Acts 7:39-50

39"But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40They told Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don't know what has happened to him!' 41That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made. 42But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: " 'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 43You have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon.

44"Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45Having received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47But it was Solomon who built the house for him.

48"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 49" 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50Has not my hand made all these things?'

Stephen

continues his review of Jewish History

I wonder if the Jewish leaders Stephen was speaking to even "listened". I am stuck on this idea of "hearing" and "listening." It was quite obvious that the Jewish leaders knew the historical facts of their rich Israelite heritage, but even when Moses was their God-chosen leader, they rejected him and chose to worship their own idols, they did not listen to Moses either.

If we are truly God's children we must listen to HIM. We cannot continue to rely on a second hand gospel for truth. But rather get in the habit of going to God's word daily to hear from HIM, and discern all truth with God's instructions in mind. Know the truth first, then discern the words of men. The Holy Spirit was given to lead us unto all truth. I never open my bible and begin reading without praying for God to give me wisdom and understanding.