Acts 7

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abrham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

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

Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

But Solomon built him an house.

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Hath not my hand made all these things?

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

What does Acts 7:39 mean?

Explanation

Acts 7:39 refers to a time during the Exodus when the Israelite people rejected the leadership of Moses, whom God had sent to deliver them from slavery in Egypt, and yearned to return to Egypt.

This verse is part of a speech given by Stephen before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court), in which he recaps the history of the Israelites as a prelude to making his point about their continual disobedience to God.

The literal meaning underscores the disobedience and rebellious attitude of the Israelites, who rejected Moses and, symbolically, God's plan for them.

On a deeper level, the verse is indicative of human nature to resist change and to long for the comfort of the known, even if it is oppressive, rather than face the uncertainty of freedom and the responsibilities that come with it.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts was written by Luke in the 1st century A.D.

The book is a historical account of the early Christian church and its spread.

Acts 7:39 takes place during the trial of Stephen, who was one of the first deacons in the early Christian church and the first Christian martyr.

Stephen is defending himself against charges of blasphemy, and he uses the history of the Jewish people to make a case for Jesus as the promised Messiah.

This speech, delivered to the very heart of Jewish authority, serves to link the new Christian faith to the Old Testament and the history of God's interaction with the Jewish people.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse illustrates the theme of rebellion against God and the rejection of His messengers, which is a recurring motif in both the Old and New Testaments.

It also brings forth the theological aspect of "hardness of heart," where the people in question not only disobey but also inwardly reject God's direction.

Moreover, this verse prefigures the rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews, as Moses was a type of Christ (a symbolic precursor). Just as the Israelites turned away from Moses, the people in Stephen's time (and by extension, some of the Jewish community) are seen as turning away from Jesus.

Practical Applications

Acts 7:39 can teach modern readers about the dangers of nostalgia and the human tendency to resist change. It can remind individuals to trust in God's plan and to embrace growth, even when it is uncomfortable.

In a current context, it is a call to not cling to the past or to the familiar sin or "slavery" but to move forward with courage and faith. It can also be applied as a warning not to reject the messengers and teachings that are meant to lead people to spiritual liberation.

Cross-References

Numbers 14:3-4: "And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."
Hebrews 3:15: "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."
Exodus 16:3: "And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Language Study

The key words in Acts 7:39 from the original Greek include:

"Thrust" (ἀπώσατο, apōsato): This word implies a strong rejection or pushing away with force.
"In their hearts" (ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, en tē kardia): Refers to the innermost thoughts and intentions, not merely emotions.
"Turned back" (ἐστράφησαν, estraphēsan): This verb indicates a complete reversal or turning around.

Analyzing these words highlights the intensity of the Israelites' rejection of Moses' leadership and their desire to return to their former life in Egypt.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of rejecting a deity's chosen leader is common in many ancient myths and religious narratives.

For example, in Greek mythology, Prometheus was punished by the gods for aiding humanity, akin to humanity rejecting divine gifts.

In Hinduism, the Mahabharata showcases people who sometimes counter divine plans due to personal desires or ignorance.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific view, nostalgia can have both positive and negative effects on psychological health, and the desire to return to familiar ground can be seen in several psychological theories.

However, the verse does not have a direct relationship with scientific disciplines; rather, it reflects human behavior and attitudes.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 7:39 typically highlight the consistent pattern of disobedience among the Israelites as an example of the fallen state of humanity and the need for redemption.

Matthew Henry's commentary points out the absurdity of Israel's desire to return to Egypt after having witnessed God's miracles.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary discusses Stephen's strategic retelling of Jewish history as a way to set up his argument of their resistance to the Holy Spirit.

Experts agree that Stephen's speech emphasizes the cyclical unfaithfulness of the people in face of God's persistent faithfulness.

Acts 7

Acts 7

What does Acts 7:39 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 7:39 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?