As mentioned in the preceding verse, the word translated house may also mean “tent” and for that reason some commentators understand a contrast between what David asked and what Solomon built. These commentators would say that David asked to build God a temporary dwelling place, whereas Solomon built a permanent dwelling place, that is, a temple. If this conclusion is valid, then these two verses are a rebuttal on the part of Stephen against the very existence of the Jerusalem temple.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .