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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Weymouth New Testament

Acts 7:48

Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Court;   God Continued...;   Government;   Readings, Select;   Thompson Chain Reference - Stephen;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - God;   Temple, the First;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gospel;   Stephen;   Tabernacle;   Temple;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Building;   Old Testament in the New Testament, the;   Persecution;   Zechariah, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Future State;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Old Testament;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Preaching in the Bible;   Temple of Jerusalem;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mark, Gospel According to;   Quotations;   Rephan;   Solomon;   Stephen;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - God;   Law;   Libertines;   Stephen;   Temple;   Temple (2);   Winter ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Stephen;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - How;   Omnipresence;   Persecution;   Stephen;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:
King James Version (1611)
Howbeit the most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the Prophet,
King James Version
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
English Standard Version
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
New American Standard Bible
"However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
New Century Version
"But the Most High does not live in houses that people build with their hands. As the prophet says:
Amplified Bible
"However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
Legacy Standard Bible
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says:
Berean Standard Bible
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Contemporary English Version
But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,
Complete Jewish Bible
But Ha‘Elyon does not live in places made by hand! As the prophet says,
Darby Translation
But the Most High dwells not in [places] made with hands; as says the prophet,
Easy-to-Read Version
"But the Most High God does not live in houses built by human hands. This is what the prophet writes:
Geneva Bible (1587)
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with handes, as saith the Prophet,
George Lamsa Translation
Yet the Most High did not dwell in temples made with hands for, as the prophet had said,
Good News Translation
"But the Most High God does not live in houses built by human hands; as the prophet says,
Lexham English Bible
But the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, just as the prophet says,
Literal Translation
But the Most High does not dwell in temples made by hand, as the prophet says,
American Standard Version
Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Bible in Basic English
But still, the Most High has not his resting-place in houses made with hands, as the prophet says,
Hebrew Names Version
However, Ha`Elyon doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
International Standard Version
However, the Most High does not live in buildings made by humanhuman
">[fn] hands. As the prophet says,1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18; Acts 17:24;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But the Most High dwelleth not in the work of hands, as saith the prophet,
Murdock Translation
Yet the most High lodgeth not in a work of [fn] hands; as saith the prophet:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howebeit, he that is hyest of al, dwelleth not in teples made with handes, as sayth the prophete:
English Revised Version
Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet,
World English Bible
However, the Most High doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yet the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But the hiy God dwellith not in thingis maad bi hoond,
Update Bible Version
Nevertheless the Most High does not dwell in [houses] made with hands; as the prophet says,
Webster's Bible Translation
Yet, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet,
New English Translation
Yet the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says,
New King James Version
"However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
New Living Translation
However, the Most High doesn't live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,
New Life Bible
But the Most High does not live in buildings made by hands. The early preacher said,
New Revised Standard
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Although indeed, the Most High, not in hand-made places, dwelleth; just as, the prophet, saith -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands, as the prophet saith:
Revised Standard Version
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
How be it he that is hyest of all dwelleth not in teple made with hondes as saith the Prophete:
Young's Literal Translation
`But the Most High in sanctuaries made with hands doth not dwell, according as the prophet saith:
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Howbeit ye Hyest of all dwelleth not in temples that are made with handes: As he sayeth by the prophete:
Mace New Testament (1729)
altho' the most high does not dwell in temples made with hands; as the prophet said , "heaven is my throne,
THE MESSAGE
"Yet that doesn't mean that Most High God lives in a building made by carpenters and masons. The prophet Isaiah put it well when he wrote, "Heaven is my throne room; I rest my feet on earth. So what kind of house will you build me?" says God. "Where I can get away and relax? It's already built, and I built it."
Simplified Cowboy Version
"But listen close, guys. God doesn't live in a barn made by humans. Remember that prophet who said,

Contextual Overview

42 So God turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, "'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, O House of Israel? 43 Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan--the images which you made in order to worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.' 44 "Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen. 45 That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time. 46 David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares, 49 "`The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have? 50 Did not My hand form this universe.'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the most High: Deuteronomy 32:8, Psalms 7:17, Psalms 46:4, Psalms 91:1, Psalms 91:9, Psalms 92:8, Daniel 4:17, Daniel 4:24, Daniel 4:25, Daniel 4:34, Hosea 7:16

dwelleth: Acts 17:24, Acts 17:25, 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 2:5, 2 Chronicles 2:6, 2 Chronicles 6:18

as: Isaiah 66:1, Isaiah 66:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:18 - the most Deuteronomy 12:5 - habitation 1 Kings 6:14 - General 1 Chronicles 17:12 - He shall Psalms 68:5 - in his Psalms 92:1 - most Ezekiel 43:7 - the place of my throne Daniel 5:18 - the most Mark 14:58 - General Colossians 2:11 - without Hebrews 9:11 - not made

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands,.... Such an one as Solomon's was; he did indeed dwell in his temple, but he was not confined to it, nor included in it, or circumscribed by it; and so much Solomon himself suggests, when he expresses his wonder at his dwelling on earth, seeing the heaven of heavens could not contain him, and still less the house which he had built, 1 Kings 8:27, עליון, "the most High", is one of the names of God, Genesis 14:18 the Apostle Paul says the same of God as Stephen does here; Acts 17:24 "as saith the prophet"; the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 66:1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Howbeit - But. Stephen was charged with speaking against the temple. He had now shown that he had due veneration for it, by his declaring that it had been built by the command of God. But he “now” adds that God does not need such a temple. Heaven is his throne; the universe his dwelling-place; and “therefore” this temple might be destroyed. A new, glorious truth was to be revealed to mankind, that God was not “confined” in his worship to any age, or people, or nation. In entire consistency, therefore, with all proper respect for the temple at Jerusalem, it might be maintained that the time would come when that temple would be destroyed, and when God might be worshipped by all nations.

The Most High - God. This sentiment was expressed by Solomon when the temple was dedicated, 1 Kings 8:27.

As saith the prophet - Isaiah 66:1-2. The place is not literally quoted, but the sense is given.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 48. The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands — Here St. Stephen evidently refers to Solomon's speech, 1 Kings 8:27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded? Both Solomon and St. Stephen mean that the majesty of God could not be contained, not even in the whole vortex of nature; much less in any temple which human hands could erect.

As saith the prophet — The place referred to is Isaiah 66:1-2 : Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest, &c., with which the quotation by Stephen agrees.


 
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