Act 7:49 | KingComments | STEP | Here Stephen comes to a new section in his speech. After his extensive tribute to Moses in the face of their accusation that he would slander Moses, he speaks about the dwelling place of God. After all, they had also accused him of speaking words against the temple by pointing to its destruction ( ). Stephen will show that God’s former dwellings were temporary dwellings and not even real ones. He first mentions the tabernacle which he describes with the extensive name “tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness”. It is the tent from which God testifies, from which He speaks to His people. What kind of tent was that? It was a tent made by Moses at God’s command and according to the pattern which God had shown to him on the mountain ( ). Stephen makes it clear that the tabernacle was a temporary dwelling place of God and that it referred to a higher reality, heaven. The tabernacle would not always remain the dwelling place of God. When “our fathers” entered the land with Joshua, they brought the tabernacle with them ( ). Stephen mentions the name Joshua. This is the Hebrew name for the Greek ‘Jesus’. He actually says that the people took possession of the land with ‘Jesus’. The land was delivered by God from the original inhabitants ( ) who were all servants of idols. There the tabernacle was given its place until the days of David. With David the next change comes. That change has to do with the way God is served, not with the principle that God is served. God always wants people to serve Him, but He sometimes changes the way He wants that to happen. First it was in the tabernacle, under David it became the temple. God is also free in His choice of the builder of His house. Although David found grace with God and longed to build a dwelling place for God ( ), he was not allowed to do so ( ). God had reserved the building of the temple for Solomon ( ). But no matter how beautiful the temple was, it was not the real dwelling place of God. The audience of Stephen claimed God by pointing to the temple as His dwelling place. To them, the temple was solid proof of the presence of God. Whoever touched the temple touched God. Stephen brings that idea down by pointing out that God does not dwell in houses made by human hands. He reinforces his words by quoting what God Himself said through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah ( ; cf. ).

‏ Acts 7:49

The Dwelling Place of God

Here Stephen comes to a new section in his speech. After his extensive tribute to Moses in the face of their accusation that he would slander Moses, he speaks about the dwelling place of God. After all, they had also accused him of speaking words against the temple by pointing to its destruction (Acts 6:14). Stephen will show that God’s former dwellings were temporary dwellings and not even real ones.

He first mentions the tabernacle which he describes with the extensive name “tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness”. It is the tent from which God testifies, from which He speaks to His people. What kind of tent was that? It was a tent made by Moses at God’s command and according to the pattern which God had shown to him on the mountain (Exo 25:40). Stephen makes it clear that the tabernacle was a temporary dwelling place of God and that it referred to a higher reality, heaven. The tabernacle would not always remain the dwelling place of God.

When “our fathers” entered the land with Joshua, they brought the tabernacle with them (Jos 3:14-17). Stephen mentions the name Joshua. This is the Hebrew name for the Greek ‘Jesus’. He actually says that the people took possession of the land with ‘Jesus’. The land was delivered by God from the original inhabitants (Jos 23:9 ; Jos 24:18) who were all servants of idols. There the tabernacle was given its place until the days of David.

With David the next change comes. That change has to do with the way God is served, not with the principle that God is served. God always wants people to serve Him, but He sometimes changes the way He wants that to happen. First it was in the tabernacle, under David it became the temple.

God is also free in His choice of the builder of His house. Although David found grace with God and longed to build a dwelling place for God (Psa 132:5), he was not allowed to do so (2Sam 7:2-17). God had reserved the building of the temple for Solomon (1Kgs 6:1 ; 14 ; 1Kgs 8:19-20). But no matter how beautiful the temple was, it was not the real dwelling place of God.

The audience of Stephen claimed God by pointing to the temple as His dwelling place. To them, the temple was solid proof of the presence of God. Whoever touched the temple touched God. Stephen brings that idea down by pointing out that God does not dwell in houses made by human hands. He reinforces his words by quoting what God Himself said through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah (Isa 66:1-2; cf. 1Kgs 8:27).