Acts 7:9
in Acts 7Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him,
KJV
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
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This verse in Acts 7
Commentary
13 notes on this verse"They sold Joseph into Egypt." Not knowing of any fault in their brother, they treated him so badly, and moreover at the time when he had come to them with food for them, and by their action they furthered the prophecy without realizing it, involuntarily …
This site's exposition
moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt
on Acts 7:9-10
The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him, delivered him out of all his afflictions, and made him governor over Egypt and all his house. The bench reads Joseph as the speech's first figure of the pattern Stephen is building toward, a man his own brothers rejected whom God exalted to be the very one who saves them. Joseph's envy at the hands of his own kindred rhymes with the envy Stephen's own hearers now hold toward him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
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 …
"And God was with him"--this also is for them--"and delivered him out of all his afflictions." He shows that unknowingly they helped to fulfill the prophecy, and that they were themselves the cause, and that the evils recoiled on their own selves. And he shows, that the saints were not exempt from tribulation, but that in their very tribulations they obtained help. And that these persons did themselves help to bring about the results, who wished to cut short these same afflictions: just as these made Joseph the more glorious: just as the king did Moses, by ordering the children to be killed: since had he not ordered, this would not have been: just as also that Hebrew drives Moses into exile, that there he may have the Vision, having become worthy. Thus also him who was sold for a slave, makes He to reign as king there, where he was thought to be a slave. Thus also does Christ in His death give proof of His power: thus also does He there reign as king where they sold Him.
"And the patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt." Here again, the type of Christ. Though they had no fault to find with him, and though he came on purpose to bring them their food, they thus ill-treated him. Still here again the promise, though it is a long while first, receives its fulfillment. "And the patriarchs," he says, "moved with envy." Where it does no harm, he humors them: for they prided themselves much on these also.
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, …
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? …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Secondly, Joseph, the darling and blessing of his father's house, was abused by his brethren; they envied him because of his dreams, and sold him into Egypt. Thus early did the children of Israel begin to grudge those among them that were eminent and outshone others, of which their enmity to Christ, who, like Joseph, was a Nazarite among his brethren, was a great instance.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy,....
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 Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Moved with envy - That is, dissatisfied with the favor which their father Jacob showed Joseph, and envious at the dreams which indicated that he was to be raised to remarkable honor above his parents and brethren, Gen 37:3-11. Sold Joseph into Egypt - Sold him, that he might be taken to Egypt. This was done at the suggestion of “Judah,” who advised it that Joseph might not be put to death by his brethren, Gen 37:
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him--Here Stephen gives his first example of Israel's opposition to God's purposes, in spite of which and by means of which those purposes were accomplished.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
And the patriarchs - The twelve sons of Jacob, thus called because each was chief or head of his respective family or tribe. Moved with envy - Ζηλωσαντες. We translate ζηλος variously: zeal or fervent affection, whether its object be good or bad, is its general meaning; and ζηλοω signifies to be indignant, envious, etc. See the note on Act 5:17. The brethren of Joseph, hearing of his dreams, and understanding them to portend his future advancement, filled with envy, (with which no ordinary portion of malice was associated), sold Joseph into the land of Egypt, hoping by this means to prevent his future grandeur; but God, from whom the portents came, was with him, and made their envy the direct means of accomplishing the great design.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατριάρχαι | patriarchai | patriarchs | G3966 → | 4 times |
| ζηλώσαντες | zelosantes | having envied | G2206 → | |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰωσὴφ | ioseph | Joseph | G2501 → | 35 times |
| ἀπέδοντο | apedonto | sold [him] | G591 → | 48 times |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Αἴγυπτον· | aigupton | Egypt; | G125 → | 25 times |
| καὶ | kai | But | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
πατριάρχαιpatriarchs
patriarchaiG3966 →4 times
ζηλώσαντεςhaving envied
zelosantesG2206 →
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἸωσὴφJoseph
iosephG2501 →35 times
ἀπέδοντοsold [him]
apedontoG591 →48 times
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Αἴγυπτον·Egypt;
aiguptonG125 →25 times
καὶBut
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
μετ᾽with
met᾽G3326 →461 times
αὐτοῦhim
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Joshua 1:9
Through
Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched;…
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Psalms 66:12
You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.
- Psalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- Isaiah 41:10
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 16; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; 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.