Acts 7:42

¶ 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?

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}?

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!

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?

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?

Commentary

Acts 7:42 is a poignant moment in Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts Israel's history of rebellion and God's response to their persistent idolatry. This verse quotes from the prophet Amos, highlighting a critical truth about divine judgment.

Context

This verse is part of Stephen's lengthy sermon in Acts chapter 7, a powerful recounting of Israel's history from Abraham to Solomon. Stephen uses this historical narrative to demonstrate Israel's recurring pattern of rejecting God's messengers and commands, ultimately leading to their rejection of Jesus Christ. Verse 42 specifically addresses the period of their forty years in the wilderness, challenging the notion that their worship during that time was pure and wholly directed towards God. Instead, Stephen asserts, God allowed them to pursue their idolatrous inclinations.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The phrase "God turned, and gave them up" signifies a divine act of judgment. When a people persistently reject God's guidance and warnings, He may withdraw His restraining hand, allowing them to fully experience the destructive consequences of their chosen path. This is not arbitrary punishment but a natural result of their choices.
  • Idolatry and Rebellion: The "worship the host of heaven" refers to the adoration of celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars) or the deities associated with them, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern religions. This was a direct violation of God's first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-5). Despite God's miraculous provision and presence in the wilderness, Israel repeatedly turned to false gods, as seen with the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:1-6).
  • God's Patience and Justice: While God is incredibly patient, there comes a point where persistent disobedience leads to a divine release, allowing humanity to reap what it sows. This theme is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, notably in Paul's letter to the Romans, where God "gave them over" to their sinful desires (Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28).

Linguistic Insights

  • "Gave them up" (KJV): The Greek word is paredōken (παρέδωκεν), which means "to hand over," "to deliver up," or "to permit." It implies a divine act of surrender or abandonment, where God allows people to follow their own desires rather than continuing to restrain them. This is a severe form of judgment, allowing the natural consequences of sin to unfold.
  • "Host of heaven": The Greek phrase is stratia tou ouranou (στρατιᾷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ), literally "army of heaven." In this context, it refers to the celestial bodies worshipped as deities (astral worship) by surrounding pagan nations, which Israel was explicitly forbidden to do (Deuteronomy 4:19).

Historical and Cultural Context

Stephen's quote is from Amos 5:25-27, where the prophet condemns Israel's hypocrisy: performing outward religious rituals while their hearts were far from God, engaged in idolatry and social injustice. The wilderness period, often idealized, was in reality marked by significant spiritual failures. The question, "O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices...forty years in the wilderness?" is rhetorical, implying a negative answer regarding the purity and exclusivity of their worship. While sacrifices were offered, they were often accompanied by, or even superseded by, worship of other gods.

Practical Application

Acts 7:42 serves as a powerful warning for all generations:

  • Beware of Hypocrisy: Outward religious observance without genuine devotion to God is meaningless and can even incur divine displeasure. True worship comes from the heart.
  • The Dangers of Idolatry: While modern idolatry may not involve literal statues or stars, anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives—money, power, relationships, self-indulgence—can become an idol. The consequences of such misplaced worship can be severe, leading to spiritual barrenness and a sense of divine abandonment.
  • God's Justice is Real: God's patience is immense, but it is not infinite. Persistent rebellion against His will can lead to Him "giving us up" to the natural, destructive consequences of our choices. This should motivate us to repentance and obedience.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Amos 5:25

    Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

  • Amos 5:26

    But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

  • Ezekiel 20:39

    As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

  • Jeremiah 19:13

    And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

  • Psalms 81:11

    But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

  • Psalms 81:12

    So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: [and] they walked in their own counsels.

  • Deuteronomy 4:19

    And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, [even] all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
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