Definition: And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Acts 7:41. It’s a really important story about a serious mistake and God's judgment. Here’s what it means, explained simply: The Basic Story: They made a calf: This refers to a young animal – likely a goat or sheep – that the people of Israel were trying to worship as an idol. An idol is something they believed was a god or spirit, rather than God himself. Offered sacrifice unto the idol: They brought this animal to the idol and offered it as a sacrifice. A sacrifice is a gift given to a deity in hopes of receiving blessings from them. Rejoiced in the works of their own hands: This is where it gets serious. They were happy about doing this – they felt like they had accomplished something significant, even if it was wrong. What’s the problem? This whole scene highlights a huge problem with human pride and seeking to worship things instead of God. It shows that people are so focused on doing something impressive that they forget to follow God's will. They were prioritizing their own desires over what is truly important – a relationship with God. The Message Behind the Verse: This verse is about repentance and the importance of focusing on God. It’s a reminder: Don’t worship things: It’s crucial to remember that idols are not real gods. They aren't powerful or can't help us. Focus on God: We should always turn our attention to God, who is the true center of our lives and everything we do. God judges those who stray from Him: This story demonstrates that God will judge people who prioritize earthly things over His will. In short, it’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking to worship anything other than God. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the historical context of this passage? Help you understand the significance of this story in a particular biblical book or theme?