Acts 7:42
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?
Original Language Analysis
ἔστρεψεν
turned
G4762
ἔστρεψεν
turned
Strong's:
G4762
Word #:
1 of 31
to twist, i.e., turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεὸς
God
G2316
θεὸς
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
4 of 31
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 31
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτοὺς
them
G846
αὐτοὺς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
7 of 31
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
λατρεύειν
to worship
G3000
λατρεύειν
to worship
Strong's:
G3000
Word #:
8 of 31
to minister (to god), i.e., render religious homage
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
στρατιᾷ
the host
G4756
στρατιᾷ
the host
Strong's:
G4756
Word #:
10 of 31
from the base of g4766, as encamped); camp-likeness, i.e., an army, i.e., (figuratively) the angels, the celestial luminaries
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανοῦ
of heaven
G3772
οὐρανοῦ
of heaven
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
12 of 31
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
γέγραπται
is written
G1125
γέγραπται
is written
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
14 of 31
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προφητῶν
of the prophets
G4396
προφητῶν
of the prophets
Strong's:
G4396
Word #:
18 of 31
a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet
Μὴ
have ye offered
G3361
Μὴ
have ye offered
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
19 of 31
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
21 of 31
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
θυσίας
sacrifices
G2378
θυσίας
sacrifices
Strong's:
G2378
Word #:
22 of 31
sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively)
προσηνέγκατέ
G4374
προσηνέγκατέ
Strong's:
G4374
Word #:
23 of 31
to bear towards, i.e., lead to, tender (especially to god), treat
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
28 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐρήμῳ
the wilderness
G2048
ἐρήμῳ
the wilderness
Strong's:
G2048
Word #:
29 of 31
lonesome, i.e., (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, g5561 being implied)
Cross References
Ezekiel 20:39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.Jeremiah 19:13And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.Deuteronomy 4:19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.Isaiah 66:4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.Acts 7:36He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.Ezekiel 8:16And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.Joshua 24:20If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.Hosea 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.2 Kings 17:16And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
Historical Context
Amos prophesied around 760 BCE, addressing northern Israel's prosperity-accompanied-by-apostasy. His question challenges the assumption that wilderness-era Israel remained faithful—even then, hearts were divided between Yahweh and pagan deities.
Host of heaven worship infiltrated Israel repeatedly (2 Kings 17:16, 21:3). Deuteronomy 4:19 explicitly warned against this. The Babylonian exile (597-538 BCE) served as ultimate judgment for persistent idolatry. Stephen's quotation warns his audience: you're following the same trajectory that led to exile.
By 34-35 CE, when Stephen speaks, the temple still stands. Yet he prophesies (like Jesus) its coming destruction. Rejecting Messiah repeats the pattern that brought earlier judgments. God's patience has limits; persistent covenant unfaithfulness meets divine judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that God 'gives people up' to their chosen sins, and how is this itself a form of judgment?
- How does initial compromise with sin open doors to deeper spiritual corruption?
- In what ways might external religious observance mask internal idolatry?
- What warnings does Israel's history provide about presuming on covenant privileges while harboring secret sins?
- How should the reality of divine judgment shape our view of persistent unbelief and apostasy?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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? Stephen quotes Amos 5:25-27, showing divine judgment involves God withdrawing restraining grace and allowing sin's natural progression.
God turned expresses judicial abandonment—a terrifying theme in Scripture. When persistent rebellion meets divine patience's end, God gives people over to their chosen path (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). This isn't active punishment but removal of common grace that restrains evil. The phrase gave them up indicates permissive judgment—God allows what He could prevent.
Worship the host of heaven refers to astral deities—sun, moon, stars—common in ancient paganism. Israel's golden calf opened doors to deeper idolatry. Sin progression follows a pattern: initial compromise leads to greater corruption. Rejecting true worship doesn't produce neutrality but slavery to false worship.
The rhetorical question from Amos—have ye offered to me...sacrifices?—implies their wilderness sacrifices were tainted by divided hearts. External ritual performed while harboring secret idolatry doesn't constitute true worship. Reformed theology emphasizes covenant faithfulness requires undivided heart allegiance, not mere external compliance.