Acts 7:44 kjv
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
Acts 7:44 nkjv
"Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,
Acts 7:44 niv
"Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
Acts 7:44 esv
"Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen.
Acts 7:44 nlt
"Our ancestors carried the Tabernacle with them through the wilderness. It was constructed according to the plan God had shown to Moses.
Acts 7 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:8 | "...let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | God's command to build a sanctuary |
| Exod 26:33 | "...you shall put the veil as a dividing line below the bar..." | Construction of the Holy of Holies |
| Exod 27:21 | "...that Aaron and his sons may order it from evening to morning..." | Priestly duties for the lamps |
| Exod 30:8 | "...and when he sets the lamps before it, they shall burn." | Incense altar and lamps |
| Exod 35:19 | "The commissioned workers, and the things of which Moses said, 'The LORD has commanded to do this...'" | Israel’s willingness to work |
| Exod 37:1-2 | "And Bezaleel made the ark of acacia wood..." | Construction of the Ark |
| Exod 38:21 | "This is the sum of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of Testimony..." | Summary of Tabernacle materials |
| Num 4:4-6 | "And when the camp moves, Aaron and his sons shall go in..." | Carrying the Tabernacle |
| Num 18:2 | "...bring with you your brethren from the tribe of Levi..." | Levites' service |
| Deut 31:25 | "...so Moses charged the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant..." | Moses’ instructions |
| Josh 3:3 | "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God..." | Crossing the Jordan |
| 1 Sam 4:4 | "So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they brought the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Hosts..." | Ark at Shiloh |
| 2 Sam 6:17 | "And David brought the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD into its place..." | Ark brought to Jerusalem |
| 1 Kings 8:4 | "So they brought up the Ark of the LORD, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings..." | Ark in Solomon's Temple |
| Psa 78:60 | "He forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh..." | God's forsaking Shiloh |
| Psa 132:6 | "Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar." | Finding the Ark |
| Isa 8:20 | "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." | Testimony as a standard |
| Jer 7:12 | "But go now to my place that was in Shiloh..." | Shiloh's judgment |
| Acts 1:3 | "...speaking about the kingdom of God." | Jesus speaking of the kingdom |
| Heb 8:5 | "...who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things..." | Tabernacle as shadow |
| Heb 9:1-5 | Description of the Tabernacle and its furnishings | Description of the Tabernacle |
| Rev 11:19 | "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple..." | Ark in heavenly temple |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 44 Meaning
The verse describes the tabernacle of testimony, also referred to as the tent of witness. This structure was central to Israel's worship and pilgrimage in the wilderness, containing the Ark of the Covenant and the stone tablets of the Law given to Moses. Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's covenant relationship with God, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness and rebellion even from the early stages of their journey.
Acts 7 44 Context
This verse is found within Stephen's powerful defense speech before the Sanhedrin, as recorded in the book of Acts. Stephen traces the history of Israel's relationship with God, from Abraham through Moses and the wilderness wandering, emphasizing God's consistent provision and presence, and Israel's persistent disobedience and rejection of God's messengers and His Law. He meticulously recounts instances of Israel’s faithlessness to build a case that their forefathers rejected the Holy Spirit, just as they were doing by rejecting Stephen and the Gospel he preached. This particular verse places the Tabernacle of Testimony in its historical and theological context during the wilderness journey, highlighting its importance as the tangible presence of God among His people.
Acts 7 44 Word Analysis
- "The": Definite article, indicating a specific, well-known entity.
- "tabernacle": (Greek: skēnḗ, σκηνή) Refers to a tent or dwelling. In the Old Testament context, this specifically denotes the portable sanctuary God commanded Moses to build for His dwelling place among the Israelites during their wandering in the wilderness. It signifies God's tangible presence with His people.
- "of": Preposition indicating possession or relationship.
- "testimony": (Greek: marturíou, μαρτυρίου) Literally means witness or evidence. In this context, it refers to the covenant and the Law, particularly the Ten Commandments inscribed on stone tablets, which served as a testimony or witness to God's covenant with Israel and His holy character. It was called the "tabernacle of testimony" because the Ark, which was within it, contained these tablets of the law, testifying to God’s covenant.
- "which": Relative pronoun, introducing a clause that further describes the tabernacle.
- "was": Past tense verb, indicating existence at a specific time.
- "in the wilderness": Locational phrase, specifying the setting of the tabernacle’s initial use. This points to the period after the Exodus from Egypt and before the conquest of Canaan.
- "of our fathers": Possessive phrase, linking the tabernacle and its significance to the generation of Israelites who received it through Moses, establishing a historical lineage.
Words Group Analysis
- "tabernacle of testimony": This phrase encapsulates the dual nature of the structure: it was God's dwelling place (tabernacle), but also the container and symbol of His covenant stipulations and Law (testimony). It was where God communed with Moses and where His presence was manifest, serving as a constant reminder to Israel of their covenant obligations and God's faithfulness. The Ark of the Covenant, housed within the most holy place of the tabernacle, held the tablets of the Law, which were God's direct testimony to Israel.
Acts 7 44 Bonus Section
The term "tabernacle of testimony" also appears in the Old Testament, notably in Exodus 38:21, where it is described as a place where the Levites, appointed to minister, counted the materials for its construction. The tabernacle was designed with meticulous detail, according to divine instruction, and represented God's holiness and the need for separation from sin. The contents of the tabernacle, especially the Ark, were central to Israel's worship and symbolized God's covenant faithfulness and the ongoing need for atonement. Stephen’s reference serves as a powerful reminder that God's intentions were always for His people to obey His Word, which the testimony signified, and to live in intimate fellowship with Him.
Acts 7 44 Commentary
Stephen uses the "tabernacle of testimony" to emphasize God's ongoing presence and direction of Israel from the very beginning of their national existence. He highlights that God's presence was not static, but moved with His people through the wilderness. This served as a foundational element of their covenant relationship. By recalling the tabernacle and its associated functions, Stephen reminds his accusers of their historical heritage and God's prior actions on behalf of Israel, setting the stage to demonstrate how they, like their ancestors, had consistently failed to recognize and obey God's appointed messengers and the divine will.