1 T he head religious leader asked Stephen, “Are these things true?”

Então o sumo sacerdote perguntou a Estêvão: “São verdadeiras estas acusações?”

2 S tephen said, “My brothers and fathers, listen to me. The great God showed Himself to our early father Abraham while he lived in the country of Mesopotamia. This was before he moved to the country of Haran.

A isso ele respondeu: “Irmãos e pais, ouçam-me! O Deus glorioso apareceu a Abraão, nosso pai, estando ele ainda na Mesopotâmia, antes de morar em Harã, e lhe disse:

3 G od said to him, ‘Leave your family and this land where you were born. Go to a land that I will show you.’

‘Saia da sua terra e do meio dos seus parentes e vá para a terra que eu lhe mostrarei’.

4 H e went from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. After his father died, he came to this country where you now live.

“Então ele saiu da terra dos caldeus e se estabeleceu em Harã. Depois da morte de seu pai, Deus o trouxe a esta terra, onde vocês agora vivem.

5 G od did not give him any land to own, not even enough to put his feet on. But He promised that the land would be his and his children’s after him. At that time he had no children.

Deus não lhe deu nenhuma herança aqui, nem mesmo o espaço de um pé. Mas lhe prometeu que ele e, depois dele, seus descendentes, possuiriam a terra, embora, naquele tempo, Abraão não tivesse filhos.

6 T his is what God said, ‘Your children’s children will be living in a strange land. They will live there 400 years. They will be made to work without pay and will suffer many hard things.

Deus lhe falou desta forma: ‘Seus descendentes serão peregrinos numa terra estrangeira, e serão escravizados e maltratados por quatrocentos anos.

7 I will say to that nation that it is guilty for holding them and making them work without pay. After that they will go free. They will leave that country and worship Me in this place.’

Mas eu castigarei a nação a quem servirão como escravos, e depois sairão dali e me adorarão neste lugar’.

8 “ He made a promise with Abraham. It was kept by a religious act of becoming a Jew. Abraham had a son, Isaac. On the eighth day Abraham took Isaac and had this religious act done to him. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of our twelve early fathers.

E deu a Abraão a aliança da circuncisão. Por isso, Abraão gerou Isaque e o circuncidou oito dias depois do seu nascimento. Mais tarde, Isaque gerou Jacó, e este os doze patriarcas.

9 “ The sons of Jacob sold Joseph to people from the country of Egypt because they were jealous of him. But God was with Joseph.

“Os patriarcas, tendo inveja de José, venderam-no como escravo para o Egito. Mas Deus estava com ele

10 H e helped him in all his troubles. He gave him wisdom and favor with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. This king made Joseph leader over Egypt and over all the king’s house.

e o libertou de todas as suas tribulações, dando a José favor e sabedoria diante do faraó, rei do Egito; este o tornou governador do Egito e de todo o seu palácio.

11 “ The time came when there was no food to eat in all the land of Egypt and Canaan. The people suffered much. Our early fathers were not able to get food.

“Depois houve fome em todo o Egito e em Canaã, trazendo grande sofrimento, e os nossos antepassados não encontravam alimento.

12 T hen Jacob heard there was food in Egypt. He sent our early fathers there the first time.

Ouvindo que havia trigo no Egito, Jacó enviou nossos antepassados em sua primeira viagem.

13 “ The second time they went to the country of Egypt, Joseph made himself known to his brothers. The family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh.

Na segunda viagem deles, José fez-se reconhecer por seus irmãos, e o faraó pôde conhecer a família de José.

14 J oseph asked his father Jacob and all his family to come. There were seventy-five people in the family.

Depois disso, José mandou buscar seu pai Jacó e toda a sua família, que eram setenta e cinco pessoas.

15 J acob moved down to Egypt and died there. Our early fathers died there also.

Então Jacó desceu ao Egito, onde faleceram ele e os nossos antepassados.

16 T hey were brought back to the city of Shechem where they were buried. Abraham paid money for the grave from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. Stephen Speaks about the God of Moses

Seus corpos foram levados de volta a Siquém e colocados no túmulo que Abraão havia comprado ali dos filhos de Hamor, por certa quantia.

17 “ The promise God had given Abraham was about to happen. At this time many more of our people were in the country of Egypt.

“Ao se aproximar o tempo em que Deus cumpriria sua promessa a Abraão, aumentou muito o número do nosso povo no Egito.

18 T hen another man became king in Egypt. He was a king who did not know Joseph.

Então outro rei, que nada sabia a respeito de José, passou a governar o Egito.

19 H e was hard on our people and nation. He worked against our early fathers. He made them put their babies outside so they would die.

Ele agiu traiçoeiramente para com o nosso povo e oprimiu os nossos antepassados, obrigando-os a abandonar os seus recém-nascidos, para que não sobrevivessem.

20 “ At that time Moses was born. He was beautiful in God’s sight. He was fed in his father’s house for three months.

