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Acts 7:49

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool, what kind of house could you possibly build for me? says the Lord. What place could you make that would be my resting spot?

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is asking: how do you contain the infinite in something you built with your hands?

📚 Historical Context

In the Book of Acts, Stephen is on trial before the Jewish leaders, where he defends his faith by recounting Israel's history and quoting from the prophet Isaiah. This verse highlights God's sovereignty, showing that He cannot be contained in a physical temple like the one in Jerusalem, as it originally addressed the people's misplaced focus on man-made structures. Stephen uses this to challenge the religious authorities who emphasized the Temple's importance, pointing back to God's words in the Old Testament.

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