1 A nd the high priest asked, Are these charges true?

E disse o sumo sacerdote: Porventura são assim estas coisas?

2 A nd he answered, Brethren and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before he live in Haran,

Estêvão respondeu: Irmãos e pais, ouvi. O Deus da glória apareceu a nosso pai Abraão, estando ele na Mesopotâmia, antes de habitar em Harã,

3 A nd He said to him, Leave your own country and your relatives and come into the land (region) that I will point out to you.

e disse-lhe: Sai da tua terra e dentre a tua parentela, e dirige-te ã terra que eu te mostrar.

4 S o then he went forth from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, transferred him to this country in which you are now dwelling.

Então saiu da terra dos caldeus e habitou em Harã. Dali, depois que seu pai faleceu, Deus o trouxe para esta terra em que vós agora habitais.

5 Y et He gave him no inheritable property in it, not even enough ground to set his foot on; but He promised that He would give it to Him for a permanent possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.

E não lhe deu nela herança, nem sequer o espaço de um pé; mas prometeu que lha daria em possessão, e depois dele ã sua descendência, não tendo ele ainda filho.

6 A nd this is what God told him: That his descendants would be aliens (strangers) in a land belonging to other people, who would bring them into bondage and ill-treat them 400 years.

Pois Deus disse que a sua descendência seria peregrina em terra estranha e que a escravizariam e maltratariam por quatrocentos anos.

7 B ut I will judge the nation to whom they will be slaves, said God, and after that they will escape and come forth and worship Me in this place.

Mas eu julgarei a nação que os tiver escravizado, disse Deus; e depois disto sairão, e me servirão neste lugar.

8 A nd made with Abraham a covenant (an agreement to be religiously observed) of which circumcision was the seal. And under these circumstances became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac when he became the father of Jacob, and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.

E deu-lhe o pacto da circuncisão; assim então gerou Abraão a Isaque, e o circuncidou ao oitavo dia; e Isaque gerou a Jacó, e Jacó aos doze patriarcas.

9 A nd the patriarchs, boiling with envy and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,

Os patriarcas, movidos de inveja, venderam José para o Egito; mas Deus era com ele,

10 A nd delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

e o livrou de todas as suas tribulações, e lhe deu graça e sabedoria perante Faraó, rei do Egito, que o constituiu governador sobre o Egito e toda a sua casa.

11 T hen there came a famine over all of Egypt and Canaan, with great distress, and our forefathers could find no fodder or vegetable sustenance.

Sobreveio então uma fome a todo o Egito e Canaã, e grande tribulação; e nossos pais não achavam alimentos.

12 B ut when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our forefathers first trip.

Mas tendo ouvido Jacó que no Egito havia trigo, enviou ali nossos pais pela primeira vez.

13 A nd on their second visit Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh and his origin and race.

E na segunda vez deu-se José a conhecer a seus irmãos, e a sua linhagem tornou-se manifesta a Faraó.

14 A nd Joseph sent an invitation calling to himself Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.

Então José mandou chamar a seu pai Jacó, e a toda a sua parentela - setenta e cinco almas.

15 A nd Jacob went down into Egypt, where he himself died, as did our forefathers;

Jacó, pois, desceu ao Egito, onde morreu, ele e nossos pais;

16 A nd their bodies were taken back to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

e foram transportados para Siquém e depositados na sepultura que Abraão comprara por certo preço em prata aos filhos de Emor, em Siquém.

17 B ut as the time for the fulfillment of the promise drew near which God had made to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

Enquanto se aproximava o tempo da promessa que Deus tinha feito a Abraão, o povo crescia e se multiplicava no Egito;

18 U ntil there arose over Egypt another and a different king who did not know Joseph.

até que se levantou ali outro rei, que não tinha conhecido José.

19 H e dealt treacherously with and defrauded our race; he abused and oppressed our forefathers, forcing them to expose their babies so that they might not be kept alive.

Usando esse de astúcia contra a nossa raça, maltratou a nossos pais, ao ponto de fazê-los enjeitar seus filhos, para que não vivessem.

20 A t this juncture Moses was born, and was exceedingly beautiful in God’s sight. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house;

Nesse tempo nasceu Moisés, e era mui formoso, e foi criado três meses em casa de seu pai.

21 T hen when he was exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh rescued him and took him and reared him as her own son.

