1 E l sumo sacerdote dijo: “¿Es esto así?”

And the high priest asked, Are these charges true?

2 E steban respondió: “Escúchen me, hermanos y padres. El Dios de gloria apareció a nuestro padre Abraham cuando estaba en Mesopotamia, antes que habitara en Harán,

And 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,

3 y le dijo: ‘ Sal de tu tierra y de tu familia, y ve a la tierra que Yo te mostrare.’

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

4 “ Entonces Abraham salió de la tierra de los Caldeos y se estableció en Harán. Y de allí, después de la muerte de su padre, Dios lo trasladó a esta tierra en la cual ahora ustedes habitan.

So 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.

5 N o le dio en ella heredad, ni siquiera la medida de la planta del pie, y sin embargo, aunque no tenía hijo, prometió que se la daria en posesion a el y a su descendencia despues de el.

Yet 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.

6 Y Dios dijo así: ‘ Que sus descendientes serian extranjeros en una tierra extraña, y que serian esclavizados y maltratados por 400 años.

And 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.

7 ‘ Pero Yo mismo juzgare a cualquier nacion de la cual sean esclavos,’ dijo Dios ‘ y despues de eso saldran y Me serviran (adoraran) en este lugar.’

But 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.

8 D ios le dio el pacto de la circuncisión; y así Abraham vino a ser el padre de Isaac, y lo circuncidó al octavo día; e Isaac vino a ser el padre de Jacob, y Jacob de los doce patriarcas.

And 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.

9 “ Los patriarcas tuvieron envidia de José y lo vendieron para Egipto. Pero Dios estaba con él,

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

10 y lo rescató de todas sus aflicciones. Le dio gracia y sabiduría delante de Faraón, rey de Egipto, y éste lo puso por gobernador sobre Egipto y sobre toda su casa.

And 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.

11 “ Entonces vino hambre sobre todo Egipto y Canaán, y con ella gran aflicción, y nuestros padres (antepasados) no hallaban alimentos.

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

12 P ero cuando Jacob supo que había grano en Egipto, envió a nuestros padres allá la primera vez.

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

13 E n la segunda visita, José se dio a conocer a sus hermanos, y conoció Faraón la familia de José.

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

14 J osé, enviando mensaje, mandó llamar a Jacob su padre y a toda su familia, en total setenta y cinco personas.

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

15 “ Y Jacob descendió a Egipto, y allí murió él y también nuestros padres.

And Jacob went down into Egypt, where he himself died, as did our forefathers;

16 D e allí fueron trasladados a Siquem, y puestos en el sepulcro que por una suma de dinero había comprado Abraham a los hijos de Hamor en Siquem.

And 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.

17 “ Pero a medida que se acercaba el tiempo de la promesa que Dios había confirmado a Abraham, el pueblo crecía y se multiplicaba en Egipto,

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

18 h asta que surgio otro rey en Egipto que no sabia nada de Jose.

Until there arose over Egypt another and a different king who did not know Joseph.

19 E ste rey, obrando con astucia contra nuestro pueblo, maltrató a nuestros padres, a fin de que expusieran a la muerte a sus niños para que no vivieran.

He 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.

20 “ Fue por ese tiempo que Moisés nació. Era hermoso a la vista de Dios, y fue criado por tres meses en la casa de su padre.

At this juncture Moses was born, and was exceedingly beautiful in God’s sight. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house;

21 D espués de ser abandonado para morir, la hija de Faraón se lo llevó y lo crió como su propio hijo.

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

22 M oisés fue instruido en toda la sabiduría de los Egipcios, y era un hombre poderoso en palabras y en hechos.

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

23 P ero cuando iba a cumplir la edad de cuarenta años, sintió en su corazón el deseo de visitar a sus hermanos, los Israelitas.

And 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].

24 A l ver que uno de ellos era tratado injustamente, lo defendió y vengó al oprimido, matando al Egipcio.

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

25 P ensaba que sus hermanos entendían que Dios les estaba dando libertad (salvación) por medio de él, pero ellos no entendieron.

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

26 “ Al día siguiente se les presentó, cuando dos de ellos reñían, y trató de poner paz entre ellos, diciendo: ‘Varones, ustedes son hermanos, ¿por qué se hieren el uno al otro ?’

Then 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?

27 P ero el que estaba hiriendo a su prójimo lo empujó, diciendo: ‘¿ Quien te ha puesto por gobernante y juez sobre nosotros ?

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

28 ¿ Acaso quieres matarme como mataste ayer al egipcio ?’

Do you intend to slay me as you slew the Egyptian yesterday?

29 A l oír estas palabras, Moises huyo y se convirtio en extranjero en la tierra de Madian, donde fue padre de dos hijos.

At 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.

30 “ Pasados cuarenta años, se le aparecio un angel en el desierto del monte Sinaí, en la llama de una zarza que ardia.

And 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.