“Naquele tempo nasceu Moisés, que era um menino extraordinário. Por três meses ele foi criado na casa de seu pai.

21 T hen he was put outside. Pharaoh’s daughter took him and cared for him as her own son.

Quando foi abandonado, a filha do faraó o tomou e o criou como seu próprio filho.

22 M oses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He became a powerful man in words and in the things he did.

Moisés foi educado em toda a sabedoria dos egípcios e veio a ser poderoso em palavras e obras.

23 W hen he was forty years old, he thought he should visit his brothers, the Jews.

“Ao completar quarenta anos, Moisés decidiu visitar seus irmãos israelitas.

24 H e saw one of the Jews being hurt. Moses helped the Jew and killed the man from Egypt.

Ao ver um deles sendo maltratado por um egípcio, saiu em defesa do oprimido e o vingou, matando o egípcio.

25 H e thought his people would understand. He thought they knew God would let them go free by his help. But the people did not understand.

Ele pensava que seus irmãos compreenderiam que Deus o estava usando para salvá-los, mas eles não o compreenderam.

26 “ The next day Moses came to some Jews who were fighting. He tried to get them to stop. Moses said to the Jews, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you hurt each other?’

No dia seguinte, Moisés dirigiu-se a dois israelitas que estavam brigando, e tentou reconciliá-los, dizendo: ‘Homens, vocês são irmãos; por que ferem um ao outro?’

27 O ne was beating his neighbor. He pushed Moses away and said, ‘Who made you a leader over us? Who said you could say who is guilty?

“Mas o homem que maltratava o outro empurrou Moisés e disse: ‘Quem o nomeou líder e juiz sobre nós?

28 D o you want to kill me as you killed the man from Egypt yesterday?’

Quer matar-me como matou o egípcio ontem?’

29 W hen Moses heard that, he went as fast as he could to the country of Midian where he was a stranger. While he was there, he became the father of two sons.

Ouvindo isso, Moisés fugiu para Midiã, onde ficou morando como estrangeiro e teve dois filhos.

30 F orty years passed and Moses was near Mount Sinai where no people live. There he saw an angel in the fire of a burning bush.

“Passados quarenta anos, apareceu a Moisés um anjo nas labaredas de uma sarça em chamas no deserto, perto do monte Sinai.

31 H e was surprised and wondered when he saw it. He went up close to see it better. Then he heard the voice of the Lord speak to him.

Vendo aquilo, ficou atônito. E, aproximando-se para observar, ouviu a voz do Senhor:

32 ‘ I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ Moses shook! He was so afraid he did not look at the bush.

‘Eu sou o Deus dos seus antepassados, o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque e o Deus de Jacó’. Moisés, tremendo de medo, não ousava olhar.

33 “ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take your shoes off your feet! The place where you are standing is holy ground.

“Então o Senhor lhe disse: ‘Tire as sandálias dos pés, porque o lugar em que você está é terra santa.

34 I have seen My people suffer in the country of Egypt and I have heard their cries. I have come down to let them go free. So come now, I will send you back to Egypt.’

De fato tenho visto a opressão sobre o meu povo no Egito. Ouvi seus gemidos e desci para livrá-lo. Venha agora, e eu o enviarei de volta ao Egito’.

35 “ The people had put Moses aside. They said, ‘Who made you a leader over us? Who said you are the one to say what is right or wrong?’ But God made this man a leader. Moses was the one who brought them out of the country of Egypt. This was done by the help of the angel who was in the burning bush.

“Este é o mesmo Moisés que tinham rejeitado com estas palavras: ‘Quem o nomeou líder e juiz?’ Ele foi enviado pelo próprio Deus para ser líder e libertador deles, por meio do anjo que lhe tinha aparecido na sarça.

36 T his man led them. He did powerful works in Egypt and at the Red Sea. For forty years he led them in the desert.

Ele os tirou de lá, fazendo maravilhas e sinais no Egito, no mar Vermelho e no deserto durante quarenta anos.

37 “ Moses said to the Jews, ‘God will give you one who speaks for Him like me from among your brothers.’

“Este é aquele Moisés que disse aos israelitas: ‘Deus lhes levantará dentre seus irmãos um profeta como eu’.

38 T his is the man who was with the Jewish nation in the desert. The angel talked to him on Mount Sinai. Moses told it to our early fathers. He also received the living Words of God to give to us.

Ele estava na congregação, no deserto, com o anjo que lhe falava no monte Sinai e com os nossos antepassados, e recebeu palavras vivas, para transmiti-las a nós.

39 “ Our early fathers would not listen to him. They did not obey him. In their hearts they wanted to go back to the country of Egypt.

“Mas nossos antepassados se recusaram a obedecer-lhe; ao contrário, rejeitaram-no, e em seu coração voltaram para o Egito.

40 T hey said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us. We do not know what has happened to this Moses who led us out of Egypt.’

Disseram a Arão: ‘Faça para nós deuses que nos conduzam, pois a esse Moisés que nos tirou do Egito, não sabemos o que lhe aconteceu!’

