Bible Strands
Acts 7:46
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Stephen addresses the Sanhedrin while recounting Israel’s history from the tabernacle’s arrival under Joshua to the era of David. He identifies David as the figure who sought divine favor during this period.
The words — The Greek ᾐτὴσατο (ētēsato) translates literally as “asked” or “requested,” while εὗρεν (heurēsen) means “found.” The text states that David found favor before God and subsequently made a request for a dwelling place.
The thread — The request appears in Psalms 132:1 as a plea to remember David’s hardships, in Acts 13:22 as testimony that God found David a man after His own heart, and in 2 Samuel 7:1 as the moment David’s settled state prompts his proposal to build a house for God.
Why it lands — The text records that David’s desire to provide a dwelling for God preceded Solomon’s actual construction. It requires the reader to acknowledge that human initiative must follow divine favor and timing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
Cross-references
- Psalms 132:1 A song of ascents. O LORD, remember on behalf of David all the hardships he endured,
- Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
- 2 Samuel 7:1 After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
- 1 Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
- 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
- 2 Samuel 6:21 But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,
- 2 Samuel 7:8 Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
- 2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
- 1 Chronicles 17:1 After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
- 1 Chronicles 22:7 “My son,” said David to Solomon, “it was in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God,