Acts 7 43

Acts 7:43 kjv

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.

Acts 7:43 nkjv

You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'

Acts 7:43 niv

You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon.

Acts 7:43 esv

You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.'

Acts 7:43 nlt

No, you carried your pagan gods ?
the shrine of Molech,
the star of your god Rephan,
and the images you made to worship them.
So I will send you into exile
as far away as Babylon.'

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 43 Meaning

Acts 7:43 is a powerful prophetic indictment by Stephen, quoting the prophet Amos, revealing that even during the wilderness wanderings, a segment of the Israelites secretly harbored and practiced idolatry, specifically worshipping pagan deities like Moloch and the star-god Remphan, evidenced by portable shrines and astral images. This long-standing spiritual infidelity against the one true God was a key reason for their historical exiles, fulfilling God's promised judgment that He would carry them away far beyond Babylon, emphasizing the severity and extent of their apostasy and God's corresponding judgment.

Acts 7 43 Context

Acts 7:43 is embedded within Stephen's extended sermon to the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:2-53), delivered as his defense against charges of blasphemy against Moses, the Law, and the Temple. Stephen systematically recounts Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness and Israel's consistent pattern of rebellion and idolatry, even from its earliest stages. This verse serves as a climactic point in his historical review, directly accusing the ancestors of the very men judging him of deep-seated apostasy during the Exodus and wilderness period. By quoting Amos 5:25-27, Stephen illustrates that God's judgment of exile was a direct consequence of this persistent idolatry. He transitions the prophecy from Amos's "beyond Damascus" to "beyond Babylon" or further, acknowledging the full scope of God's judgments upon His people for their sins, culminating in the major exiles. His ultimate point is to demonstrate that the generation before him was merely continuing a long line of those who resisted the Holy Spirit and persecuted God's messengers, ultimately rejecting Jesus, the supreme Prophet.

Word Analysis

• Yea (Καί – Kai): A connective particle here intensifying or adding emphasis, akin to "Indeed" or "And what is more." It signals a strong affirmation or confirmation of their idolatry.
• ye took up (ἀνελάβετε – anelabete): From analambano, meaning "to take up," "to take with one," "to carry away." This implies more than just casually seeing these idols; it suggests they embraced, carried, and incorporated these pagan elements into their lives and practices. It reveals active adoption and retention of idolatry.
• the tabernacle (τὴν σκηνὴν – tēn skēnēn): Refers to a tent or booth. In this context, it signifies a portable shrine or cultic structure used for worship. It directly contrasts with God's true Tabernacle, implying that Israel simultaneously carried symbols of false gods alongside the presence of the true God.
• of Moloch (τοῦ Μολόχ – tou Moloch): Refers to the Canaanite deity Molech (Hebrew: Molek), infamous for demanding child sacrifice. This was an abomination to Yahweh (Lev 18:21, 20:2-5). Its mention highlights the severity of Israel's spiritual transgression.
• and the star (καὶ τὸ ἄστρον – kai to astron): Refers to a celestial body or planet. This points to the worship of heavenly bodies, often associated with astrology and other pagan cults that sought to divine fate from the stars. This form of idolatry was strictly forbidden by God (Deut 4:19).
• of your god (τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν – tou theou hymōn): A poignant and ironic phrase. Stephen states "your god," indicating a deity that they had chosen, in direct defiance of Yahweh, their covenant God. This stresses their apostasy.
• Remphan (Ῥεμφάν – Rhempʰan): A Greek transliteration from the Septuagint (LXX) version of Amos 5:26. In the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the equivalent name is Chiun (Kiyyun), believed to be an Assyrian-Babylonian star deity, often identified with the planet Saturn.
• figures (τοὺς τύπους – tous typous): From typos, meaning "a mold, form, or pattern"; here, it denotes carved or cast images, idols, or symbols. These were physical representations made for worship.
• which ye made (οὓς ἐποιήσατε – hous epoiēsate): Emphasizes human agency in creating these false objects of worship, contrasting with the unseen, unmade God who created all things.
• to worship them (προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς – proskynein autois): To prostrate oneself before, to bow down, to do obeisance, to adore. This term highlights the ultimate act of religious devotion, misdirected away from Yahweh to idols.
• and I will carry you away (καὶ μετοικιῶ ὑμᾶς – kai metoikiō hymas): From metoikizō, meaning "to transfer from one habitation to another," "to lead away as colonists," or "to cause to emigrate." This signifies forced relocation, i.e., exile or captivity, as a divine judgment. God declares His active role in bringing this consequence upon them.
• beyond Babylon (ἐπέκεινα Βαβυλῶνος – epekeina Babylōnos): "Beyond Babylon" is a significant departure from the Hebrew Masoretic Text of Amos 5:27, which says "beyond Damascus." Stephen, quoting the LXX, likely used "beyond Babylon" either as an inspired contextualization for his audience (since the Babylonian exile was a much larger and well-known historical reality for Jews than the Assyrian exile of Damascus) or because the LXX he was quoting contained this variant. It emphasizes the extensive and widespread nature of the judgment, sending them into lands far removed from Israel, representing a profound dispersal as divine punishment for their persistent rebellion and idolatry.

Acts 7 43 Bonus section

The precise wording difference between Amos 5:27 ("beyond Damascus" in the Hebrew Masoretic Text) and Stephen's quote in Acts 7:43 ("beyond Babylon" from the Septuagint) is a key point of discussion. Stephen, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, likely used the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) which was common in the Hellenistic world. However, his choice or the LXX's rendition of "beyond Babylon" also serves a theological purpose: it applies Amos's prophecy of exile, which initially pertained to the Northern Kingdom and its Assyrian captivity "beyond Damascus," to the more profound and universally recognized Babylonian exile experienced by Judah. This demonstrated God's ongoing, escalating judgment on a rebellious people, showing that the consequences of idolatry extended far beyond a single historical event, echoing into the long and persistent diaspora of Israel. It serves as an ultimate sign of judgment, emphasizing distance and utter displacement.

Acts 7 43 Commentary

Stephen's recitation of Acts 7:43 is a damning expose of Israel's spiritual hypocrisy, particularly poignant coming from one accused of rejecting Jewish traditions. He quotes Amos 5:25-27, not merely to recount history, but to underscore a recurring theological truth: Israel's persistent idolatry led directly to God's judgment and exile. The charge is that even during the unique period of the wilderness, while accompanied by God's manifest presence in the true Tabernacle and sustained by manna, the Israelites clandestinely or subtly harbored an affection for pagan deities. They did not solely worship Moloch and Remphan for forty years, but rather, alongside their nominal Yahweh-worship, their hearts embraced and carried symbols of these false gods, demonstrating an inherent bent towards syncretism.

The mention of Moloch (child sacrifice) and Remphan (astral deity worship, associated with Saturn/Chiun) highlights the depth of their spiritual depravity, representing gross violations of God's foundational commands against other gods and images. The imagery of "taking up the tabernacle" of Moloch implies a portable, accessible cult, integrated into their daily lives. God's response—"I will carry you away beyond Babylon"—underscores His sovereign judgment. While Amos prophesied "beyond Damascus" (pointing to Assyrian exile of the Northern Kingdom), Stephen's "beyond Babylon" speaks to the later, greater exile of Judah and the widespread scattering of the Jewish people, prophetically broadening the scope of judgment and connecting past apostasy with enduring consequences. This verse encapsulates Stephen's message that their ancestors' rebellious spirit, rooted in idolatry, foreshadowed and perfectly explained the present generation's rejection of God's Messiah.