Sendo ele enjeitado, a filha de Faraó o recolheu e o criou como seu próprio filho.

22 S o Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty (powerful) in his speech and deeds.

Assim Moisés foi instruído em toda a sabedoria dos egípcios, e era poderoso em palavras e obras.

23 A nd when he was in his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his kinsmen the children of Israel '> to help them and to care for them].

Ora, quando ele completou quarenta anos, veio-lhe ao coração visitar seus irmãos, os filhos de Israel.

24 A nd on seeing one of them being unjustly treated, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian and slaying.

E vendo um deles sofrer injustamente, defendeu-o, e vingou o oprimido, matando o egípcio.

25 H e expected his brethren to understand that God was granting them deliverance by his hand; but they did not understand.

Cuidava que seus irmãos entenderiam que por mão dele Deus lhes havia de dar a liberdade; mas eles não entenderam.

26 T hen on the next day he suddenly appeared to some who were quarreling and fighting among themselves, and he urged them to make peace and become reconciled, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you abuse and wrong one another?

No dia seguinte apareceu-lhes quando brigavam, e quis levá- los ã paz, dizendo: Homens, sois irmãos; por que vos maltratais um ao outro?

27 W hereupon the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed aside, saying, Who appointed you a ruler (umpire) and a judge over us?

Mas o que fazia injustiça ao seu próximo o repeliu, dizendo: Quem te constituiu senhor e juiz sobre nós?

28 D o you intend to slay me as you slew the Egyptian yesterday?

Acaso queres tu matar-me como ontem mataste o egípcio?

29 A t that reply Moses sought safety by flight and he was an exile and an alien in the country of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

A esta palavra fugiu Moisés, e tornou-se peregrino na terra de Madiã, onde gerou dois filhos.

30 A nd when forty years had gone by, there appeared to him in the wilderness (desert) of Mount Sinai an angel, in the flame of a burning bramblebush.

E passados mais quarenta anos, apareceu-lhe um anjo no deserto do monte Sinai, numa chama de fogo no meio de uma sarça.

31 W hen Moses saw it, he was astonished and marveled at the sight; but when he went close to investigate, there came to him the voice of the Lord, saying,

Moisés, vendo isto, admirou-se da visão; e, aproximando-se ele para observar, soou a voz do Senhor;

32 I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. And Moses trembled and was so terrified that he did not venture to look.

Eu sou o deus de teus pais, o Deus de Abraão, de Isaque e de Jacó. E Moisés ficou trêmulo e não ousava olhar.

33 T hen the Lord said to him, Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground and worthy of veneration.

Disse-lhe então o Senhor: Tira as alparcas dos teus pés, porque o lugar em que estás é terra santa.

34 B ecause I have most assuredly seen the abuse and oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their sighing and groaning, I have come down to rescue them. So, now come! I will send you back to Egypt.

Vi, com efeito, a aflição do meu povo no Egito, ouvi os seus gemidos, e desci para livrá-lo. Agora pois vem, e enviar-te-ei ao Egito.

35 I t was this very Moses whom they had denied (disowned and rejected), saying, Who made you our ruler (referee) and judge? whom God sent to be a ruler and deliverer and redeemer, by and with the hand of the Angel that appeared to him in the bramblebush.

A este Moisés que eles haviam repelido, dizendo: Quem te constituiu senhor e juiz? a este enviou Deus como senhor e libertador, pela mão do anjo que lhe aparecera na sarça.

36 H e it was who led them forth, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and during the forty years in the wilderness (desert).

Foi este que os conduziu para fora, fazendo prodígios e sinais na terra do Egito, e no Mar Vermelho, e no deserto por quarenta anos.

37 I t was this Moses who said to the children of Israel, God will raise up for you a Prophet from among your brethren as He raised me up.

Este é o Moisés que disse aos filhos de Israel: Deus vos suscitará dentre vossos irmãos um profeta como eu.

38 T his is he who in the assembly in the wilderness (desert) was the go-between for the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and our forefathers, and he received living oracles (words that still live) to be handed down to us.

