Acts 7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:8

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision ,.... Or the covenant, of which circumcision was a sign or token, Genesis 17:11 . Stephen speaks here in the language of the Jews, who are wont to speak of circumcision after this manner; hence in the Jewish liturgy, there is a collect, לברית מילה , "for the covenant of circumcision" F8 Seder Tephillot, fol. 197. 1. Ed. Basil. Vid. Kimchi in Mal. iii. 1. ; and so it is said F9 Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 90. 1. , "when Joseph... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:9

And the patriarchs, moved with envy ,.... See Genesis 37:11 the sons of Jacob and brethren of Joseph were filled with envy, and enraged at him, because of the evil report of them he brought to his father; and because he had a greater share in his father's love than they had; and because of his dreams, which signified that he should have the dominion over them, and they should be obliged to yield obedience to him: wherefore they sold Joseph into Egypt ; they sold him to the Ishmaelites... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:10

And delivered him out of all his afflictions ,.... From the evil designs of his mistress, and from all the miseries of a prison: and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt ; so Justin in the place above cited says, that Joseph was very dear to the king; but not through his knowledge of magic arts, as he suggests, but on account of the wisdom which God gave him; for when he is said to have favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, the meaning is, that he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:11

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt, and Canaan ,.... This dearth, or famine, is said to be in all lands, Genesis 41:54 though only Egypt and Canaan are mentioned here, because the history is concerned with no other. The Jewish writers F16 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 90. fol. 78. 1. speak of three lands particularly, which were affected with it, Phenicia, Arabia, and Palestine; and this famine in the land of Israel, they say F17 Pirke Eliezer, c. 38. , which lasted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:12

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt ,.... Not then growing, or gathering in there, or that was of that year's produce; for the famine was strong in the land of Egypt, as well as in Canaan; but was what had been laid up, and preserved in the seven years of plenty, by the order and care of Joseph; which by some means or another, Jacob had heard of; see Genesis 42:1 the Jews suggest F21 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 91. fol. 78. 1, 2. , that it was by divine revelation: he sent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:13

And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren ,.... That is, when the brethren of Joseph went a second time down to Egypt for corn, Joseph made himself known unto them, Genesis 45:1 . And Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh ; for though it was known before that he was an Hebrew, see Genesis 39:17 yet it was not known of what family he was, who was his father, or his brethren, but now it was known, Genesis 45:16 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:14

Then sent Joseph ,.... Gifts and presents to his father, and wagons, to fetch down him and his family into Egypt, Genesis 45:21 . and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls ; which seems to disagree with the account of Moses, who says, that "all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten", Genesis 46:27 . But there is no contradiction; Moses and Stephen are speaking of different things; Moses speaks of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:15

So Jacob went down into Egypt ,.... At the invitation of his son Joseph: and died, he, and our fathers ; both Jacob and his twelve sons died in Egypt, though we have no account of the death of any of them, but Jacob and Joseph, particularly; only in general, that Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation, Genesis 49:33 Exodus 1:6 the Syriac version adds "there", that is, in Egypt. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:16

And were carried over into Sichem ,.... The Syriac version reads in the singular number, "and he was translated into Sichem, and laid", &c.; as if this was said of Jacob only, whereas he is not spoken of at all, only the fathers, the twelve patriarchs; for Jacob, though he was carried out of Egypt, he was not buried in Sichem, but in the cave of Machpelah, Genesis 50:13 . But Joseph and the rest of the patriarchs, who died in Egypt, when the children of Israel came out from thence,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:17

But when the time of the promise drew nigh ,.... That is, the time of the four hundred years; when God promised to deliver the seed of Abraham out of their affliction and servitude, and bring them into the land of Canaan to inherit it: which God had sworn to Abraham ; in Genesis 15:13 for though there is no express mention made of an oath, yet there is a most solemn affirmation, which is equivalent to one; the Alexandrian copy and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version read, ... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:17

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