37. This is the same Moses that said to the people of Israel, ‘God will give you a prophet like me, who is one of your own people.’
38. This is the Moses who was with the gathering of the Israelites in the desert. He was with the angel that spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and he was with our ancestors. He received commands from God that give life, and he gave those commands to us.
39. “But our ancestors did not want to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt.
40. They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don’t know what has happened to him.’
41. So the people made an idol that looked like a calf. Then they brought sacrifices to it and were proud of what they had made with their own hands.
42. But God turned against them and did not try to stop them from worshiping the sun, moon, and stars. This is what is written in the book of the prophets: God says,‘People of Israel, you did not bring me sacrifices and offeringswhile you traveled in the desert for forty years.
43. You have carried with youthe tent to worship Molechand the idols of the star god Rephan that you made to worship.So I will send you away beyond Babylon.’
44. “The Holy Tent where God spoke to our ancestors was with them in the desert. God told Moses how to make this Tent, and he made it like the plan God showed him.
45. Later, Joshua led our ancestors to capture the lands of the other nations. Our people went in, and God forced the other people out. When our people went into this new land, they took with them this same Tent they had received from their ancestors. They kept it until the time of David,
46. who pleased God and asked God to let him build a house for him, the God of Jacob.
47. But Solomon was the one who built the Temple.
48. “But the Most High does not live in houses that people build with their hands. As the prophet says:
49. ‘Heaven is my throne,and the earth is my footstool.So do you think you can build a house for me? says the Lord.Do I need a place to rest?
50. Remember, my hand made all these things!’ ”
51. Stephen continued speaking: “You stubborn people! You have not given your hearts to God, nor will you listen to him! You are always against what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you, just as your ancestors were.