Este é o que esteve na congregação no deserto, com o anjo que lhe falava no monte Sinai, e com nossos pais, o qual recebeu palavras de vida para vo-las dar;

39 o ur forefathers determined not to be subject to him; but thrusting him aside they rejected him, and in their hearts yearned for and turned back to Egypt.

ao qual os nossos pais não quiseram obedecer, antes o rejeitaram, e em seus corações voltaram ao Egito,

40 A nd they said to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us; as for this Moses who led us forth from the land of Egypt—we have no knowledge of what has happened to him.

dizendo a arão: Faze-nos deuses que vão adiante de nós; porque a esse Moisés que nos tirou da terra do Egito, não sabemos o que lhe aconteceu.

41 A nd they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol and made merry and exulted in the work of their hands.

Fizeram, pois, naqueles dias o bezerro, e ofereceram sacrifício ao ídolo, e se alegravam nas obras das suas mãos.

42 B ut God turned and delivered them up to worship and serve the host (stars) of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: Did you offer to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness (desert), O house of Israel?

Mas Deus se afastou, e os abandonou ao culto das hostes do céu, como está escrito no livro dos profetas: Porventura me oferecestes vítimas e sacrifícios por quarenta anos no deserto, ó casa de Israel?

43 Y ou took up the tent (the portable temple) of Moloch and carried it, and the star of the god Rephan, the images which you made that you might worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.

Antes carregastes o tabernáculo de Moloque e a estrela do deus Renfã, figuras que vós fizestes para adorá-las. Desterrar-vos-ei pois, para além da Babilônia.

44 O ur forefathers had the tent (tabernacle) of witness in the wilderness, even as He Who directed Moses to make it had ordered, according to the pattern and model he had seen.

Entre os nossos pais no deserto estava o tabernáculo do testemunho, como ordenara aquele que disse a Moisés que o fizesse segundo o modelo que tinha visto;

45 O ur forefathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before the face of our forefathers. until the time of David,

o qual nossos pais, tendo-o por sua vez recebido, o levaram sob a direção de Josué, quando entraram na posse da terra das nações que Deus expulsou da presença dos nossos pais, até os dias de Davi,

46 W ho found grace (favor and spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and prayed that he might be allowed to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

que achou graça diante de Deus, e pediu que lhe fosse dado achar habitação para o Deus de Jacó.

47 B ut it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

Entretanto foi Salomão quem lhe edificou uma casa;

48 H owever, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says,

mas o Altíssimo não habita em templos feitos por mãos de homens, como diz o profeta:

49 H eaven My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?

O céu é meu trono, e a terra o escabelo dos meus pés. Que casa me edificareis, diz o Senhor, ou qual o lugar do meu repouso?

50 W as it not My hand that made all these things?

Não fez, porventura, a minha mão todas estas coisas?

51 Y ou stubborn and stiff-necked people, still heathen and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers, so you!

Homens de dura cerviz, e incircuncisos de coração e ouvido, vós sempre resistis ao Espírito Santo; como o fizeram os vossos pais, assim também vós.

52 W hich of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? And they slew those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed and murdered—

A qual dos profetas não perseguiram vossos pais? Até mataram os que dantes anunciaram a vinda do Justo, do qual vós agora vos tornastes traidores e homicidas,

53 Y ou who received the Law as it was ordained and set in order and delivered by angels, and you did not obey it!

vós, que recebestes a lei por ordenação dos anjos, e não a guardastes.

54 N ow upon hearing these things, they were cut to the heart and infuriated, and they ground their teeth against.

Ouvindo eles isto, enfureciam-se em seus corações, e rangiam os dentes contra Estêvão.

55 B ut he, full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand;

Mas ele, cheio do Espírito Santo, fitando os olhos no céu, viu a glória de Deus, e Jesus em pé ã direita de Deus,

56 A nd he said, Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand!

e disse: Eis que vejo os céus abertos, e o Filho do homem em pé ã direita de Deus.

57 B ut they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him.

Então eles gritaram com grande voz, taparam os ouvidos, e arremeteram unânimes contra ele

58 T hen they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

e, lançando-o fora da cidade o apedrejavam. E as testemunhas depuseram as suas vestes aos pés de um mancebo chamado Saulo.

59 A nd while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!

Apedrejavam, pois, a Estêvão que orando, dizia: Senhor Jesus, recebe o meu espírito.

60 A nd falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them! And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

E pondo-se de joelhos, clamou com grande voz: Senhor, não lhes imputes este pecado. Tendo dito isto, adormeceu. E Saulo consentia na sua morte.