7:16. And they were translated into Sichem and were laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Hemor, the son of Sichem.
7:17. And when the time of the promise drew near, which G.o.d had promised to Abraham, the people increased and were multiplied in Egypt.
7:18. Till another king arose in Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
7:19. This same, dealing craftily with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their children, to the end they might not be kept alive.
7:20. At the same time was Moses born: and he was acceptable to G.o.d. Who was nourished three months in his father"s house.
7:21. And when he was exposed, Pharao"s daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son.
7:22. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians: and he was mighty in his words and in his deeds.
7:23. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
7:24. And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him: and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury.
7:25. And he thought that his brethren understood that G.o.d by his hand would save them. But they understood it not.
7:26. And the day following, he shewed himself to them when they were at strife and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are brethren. Why hurt you one another?
7:27. But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us:
7:28. What! Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian?
7:29. And Moses fled upon this word: and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons.
7:30. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him, in the desert of mount Sina, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
7:31. And Moses seeing it wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to view it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
7:32. I am the G.o.d of thy fathers: the G.o.d of Abraham, the G.o.d of Isaac and the G.o.d of Jacob. And Moses being terrified durst not behold.
7:33. And the Lord said to him: Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place wherein thou standest is holy ground.
7:34. Seeing, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt: and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come: and I will send thee into Egypt.
7:35. This Moses, whom they refused, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge? Him G.o.d sent to be prince and redeemer, by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush.
7:36. He brought them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the desert, forty years.
7:37. This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel: A prophet shall G.o.d raise up to you of your own brethren, as myself. Him shall you hear.
7:38. This is he that was in the church in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sina and with our fathers. Who received the words of life to give unto us.
7:39. Whom our fathers would not obey: but thrust him away and in their hearts turned back into Egypt,
7:40. Saying to Aaron: Make us G.o.ds to go before us. For as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
7:41. And they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifices to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
7:42. And G.o.d turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the books of the prophets: Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me for forty years, in the desert, O house of Israel?
7:43. And you took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your G.o.d Rempham, figures which you made to adore them. And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
7:44. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the desert, as G.o.d ordained for them, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the form which he had seen.
7:45. Which also our fathers receiving, brought in with Jesus, into the possession of the Gentiles: whom G.o.d drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David,
Jesus... That is Josue, so called in Greek.
7:46. Who found grace before G.o.d and desired to find a tabernacle for the G.o.d of Jacob.
7:47. But Solomon built him a house,
7:48. Yet the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands, as the prophet saith:
Dwelleth not in houses, etc... That is, so as to stand in need of earthly dwellings, or to be contained, or circ.u.mscribed by them. Though, otherwise by his immense divinity, he is in our houses; and every where else; and Christ in his humanity dwelt in houses; and is now on our altars.
7:49. Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool. What house will you build me (saith the Lord)? Or what is the place of my resting?
7:50. Hath not my hand made all these things?
7:51. You stiffnecked and uncirc.u.mcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do you also.
7:52. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One: of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers.
7:53. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it.
7:54. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart: and they gnashed with their teeth at him.
7:55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of G.o.d and Jesus standing on the right hand of G.o.d. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of G.o.d.
7:56. And they, crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears and with one accord ran violently upon him.
7:57. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul.
7:58. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
7:59. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not his sin to their charge: And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.
Acts Chapter 8
Philip converts the Samaritans and baptizes the eunuch.
8:1. And at that time, there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles.
8:2. And devout men took order for Stephen"s funeral and made great mourning over him.