31 A l ver esto, Moisés se maravillaba de la visión, y al acercarse para ver mejor, vino a él la voz del Señor:

When 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,

32 ‘ Yo soy el Dios de tus padres, el Dios de Abraham, de Isaac, y de Jacob.’ Moisés temblando, no se atrevía a mirar.

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.

33 “ Pero el Señor le dijo: ‘Quitate las sandalias de los pies, porque el lugar donde estas es tierra santa.

Then 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.

34 C iertamente he visto la opresion de Mi pueblo en Egipto y he oido sus gemidos, y he descendido para librarlos; ven ahora y te enviare a Egipto.’

Because 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.

35 E ste Moisés, a quien ellos rechazaron, diciendo: ‘¿ Quien te ha puesto por gobernante y juez ?’ es el mismo que Dios envió para ser gobernante y libertador con la ayuda del ángel que se le apareció en la zarza.

It 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.

36 E ste hombre los sacó, haciendo prodigios y señales (milagros) en la tierra de Egipto, en el Mar Rojo y en el desierto por cuarenta años.

He 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).

37 “ Este es el mismo Moisés que dijo a los Israelitas: ‘ Dios les levantara un profeta como yo de entre sus hermanos.’

It 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.

38 E ste es el que estaba en la congregación en el desierto junto con el ángel que le hablaba en el Monte Sinaí, y con nuestros padres, y el que recibió palabras de vida (oráculos divinos) para transmitirlas a ustedes,

This 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.

39 a l cual nuestros padres no quisieron obedecer, sino que lo repudiaron, y en sus corazones desearon regresar a Egipto,

our 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.

40 d iciendo a Aaron: ‘Haznos dioses que vayan delante de nosotros, porque a este Moises que nos saco de la tierra de Egipto, no sabemos lo que le haya pasado.’

And 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.

41 “ En aquellos días hicieron un becerro y ofrecieron sacrificio al ídolo, y se regocijaban en las obras de sus manos.

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

42 P ero Dios se apartó de ellos y los entregó para que sirvieran (adoraran) al ejército del cielo (los cuerpos celestes), como está escrito en el libro de los profetas: ‘¿ Acaso fue a Mi a quien ofrecieron victimas y sacrificios en el desierto por cuarenta años, casa de Israel ?

But 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?

43 T ambien llevaron el tabernaculo de Moloc, y la estrella del dios Renfan, las imagenes que hicieron para adorarlas. Yo tambien los deportare mas alla de Babilonia.’

You 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.

44 “ Nuestros padres tuvieron el tabernáculo del testimonio en el desierto, tal como le había ordenado que lo hiciera el que habló a Moisés, conforme al modelo que había visto.

Our 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.

45 A su vez, habiéndolo recibido, nuestros padres lo introdujeron con Josué al tomar posesión de las naciones (los Gentiles) que Dios arrojó de delante de nuestros padres, hasta los días de David.

Our 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,

46 Y David halló gracia delante de Dios, y pidió el favor de hallar una morada para el Dios de Jacob.

Who 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.

47 P ero fue Salomón quien Le edificó una casa.

But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

48 “ Sin embargo, el Altísimo no habita en casas hechas por manos de hombres; como dice el profeta:

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

49 ‘ El cielo es Mi trono, y la tierra el estrado de Mis pies; ¿ que casa Me edificaran ?’ dice el Señor, ‘¿ O cual es el lugar de Mi reposo ?

Heaven 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?

50 ¿ No fue Mi mano la que hizo todas estas cosas ?’

Was it not My hand that made all these things?

51 “ Ustedes, que son tercos e incircuncisos de corazón y de oídos, resisten siempre al Espíritu Santo; como hicieron sus padres, así hacen también ustedes.

You 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!

52 ¿ A cuál de los profetas no persiguieron sus padres ? Ellos mataron a los que antes habían anunciado la venida del Justo, del cual ahora ustedes se hicieron traidores y asesinos;

Which 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—

53 u stedes que recibieron la ley por disposición de ángeles y sin embargo no la guardaron.” Martirio de Esteban

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

54 A l oír esto, se sintieron profundamente ofendidos, y crujían los dientes contra él.

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

55 P ero Esteban, lleno del Espíritu Santo, fijos los ojos en el cielo, vio la gloria de Dios y a Jesús de pie a la diestra de Dios;

But 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;

56 y dijo: “Veo los cielos abiertos, y al Hijo del Hombre de pie a la diestra de Dios.”

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

57 E ntonces ellos gritaron a gran voz, y tapándose los oídos se lanzaron a una contra él.

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

58 E chándolo fuera de la ciudad, comenzaron a apedrearlo; y los testigos pusieron sus mantos a los pies de un joven llamado Saulo (Pablo).

Then 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.

59 Y mientras lo apedreaban, Esteban invocaba al Señor y decía: “Señor Jesús, recibe mi espíritu.”

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

60 C ayendo de rodillas, clamó en alta voz: “Señor, no les tomes en cuenta este pecado.” Habiendo dicho esto, durmió (expiró).

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