Acts 7:42 Meaning and Explanation
“Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as the prophets had written concerning the wilderness years.
What Does Acts 7:42 Mean?
Stephen quotes Amos 5:25-26. Persistent idolatry brought a sobering judgment: God handed the people over to the star worship they preferred.
To be given what we insist on can be the gravest judgment of all (Romans 1:24). The question from Amos cuts deep: the outward offerings continued, but the worship of the heart had gone elsewhere. God will not be one shrine among many.
Acts 7:42 in the Original Language
stratia (στρατιά), 'host' -- an army; here the stars revered as heavenly powers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 7:42
What does Acts 7:42 mean?
God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as the prophets had written concerning the wilderness years.