Acts 7:45
What does Acts 7:45 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:45 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:45 means
The fathers brought the tabernacle into the land with Joshua as God drove out the nations, and it remained until David. Stephen shows continuity: the same God who spoke at Sinai accompanied Israel into Canaan. The tabernacle’s presence during conquest underlines that God’s power and presence, not masonry, assured victory. Its longevity until David shows God’s faithfulness through generations. Stephen’s respect for God’s institutions is clear; his critique is not against what God appointed, but against trusting the form more than the God who gave it. The tabernacle’s portability also keeps before us the truth that God cannot be confined.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered on the possession of the nations, that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered on the possession of the nations, that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Which our fathers, in their turn, took with them when, with Joshua, they came into the heritage of the nations whom God was driving out before the face of our fathers, till the time of David,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862which also our fathers having in succession received, did bring in with Joshua, into the possession of the nations whom God did drive out from the presence of our fathers, till the days of David,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Which also our fathers receiving, brought in with Jesus, into the possession of the Gentiles: whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890which also our fathers, receiving from their predecessors, brought in with Joshua when they entered into possession of [the lands of] the nations, whomGod drove out from [the] face of our fathers, until the days of David;
Context
Stephen traces the tabernacle’s journey from wilderness to promised land, emphasizing God’s faithfulness. Verse 46 will recall David’s favor and his desire to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. Verse 47 will state that Solomon built the house. This sets up Stephen’s prophetic perspective in verses 48–50 that, even with the Temple, the Most High is not bound to human structures. The contrast between authorized worship spaces and idolatrous shrines remains in view.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Joshua 23:9
For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day.
- Joshua 3:11
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan.
- 1 Chronicles 21:29
For the tabernacle of Jehovah, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt-offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.
- Nehemiah 9:24
So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
- Psalms 78:55
He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
- 1 Kings 8:4
And they brought up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
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