Those soldiers thought they were strong.\par But now they lie dead in the fields.\par Their bodies are stripped of all they owned.\par None of those strong soldiers could defend themselves.\par
“You people have escaped from other nations. So gather together and come before me. (These people carry statues of false gods. These people pray to those useless gods. But the people don’t know what they are doing.
“Family of Jacob, listen to me! All you people from Israel that are still alive, listen! I have been carrying you. I have carried you since the time you were in your mother’s body.
The Lord says,\par “Family of Jacob, listen to me!\par You people call yourself ‘Israel.’\par You are from Judah’s family.\par You use the Lord’s name to make promises.\par You praise the God of Israel.\par But you are not honest and sincere\par when you do these things.”\par
I did that because I knew\par you were stubborn.\par \{You refused to believe anything I said\}.\par You were very stubborn—\par like iron \{that does not bend\}\par and as hard as bronze.\par
The field of grapes that belongs to the Lord All-Powerful is the nation of Israel. The grapevine—the plant the Lord loves—is the man of Judah. {\cf2\super [48]}
We are all dirty with sin.\par Even our good works \{are not pure\}.\par They are like blood-stained rags.\par We are all like dead leaves.\par Our sins have carried us away like wind.\par
This is what the Lord says:\par “Do you think that I was not fair\par to your ancestors {\cf2\super [4]} ?\par Is that why they turned away from me?\par Your ancestors worshiped worthless idols,\par and they became worthless themselves.\par
\{Then Stephen said,\} “You stubborn Jewish leaders! You have not given your hearts to God! You won’t listen to him! You are always against what the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [147]} is trying to tell you. Your ancestors did this, and you are just like them!
Yes, at one time you were far away \{from God\}. But now in Christ Jesus you are brought near to him. You are brought near \{to God\} through the blood (death) of Christ.