41 “ In those days they made a calf of gold. They put gifts down in front of their god in worship. They were happy with what they had made with their hands.

Naquela ocasião fizeram um ídolo em forma de bezerro. Trouxeram-lhe sacrifícios e fizeram uma celebração em honra ao que suas mãos tinham feito.

42 B ut God turned from them and let them worship the stars of heaven. This is written in the book of the early preachers, ‘Nation of Jews, was it to Me you gave gifts of sheep and cattle on the altar for forty years in the desert?

Mas Deus afastou-se deles e os entregou à adoração dos astros, conforme o que foi escrito no livro dos profetas: “‘Foi a mim que vocês apresentaram sacrifícios e ofertas durante os quarenta anos no deserto, ó nação de Israel?

43 N o, you set up the tent to worship the god of Molock and the star of your god Rompha. You made gods to worship them. I will carry you away to the other side of the country of Babylon.’ The Place of Worship and the House of God

Ao invés disso, levantaram o santuário de Moloque e a estrela do seu deus Renfã, ídolos que vocês fizeram para adorar! Portanto, eu os enviarei para o exílio, para além da Babilônia’.

44 “ Our early fathers had the tent to worship in. They used it in the desert. God told Moses to make it like the plan which he had seen.

“No deserto os nossos antepassados tinham o tabernáculo da aliança, que fora feito segundo a ordem de Deus a Moisés, de acordo com o modelo que ele tinha visto.

45 T his was received by our early fathers. They brought it here when they won the wars with the people who were not Jews. It was when Joshua was our leader. God made those people leave as our early fathers took the land. The tent was here until the time of David.

Tendo recebido o tabernáculo, nossos antepassados o levaram, sob a liderança de Josué, quando tomaram a terra das nações que Deus expulsou de diante deles. Esse tabernáculo permaneceu nesta terra até a época de Davi,

46 D avid pleased God and wanted to build a house for worship for the God of Jacob.

que encontrou graça diante de Deus e pediu que ele lhe permitisse providenciar uma habitação para o Deus de Jacó.

47 B ut Solomon was the one who built the house of God for Him.

Mas foi Salomão quem lhe construiu a casa.

48 B ut the Most High does not live in buildings made by hands. The early preacher said,

“Todavia, o Altíssimo não habita em casas feitas por homens. Como diz o profeta:

49 ’ Heaven is the place where I sit and the earth is the place where I rest My feet. What house will you build Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is My place of rest?

“‘O céu é o meu trono, e a terra, o estrado dos meus pés. Que espécie de casa vocês me edificarão? diz o Senhor, ou, onde seria meu lugar de descanso?

50 D id not My hands make all these things?’ The Jews Are Hurt

Não foram as minhas mãos que fizeram todas estas coisas?’

51 “ You have hard hearts and ears that will not listen to me! You are always working against the Holy Spirit. Your early fathers did. You do too.

“Povo rebelde, obstinado de coração e de ouvidos! Vocês são iguais aos seus antepassados: sempre resistem ao Espírito Santo!

52 W hich of the early preachers was not beaten and hurt by your early fathers? They killed those who told of the coming of the One Right with God. Now you have handed Him over and killed Him.

Qual dos profetas os seus antepassados não perseguiram? Eles mataram aqueles que prediziam a vinda do Justo, de quem agora vocês se tornaram traidores e assassinos —

53 Y ou had the Law given to you by angels. Yet you have not kept it.” Stephen Is Killed

vocês, que receberam a Lei por intermédio de anjos, mas não lhe obedeceram”. O Apedrejamento de Estêvão

54 T he Jews and religious leaders listened to Stephen. Then they became angry and began to grind their teeth at him.

Ouvindo isso, ficaram furiosos e rangeram os dentes contra ele.

55 H e was filled with the Holy Spirit. As he looked up to heaven, he saw the shining-greatness of God and Jesus standing at the right side of God.

Mas Estêvão, cheio do Espírito Santo, levantou os olhos para o céu e viu a glória de Deus, e Jesus em pé, à direita de Deus,

56 H e said, “See! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”

e disse: “Vejo os céus abertos e o Filho do homem em pé, à direita de Deus”.

57 T hey cried out with loud voices. They put their hands over their ears and they all pushed on him.

Mas eles taparam os ouvidos e, dando fortes gritos, lançaram-se todos juntos contra ele,

58 T hen they took him out of the city and threw stones at him. The men who were throwing the stones laid their coats down in front of a young man named Saul.

arrastaram-no para fora da cidade e começaram a apedrejá-lo. As testemunhas deixaram seus mantos aos pés de um jovem chamado Saulo.

59 W hile they threw stones at Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Enquanto apedrejavam Estêvão, este orava: “Senhor Jesus, recebe o meu espírito”.

60 A fter that he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

Então caiu de joelhos e bradou: “Senhor, não os consideres culpados deste pecado”. E, tendo dito isso, adormeceu.