Stephen paraphrases what God said to Abraham using Scriptural language based on Exodus 3:12.1 Worship serves as the basic description of the purpose of Israel’s existence and of the life of the nation in the Promised Land.2 Even before the temple was built there would have been worship. Worship is thus not confined to a building or a structure, but the response of a people to God.3
7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’