uW Translation Notes:

Connecting Statement:

Stephen continues his response to the high priest and the council which he began in Acts 7:2.

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καθὼς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ σκηνή τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθώς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ ποιῆσαι αὐτήν κατά τόν τύπον ὅν ἑωράκει)

Stephen is not saying that the tabernacle was with the Israelites just as God had commanded. He means that the tabernacle was built according to the pattern that Moses saw on Mount Sinai. To make this clear, it may be helpful to supply some of the words that Stephen is leaving out. It may also be helpful to introduce a sentence break. Alternate translation: [The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness. It was built just as the one speaking to Moses had commanded]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ σκηνή τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθώς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ ποιῆσαι αὐτήν κατά τόν τύπον ὅν ἑωράκει)

Stephen calls this tent the tabernacle of the testimony by association with the way it housed the ark of the covenant, which was also known as the ark of the testimony. The “testimony” of the ark, as UST indicates, was to the covenant between God and the Israelites and to his presence with them wherever they went in the wilderness. Alternate translation: [the tent that housed the ark of the covenant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

καθὼς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ, ποιῆσαι αὐτὴν κατὰ τὸν τύπον ὃν ἑωράκει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ σκηνή τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθώς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ ποιῆσαι αὐτήν κατά τόν τύπον ὅν ἑωράκει)

It may be more natural to put the information about the command to Moses before the information about how Moses fulfilled the command. It may also be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: [The one speaking to Moses had commanded him to make the tabernacle according to the pattern that he had seen, and he made it just that way]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ

directed the_‹one› speaking ¬the ˱to˲_Moses

Stephen assumes that his listeners will know that he is referring to the way God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. Alternate translation: [God commanded Moses when he spoke to him on Mount Sinai]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν τύπον ὃν ἑωράκει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ σκηνή τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθώς διετάξατο ὁ λαλῶν τῷ Μωϋσῇ ποιῆσαι αὐτήν κατά τόν τύπον ὅν ἑωράκει)

Stephen assumes that his listeners will know that he is referring to the pattern for the tabernacle that God showed Moses on Mount Sinai. Alternate translation: [the pattern that he showed him on Mount Sinai]