Acts 7:46 kjv
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7:46 nkjv
who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7:46 niv
who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7:46 esv
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7:46 nlt
"David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 7:45 | ...Jesus received it in turn and brought it in when Joshua*. | (Acts 7:45 - Context setting) |
| Acts 7:47 | But Solomon built him a house. | (Acts 7:47 - Contrast) |
| 2 Samuel 7:1-3 | Now it came to pass, when the king was dwelling in his house... Nathan the prophet... | (David's desire established) |
| 2 Samuel 7:4-5 | ... Nathan said to David, “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in. | (God's initial response) |
| 2 Samuel 7:11 | ... Also the LORD tells you that he will make you a house. | (God promises a house for David) |
| 1 Chronicles 22:6-8 | Then he called for Solomon his son... For you are to build a house for My name. | (David commissions Solomon) |
| 1 Chronicles 28:2-3 | Then David stood up on his feet... I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD... | (David's stated desire) |
| Psalm 132:1-5 | O LORD, remember David, all his affliction; How he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house... Until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” | (David's vow and heart) |
| Psalm 132:14 | The LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. | (God's chosen dwelling) |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ... He was speaking of the temple of His body. | (Jesus' reference to temple) |
| Hebrews 9:24 | For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands... but into heaven itself... | (Christ in the true sanctuary) |
| Exodus 25:8-9 | And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. | (God's command for sanctuary) |
| Exodus 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. | (Glory filling the tabernacle) |
| Numbers 7:89 | Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him... he heard the voice of One speaking to him... | (Moses and God's voice) |
| Deuteronomy 12:11 | Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God chooses to make His name a dwelling place there. | (Central place of worship) |
| 1 Kings 6:1-3 | ...Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem... And the house which King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long... | (Solomon's construction) |
| 1 Kings 8:6-7 | Now the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house... And the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark... | (Ark in the Temple) |
| Isaiah 66:1-2 | Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build for Me? And where is the place of My rest? | (God's transcendence) |
| Jeremiah 7:1-7 | ...“Go to the temple site, and preach there the word I command you to speak. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will punish this place and all its people... For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, and if you uphold justice between one person and another, ... then I will let you dwell in this place. | (Temple's purpose and condition) |
| Ezekiel 43:4-5 | And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. | (Glory returning to the Temple) |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 46 Meaning
This verse highlights David's desire, divinely inspired, to build a resting place for the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling with Israel. It reflects David's deep reverence and his understanding of God's presence among His people, contrasting with the more mobile tabernacle arrangements.
Acts 7 46 Context
Stephen, speaking to the Sanhedrin, is recounting the history of Israel, emphasizing their recurring unfaithfulness to God's commands and prophets. He has just finished recounting God's presence with Israel through the Tabernacle, established by Moses. This verse serves as a transition, introducing David's subsequent desire and God's directive to build a permanent house for the Ark, which was later fulfilled by Solomon. The context is an apologetic and indictment against the religious leaders who are persecuting Stephen, implying their actions mirror the historical rebellions of Israel.
Acts 7 46 Word Analysis
ὅς (hos): relative pronoun, meaning "who." It refers back to David.
εὗρεν (heurén): from εὑρίσκω (heurískō), "to find." Here it implies God's favor or discovering something suitable.
χάριν (chárin): from χάρις (cháris), meaning "favor," "grace." David sought or found favor.
εὑρεῖν (heureîn): infinitive of εὑρίσκω (heurískō), "to find." Continues the idea of seeking a place.
κατοικητήριον (katoikētḗrion): a "dwelling place," "habitation," referring to a fixed abode.
τῷ (tō): dative article, masculine singular.
οἴκῳ (oíkhō): from οἶκος (oîkos), meaning "house," "household," "temple."
θεοῦ (theoû): genitive of θεός (theós), meaning "of God."
Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb): "Jacob." Referring to the God of their patriarch.
Group of Words: "εὗρεν χάριν τοῦ εὑρεῖν κατοικητήριον τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ θεοῦ Ἰακώβ" (heurén chárin tou heureîn katoikētḗrion tō oíkhō tou theoû Iakṓb) - "found favor to find a dwelling place for the house of the God of Jacob." This phrase encapsulates David's successful petition to build a dwelling place for God, highlighting God's approval of his heart and desire.
Acts 7 46 Bonus Section
David's desire to build a "house for God" reflects his reign as a time when the monarchy and religious worship were becoming more centralized and organized. While the Tabernacle was God's designated dwelling, David's intention was to elevate this dwelling into a permanent structure, a house of worship befitting the King of Kings. This desire is deeply intertwined with the concept of God's presence being intimately connected with His people and His chosen land (Zion). It highlights a progression in God's relationship with humanity, moving towards a more fixed and sacred sanctuary. Scholars often note that David's preparatory work, gathering materials and plans, was crucial for Solomon's later achievement. The statement "house for the God of Jacob" points to God's faithfulness to His covenant people.
Acts 7 46 Commentary
Stephen here emphasizes David's spiritual maturity and his yearning to honor God by providing a permanent dwelling for the Ark. This was a desire deeply rooted in David's understanding of God's covenant with Israel and His past dealings with them. Unlike the tabernacle's portable nature, David envisioned a more stable and grand sanctuary. This ambition, though not fulfilled by David himself, set the stage for the construction of the magnificent Temple by his son Solomon. Stephen uses this to draw a contrast with the Sanhedrin's current actions, portraying them as opposing God's will just as some of Israel's ancestors had. It signifies a heart that desires to honor God’s presence, a characteristic lacking in the current accusers.