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Connor Pinney

Dr. Lovett

BLIT 210

23 September 2021

The two texts I was assigned to study and compare were Isaiah 66:1-2 and the quotation

by Stephen, recorded by Luke in Acts 7:44-53. I began my research into this writing by reading

both chapters to give myself a deeper understanding of the context of the writing, and to

understand the authors’ tone. I analyzed these verses side by side with the New International

Version (NIV) of the Bible. It is very clear to the reader looking at the texts side by side that the

author of Acts is quoting Isaiah. The text “heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool”

and “where will my resting place be, has not my hand made all these things” are both copied

exactly between the two excerpts in this biblical translation.

The only difference in these sentences is that in Acts the writer includes the word “or”

before “where will my resting place be, has not my hand made all these things”. This inclusion

appears simply to create a better narrative, or poetic, flow. Isaiah says “where is the house you

will build for me?” The author of Acts writes “what kind of house will you build for me?” This

is a minor difference of wording, but it might have a larger implication, either about the

translation of the texts, or about the intention of the author. Stephen also leaves out a few

sentences written by Isaiah. “And so they came into being, declares the Lord. These are the ones

I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

This exemption was likely made by Stephen because he saw no need for this text for his

purposes.
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Why is this the message that Stephen has for his audience at this point? Why did he

choose this quotation from Isaiah. These are among my first questions after reading these texts.

Clearly from the immediate context Stephen does not think his audience is on the right path with

God, and they need to be redirected back on to the path of righteousness. This creates the

question of who is his audience, and what have they done to stray from the path on which they

are supposed to be.

Another very important question which I encountered is about the changes between the

original text in Isaiah, and the text in Acts. Isaiah says “where is the house you will build for

me?” but the author of Acts writes “what kind of house will you build for me?” Why is this

difference important? Does this difference contain any importance? It surely must or the

translation would probably read exactly the same, without this difference. Is it a matter of which

question will better address the needs of the audience and find relevance in their lives? Perhaps it

was a misquotation that has simply lingered through hundreds of years and many translations and

transcriptions.

Finally, in Acts, Stephen chooses not to include the last part of these verses found in

Isaiah. The final sentences, “and so they came into being, declares the Lord. These are the ones I

look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word”

are not present in Stephen's speech, recorded by Luke. Why did he choose not to include this

aspect of the writings of Isaiah. This part of the second verse seems to be the encouragement that

would benefit an audience in need of righteousness in the eyes of God.

Isaiah is prophetic, and prepares God’s people for the life they will encounter in the

future. They must accept the way that their world will change in order to prepare for the way
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they will be a part of God’s kingdom. Isaiah prepares his audience for the coming of Christ Jesus

and the new covenant between God and his people. Stephen harkens back to this message before

his execution. He wants to soften the hearts of his audience, and to give them the tools they need

to accept the changes in God’s kingdom that are happening all around them.

This context largely brings forth more questions than it answers. Was this quotation

effective in getting the attention of the Sanhedrin and changing their viewpoints? Did any of

Stephen’s audience open up to the message to its complete understanding? What view did

Stephen have of his audience? And what was the relationship between Isaiah and his audience?

I hope that through the course of my further research and the completion of this project I

can answer these questions, at least enough to provide a complete context around the use of this

quotation in a text written so many years later.