The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you.

I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing.

But the LORD's love for your ancestors was so strong that he chose you instead of any other people, and you are still his chosen people.

Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, has to say: 'Long ago your ancestors lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. One of those ancestors was Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor.

Then I took Abraham, your ancestor, from the land across the Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,

"But you, Israel my servant, you are the people that I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, my friend.

I brought you from the ends of the earth; I called you from its farthest corners and said to you, 'You are my servant.' I did not reject you, but chose you.

Think of your ancestor, Abraham, and of Sarah, from whom you are descended. When I called Abraham, he was childless, but I blessed him and gave him children; I made his descendants numerous.

Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, who was the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, Abram's wife, and with them he left the city of Ur in Babylonia to go to the land of Canaan. They went as far as Haran and settled there.

Then the LORD said to him, "I am the LORD, who led you out of Ur in Babylonia, to give you this land as your own."

Stephen answered, "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! Before our ancestor Abraham had gone to live in Haran, the God of glory appeared to him in Mesopotamia

And so he left his country and went to live in Haran. After Abraham's father died, God made him move to this land where you now live.

Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, because I am making you the ancestor of many nations.