Acts 7:50
What does Acts 7:50 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:50 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:50 means
Did not God’s hand make all these things? Stephen concludes the prophetic citation with creation’s testimony. If God made everything, He is Lord of all and limited by none. The Temple, like the tabernacle, is a gift within creation, not a container of the Creator. This final line closes Stephen’s theological case about God’s transcendence and prepares for his moral and spiritual application: the problem is not the building but hearts that resist God. Creation itself witnesses to God’s freedom and power, leaving no room for confining Him to human constructions or for trusting in forms while neglecting obedience.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Did not my hand make all these things?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Hath not my hand made all these things?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Did not my hand make all these things?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Did not my hand make all these things?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862hath not My hand made all these things?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Hath not my hand made all these things?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890has not my hand made all these things?
Context
The prophetic quotation reaches its end, cementing Stephen’s argument about God’s transcendence and the limits of any house. With this foundation laid, verses 51–53 bring Stephen’s piercing rebuke: the council is stiffnecked, uncircumcised in heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Spirit, persecuting prophets, and betraying and murdering the Righteous One. The theological setup was necessary to expose misplaced trust and to call his hearers to repentance and recognition of Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth (who is with me?);
- Psalms 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:
- Acts 14:15
and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
- Exodus 20:11
for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Isaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding.
- Psalms 33:6
By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
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