Acts 7:48
in Acts 7However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet,
KJV
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
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This verse in Acts 7
Commentary
8 notes on this verseIn the four hundred eightieth year after the exodus of the sons of Israel from Egypt, Solomon began to build the temple in Jerusalem, as the third book of Kings relates. (1 Kings 6:1) Moreover the temple was built so long after the ascent of …
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool." Nay, not even these are worthy of God, forasmuch as they are made, seeing they are creatures, the works of His hand. See how he leads them on by little and little (showing) that not even these are to be mentioned. And again the prophecy says openly, "What house will ye build Me?" etc.
"Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in (places) made with hands." This was shown indeed already by what had been before said: but it is shown also by the voice of a prophet; "What house will ye build for Me? saith the Lord God. As saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build for me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?"
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands,....
He applies this to those that prosecuted him, and sat in judgment upon him, sharply reproving them for their wickedness, by which they had brought upon themselves the ruin of their place and nation, and then could not bear to hear of it,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands - Here St. Stephen evidently refers to Solomon’s speech, 1Ki 8:27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded? Both Solomon and St. Stephen mean that the majesty of God could not be contained, not even in the whole vortex of nature; much less in any temple which human hands could erect.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
gave them up--judicially. as . . . written in the book of the prophets--the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage is from Am 5:25. have ye offered to me . . . sacrifices?--The answer is, Yes, but as if ye did it not; for "neither did ye offer to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and willing heart" [BENGEL].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Howbeit - But. Stephen was charged with speaking against the temple. He had now shown that he had due veneration for it, by his declaring that it had been built by the command of God. But he “now” adds that God does not need such a temple. Heaven is his throne; the universe his dwelling-place; and “therefore” this temple might be destroyed. A new, glorious truth was to be revealed to mankind, that God was not “confined” in his worship to any age, or people, or nation. In entire consistency, therefore, with all proper respect for the temple at Jerusalem, it might be maintained that the time would come when that temple would be destroyed, and when God might be worshipped by all nations. The Most High - God. This sentiment was expressed by Solomon when the temple was dedicated, 1Ki 8:27. As saith the prophet - Isa 66:1-2. The place is not literally quoted, but the sense is given.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | Yet | G235 → | 635 times |
| οὐχ | ouch | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὕψιστος | hupsistos | Most High | G5310 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| χειροποιήτοις | cheiropoietois | hand-made | G5499 → | |
| κατοικεῖ, | katoikei | dwells, | G2730 → | 44 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | Even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφήτης | prophetes | prophet | G4396 → | 144 times |
| λέγει· | legei | says: | G3004 → | 1325 times |
ἀλλ᾽Yet
all᾽G235 →635 times
οὐχnot
ouchG3756 →1664 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ὕψιστοςMost High
hupsistosG5310 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
χειροποιήτοιςhand-made
cheiropoietoisG5499 →
κατοικεῖ,dwells,
katoikeiG2730 →44 times
καθὼςEven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
προφήτηςprophet
prophetesG4396 →144 times
λέγει·says:
legeiG3004 →1325 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
7 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Kings 8:27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
it leads to
- Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 7:48–49
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
- Isaiah 66:1
Through
2 Chronicles 6:18But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
it leads to
- Psalms 139:7–10
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
- 2 Chronicles 32:15
So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver…
- Psalms 139:7–10
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 17; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts.