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Acts 14:15
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Exodus 20:11
Forin six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in themis, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Psalm 33:6-9
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…

made
The act of making refers to God's role as the Creator. This echoes the creation narrative inGenesis 1, where God speaks the world into existence. It underscores the belief that everything in the universe is a result of God's intentional design and purpose. The verb "made" also connects to the idea of God as the potter, shaping and forming His creation (Isaiah 64:8).

all these things?
This phrase encompasses the entirety of creation, highlighting the vastness and complexity of the universe that God has made. It reflects the biblical worldview that everything, from the smallest particle to the largest galaxy, is under God's dominion. This statement challenges human pride and self-sufficiency, reminding believers of their dependence on God. It also connects to the theme of God's omnipresence and omnipotence found throughout Scripture (Psalm 24:1,Colossians 1:16-17).

- Stephen frames the line as a question to stir holy reflection, echoingIsaiah 66:2.

- The question challenges any assumption that God depends on human works or buildings.

- Scripture regularly uses questions to expose wrong thinking (Job 38:4: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”).

- By starting with “Has not,” Stephen readies his listeners to admit the obvious conclusion: of course God is self-sufficient and supreme (Romans 11:35).

- “My” underscores personal involvement—God Himself, not an impersonal force, is Creator.

- “Hand” pictures powerful, deliberate action (Psalm 95:5: “The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land”).

- The image reminds us that the same hand that fashioned the universe still upholds it (Isaiah 40:12;John 1:3;Colossians 1:16).

- Because His hand made all, His presence cannot be boxed into stone walls or ritual schedules.

- Creation is an accomplished fact, not an ongoing negotiation; God alone “made” with absolute authority (Genesis 1:1).

-Hebrews 11:3 affirms, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.”

- The verb invites worship: if He made everything, He owns everything (Psalm 100:3).

- It also removes pride: we contribute nothing essential to God’s existence or plans.

- “All” sweeps in the entire cosmos—heaven, earth, temple, human life itself (Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof”).

- The phrase confronts the Sanhedrin’s temple-centric mindset; God is larger than the building they revere (Acts 17:24;1 Kings 8:27).

-Isaiah 66:1 reinforces the point: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.”

- Since God fashioned “all these things,” He alone defines how and where He will be worshiped—ultimately through the risen Christ rather than bricks and gold.

Acts 7:50, quoted by Stephen, is God’s own reminder that He personally and powerfully created everything. The rhetorical question sweeps away any notion that human structures or efforts can confine, sustain, or impress Him. Recognizing His sovereign craftsmanship leads to humble worship and frees believers to meet Him everywhere, especially in the Son who now dwells in His people rather than in any man-made sanctuary.