This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's judgment: He doesn't merely punish, He sometimes withdraws and allows people to indulge in the very sins they crave. The question, "Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices...?" isn't about whether sacrifices were physically offered, but about whether they were offered with a pure heart to Him, implying that their misguided worship rendered those sacrifices unacceptable and even offensive.
But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Stephen is recounting Israel's history to accuse his listeners of following in their ancestors' rebellious footsteps. He argues that after the Israelites rejected God's guidance, especially by worshipping the golden calf, God withdrew His favor and allowed them to fall into further idolatry, such as worshipping the stars. This is supported by a quote from the prophets, highlighting that their sacrifices during the wilderness wandering were offered to idols, not exclusively and sincerely to God.
What does it mean for God to 'turn away' from His people? It's not that He stops existing or caring, but something far more serious about the divine relationship.
A Judgment of Abandonment
When Scripture says God "turned away" (or "turned" in some translations), it signifies a profound judgment. It means God, in His righteous response to persistent sin and rejection, withdraws His active guidance and favor. This isn't a capricious act, but a consequence.
Worshipping the 'host of heaven' sounds distant, but it speaks volumes about the danger of giving God only a partial heart.
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More Than Just Stars
The 'host of heaven' primarily refers to the sun, moon, and stars – the celestial bodies. But in this context, it represents more than just astronomical objects.
Israel was offering sacrifices in the wilderness, so why does the prophet ask if they offered any? What makes worship unacceptable to God?
The Heart Behind the Ritual
This verse, drawing from Amos, contains a challenging rhetorical question: 'Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices... during the forty years in the wilderness?' The historical record shows they did offer sacrifices. So, what's the point?
Understand the original words
paradidōmi · Greek Verb
The act of divine abandonment where God allows individuals or nations to persist in their sinful desires and rebellious choices, leading to self-destructive consequences. It is a form of judicial judgment.
stratia · Greek Noun
In this context, it refers to the celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars) worshipped by pagan nations instead of the Creator. It highlights the error of worshipping the created order rather than the Creator.
Stephen powerfully uses the prophet Amos's words to illustrate a recurring theme in Israel's history: their persistent turning away from God to worship created things, even during their wilderness journey and long after. This historical pattern of disobedience served as a stark warning to his audience.
c. 760 BC
Prophet Amos denounces idolatry
The prophet Amos delivers God's message against Israel's sin, including their worship of heavenly bodies and their hollow religious practices, warning of coming judgment.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian conquest of Northern Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers northern Israel, deporting many Israelites and scattering them, a foreshadowing of future exiles.
c. 626 BC
Prophet Jeremiah begins ministry
Jeremiah prophesies during a time of increasing spiritual decay and looming threat from Babylon, emphasizing God's judgment on idolatry and disobedience.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon exiles Jehoiachin and thousands of Judah's elite to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel, as judgment for their sins.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This marks the severe consequence of sustained idolatry and rebellion against God.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Stephen's Sermon
Stephen, facing the Jewish Sanhedrin, recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated disobedience and rejection of God and His messengers, culminating in their rejection of Jesus.
This is the primary source of the quote Stephen uses, directly showing God's frustration with Israel's empty worship during their wilderness journey, highlighting their turn to idolatry even while performing sacrifices.
Jeremiah 8:2This passage also speaks of Israel's apostasy, specifically mentioning them worshipping 'the host of heaven' after their death, echoing the same theme of turning away from the Lord to celestial bodies for worship.
Romans 1:24-25Paul describes a similar divine 'giving up' where God, in response to humanity's refusal to honor Him, gives them over to impurity and the worship of created things instead of the Creator.
Exodus 32:7-10This passage directly parallels Israel's sin in the wilderness – their making and worshipping the golden calf – which led to God's anger and a sense of them being 'given up' to their own foolishness.
Deuteronomy 4:19Moses warns Israel against worshipping the sun, moon, and stars, calling them 'the host of heaven,' emphasizing God's displeasure with such idolatry and His jealousy for their exclusive worship.
ellicottActs 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?"
(42) The host of heaven. —The word includes the host or army of the firmament, sun, moon, and stars, as in 2Chronicles 33:3 ; 2Chronicles 33:5 ; Jeremiah 8:2 . The sin of Israel was that it worshipped the created host, instead of Jehovah Sabaoth, the “Lord…
barnesActs 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?"
Then God turned - That is, turned away from them; abandoned them to their own desires. The host of heaven - The stars, or heavenly bodies. The word "host" means "armies." It is applied to the heavenly bodies because they are very numerous, and appear to be…
This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's judgment: He doesn't merely punish, He sometimes withdraws and allows people to indulge in the very sins they crave. The question, "Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices...?" isn't about whether sacrifices were physically offered, but about whether they were offered with a pure heart to Him, implying that their misguided worship rendered those sacrifices unacceptable and even offensive.
Stephen is recounting Israel's history to accuse his listeners of following in their ancestors' rebellious footsteps. He argues that after the Israelites rejected God's guidance, especially by worshipping the golden calf, God withdrew His favor and allowed them to fall into further idolatry, such as worshipping the stars. This is supported by a quote from the prophets, highlighting that their sacrifices during the wilderness wandering were offered to idols, not exclusively and sincerely to God.
Stephen is recounting Israel's history to accuse his listeners of following in their ancestors' rebellious footsteps. He argues that after the Israelites rejected God's guidance, especially by worshipping the golden calf, God withdrew His favor and allowed them to fall into further idolatry, such as worshipping the stars. This is supported by a quote from the prophets, highlighting that their sacrifices during the wilderness wandering were offered to idols, not exclusively and sincerely to God.
"But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?" — This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's judgment: He doesn't merely punish, He sometimes withdraws and *allows* people to indulge in the very sins they crave. The question, "Did you bring to…
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Last reviewed October 2026