while God is incredibly patient with human sin, there comes a point where persistent disobedience leads to a divine release, allowing humanity to reap what it sows, a concept echoed by Paul in Romans 1:24-28.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Stephen's use of Acts 7:42 is rich with literary devices that amplify his message. The most prominent is Allusion, as he directly quotes from the prophet Amos, lending prophetic authority and historical weight to his accusation. This Intertextuality connects the contemporary Sanhedrin's rejection of Jesus to a long-standing pattern of rebellion in Israel's history. The verse also employs a powerful Rhetorical Question ("have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices...forty years in the wilderness?"), which, though seemingly asking for an answer, is designed to provoke introspection and reveal a self-evident truth: Israel's worship in the wilderness was far from pure. This rhetorical device serves to indict his audience by forcing them to acknowledge their ancestors' (and implicitly, their own) hypocrisy. Furthermore, there is profound Irony in God "giving them up to worship" – the very act of worship, intended for God alone, is perverted by being directed towards false deities, highlighting the severity of God's judgment as a consequence of their persistent unfaithfulness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 7:42 profoundly illustrates the theological principle of divine judgment, where God, in His righteous sovereignty, can withdraw His restraining grace when a people persistently reject His commands and pursue idolatry. This "giving up" is not an arbitrary act of vengeance but a consequence of humanity's free choice to turn away from God, allowing them to experience the natural, destructive outcomes of their chosen path. It underscores that true worship is not merely ritualistic but must stem from a heart devoted exclusively to God. The verse serves as a stark reminder that God's patience is not infinite, and persistent rebellion against His will ultimately leads to a state where He allows individuals or nations to reap the bitter harvest of their unfaithfulness, demonstrating His justice alongside His mercy.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 7:42 serves as a sobering mirror for believers today, challenging us to examine the true object of our worship and devotion. It warns against the insidious nature of idolatry, which, while perhaps not manifesting as literal star worship, can easily take root in anything that displaces God from the supreme position in our hearts—be it career, relationships, material possessions, comfort, or even self-righteousness. The divine act of "giving up" reminds us that God's patience, though vast, is not without limits, and persistent rebellion can lead to a spiritual barrenness where we are left to the destructive consequences of our own choices. This should not instill fear in the repentant heart, but rather a profound sense of urgency to continually align our lives, desires, and worship with God's will, seeking genuine devotion over mere outward religious observance. It calls us to cultivate a heart that truly seeks God above all else, recognizing that true freedom and flourishing are found only in Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "worship the host of heaven" mean in this context?
Answer: In Acts 7:42, "worship the host of heaven" refers to astral worship, the adoration of celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars, or the deities associated with them. This was a common pagan practice in the ancient Near East, which God explicitly forbade Israel from engaging in (Deuteronomy 4:19). Stephen uses this phrase to highlight Israel's historical tendency to turn away from the true God and embrace the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, even during their foundational period in the wilderness.
Why did God "give them up" to worship idols? Was this a punishment or a permission?
Answer: God "giving them up" (Greek: paradídōmi) is a profound theological concept that signifies both a judicial act of judgment and a permission. It is a divine withdrawal of His restraining hand, allowing humanity to experience the natural, destructive consequences of their persistent rebellion and chosen path of idolatry. It is not that God actively forced them to worship idols, but rather that He ceased to prevent them from doing so, allowing their deep-seated inclinations to run their course. This concept is echoed in Romans 1:24-28, where Paul describes God giving people over to their sinful desires as a consequence of their rejection of Him. It underscores God's justice and the severe repercussions of persistent unfaithfulness.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Stephen's indictment in Acts 7:42 powerfully foreshadows the ultimate rejection of God's final messenger, Jesus Christ. Just as God "gave up" Israel to their idolatry in the wilderness due to their persistent rebellion, so too did the Jewish leaders of Stephen's day, by rejecting Jesus, demonstrate a continuation of this ancient pattern of resisting the Holy Spirit and turning away from God's true revelation. However, the narrative of God "giving up" also finds its ultimate, paradoxical fulfillment in Christ's atoning work. For humanity, lost in its idolatry and sin, God "gave up" His own Son, Jesus, not to judgment for His own sin, but as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Jesus, the true "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), offered Himself up on the cross, taking upon Himself the consequences of humanity's idolatry and rebellion, so that those who believe in Him might be delivered from the divine "giving up" to judgment and instead be "given up" to new life in Him (Romans 4:25). Through Christ, the true worship of God is restored, not through external rituals or a physical temple, but through the Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), allowing all who believe to turn from their idols and truly worship the living God.