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Acts 7:17

in Acts 7

As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

KJV

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

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This verse in Acts 7

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

The expression "as the time of the promise drew near" indicates not that they multiplied over the course of four hundred years, but that the end had to draw near, since four hundred and more years had already passed in Egypt.

This site's exposition

As the time drew near

on Acts 7:17-19

As God's promise drew near, Israel increased in Egypt, until a king who knew nothing of Joseph turned favor to fear. The growth that was blessing under Joseph's honor is now read as a threat.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

All these things, however, are small, if measured to the ultimate heroism directed toward Christ. Therefore they are hard-hearted and uncircumcised in heart, and their ears are clogged. For which reason they were murderers of the prophets, bringing destruction upon themselves, and even of Christ, …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

The first example is taken from Abraham, showing that one ought not to hasten what is delayed by divine promises, for Abraham indeed sought to hasten the departure of his descendants from Egypt: although it was revealed to him that their imprisonment was to be …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

In many ways, through the present discourse the blessed Stephen refutes both his own gentleness toward the Jews and their ferocity toward him. For when he addresses them as brothers and fathers, what else is shown by these names than the proper relation of kinship? …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 16 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"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." Then again, fresh disappointment: first, famine, but they came through that: secondly, the falling into the hands of their enemy: thirdly, the being destroyed by the king. Then to show God's fullness of ways and means... "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." Observe, that it is not during the four hundred years that He multiplies them, but only when the end was about to draw nigh. And yet already four hundred years were passed, nay more, in Egypt. But this is the wonder of it.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

But when the time of the promise which God had confessed to Abraham was drawing near, namely that which was said: And after these things, they will go out and serve me in this place.
5 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

But when the time of the promise which God had confessed to Abraham approached, it is better written in Greek: Which God had promised to Abraham.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

But when the time of the promise drew nigh,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

He applies this to those that prosecuted him, and sat in judgment upon him, sharply reproving them for their wickedness, by which they had brought upon themselves the ruin of their place and nation, and then could not bear to hear of it,

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

But when--rather, "as." the time of the promise--that is, for its fulfilment. the people grew and multiplied in Egypt--For more than two hundred years they amounted to no more than seventy-five souls; how prodigious, then, must have been their multiplication during the latter two centuries, when six hundred thousand men, fit for war, besides women and children, left Egypt!
The time of the promise - The time of the “fulfillment” of the promise. The people grew ... - Exo 1:7-9.

The words behind it

20 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Genesis 47:27Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.5 worksGenesis 15:13Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.5 worksExodus 1:7–12but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.4 worksPsalms 105:24And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,4 worksEcclesiastes 3:2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,4 worksActs 7:6God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.3 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 13:17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.3 worksDeuteronomy 6:3Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.3 worksActs 7:30After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.3 worksExodus 1:20So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.2 works2 Peter 3:8–9Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.2 worksEzekiel 16:7I made you thrive like a plant of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.2 worksGenesis 46:3“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 7:6

    God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 15:13

      Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

    • Exodus 12:40–41

      Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years.

    • Galatians 3:17

      What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

    • Genesis 15:16

      In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

  • Through

    Acts 13:17

    The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 7:6–8

      For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of…

    • Psalms 105:23–24

      Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

    • Acts 7:2–53

      And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

    • Isaiah 63:9–14

      In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days…

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About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 7 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 16; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

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