Acts 13 17

Acts 13:17 kjv

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

Acts 13:17 nkjv

The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.

Acts 13:17 niv

The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;

Acts 13:17 esv

The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.

Acts 13:17 nlt

"The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 17 Meaning

This verse recounts foundational elements of Israel's history, highlighting God's sovereign and redemptive actions. It affirms that the God of Israel deliberately selected their patriarchs (ancestors) and powerfully exalted the people even while they were oppressed foreigners in Egypt. With unmistakable might, He then delivered them from Egyptian bondage, showcasing His unwavering faithfulness and powerful intervention on behalf of His chosen people. This historical declaration by Paul serves as the starting point for tracing God's ongoing plan of salvation, culminating in Jesus the Messiah.

Acts 13 17 Context

Acts 13:17 is part of Paul's extended sermon in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia during his first missionary journey. Chapters 13 and 14 detail this journey. Paul, invited to speak, uses Israel's history as a narrative framework to present Jesus as the Messiah and the culmination of God's saving acts. The verse is situated within Paul's historical survey (Acts 13:16-25), which meticulously traces God's divine guidance of Israel from their patriarchal origins, through their time in Egypt, the wilderness, the period of judges and kings, ultimately pointing to John the Baptist and then Jesus. This historical review serves to connect Jesus directly to God's ancient covenant with Israel, showing that the gospel is not a new religion but the fulfillment of God's long-standing plan for His chosen people. The audience, primarily Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, would be familiar with this historical narrative, allowing Paul to build common ground before revealing the shocking (to some) truth of a crucified and risen Messiah.

Word Analysis

• The God of this people Israel:

  • The God: This phrase (Greek: Ho Theos) points to the one true, living God, distinct from any pagan deities. It emphasizes His exclusive relationship and ownership of Israel, setting the stage for His sovereign acts. It highlights His identity as a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God.
  • this people Israel: Refers to the physical and spiritual descendants of Jacob (Israel). It stresses their national and chosen identity, affirming their unique status as the recipient of divine election and promise from the very beginning. This acknowledges the audience's heritage.

• chose our fathers:

  • chose (Greek: exelexato): From eklegomai, meaning "to pick out," "select," or "elect." This highlights divine initiative and sovereign election. God's choice of Israel was not based on their merit but on His will.
  • our fathers: Refers primarily to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and perhaps extending to Joseph and the twelve sons of Jacob). This connects the current generation to the ancient covenant promises made to their progenitors, foundational to Israel's identity and hope. (e.g., Abraham in Gen 12:1-3, Gen 15).

• and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt:

  • exalted (Greek: hypsōsen): To lift up, make great, prosper, increase. Despite their circumstances, God caused them to thrive. This refers to their rapid population growth and prosperity in Egypt before the period of severe oppression (Ex 1:7-12). It implies divine blessing even in a foreign land.
  • the people: Again emphasizes the collective identity of Israel, distinguishing them as God's special group.
  • dwelt as strangers (Greek: parōkousēs): Sojourned, lived as foreigners or aliens. This highlights their transient and vulnerable status in Egypt. It sets up the idea of them being without a permanent homeland until God gave them the Promised Land. This state also underscored their dependence on God.
  • in the land of Egypt: A specific geographical and historical setting known for its advanced civilization but also for its polytheistic religion and eventual oppression of Israel. This detail emphasizes the powerful nature of their subsequent deliverance from such a dominant force.

• and with an high arm brought he them out of it:

  • with an high arm (Greek: meta brachionos hypsēlou): Literally "with a lifted arm" or "raised arm." This is an anthropomorphism for God's immense power, visible demonstration of strength, and triumphant might. It signifies a powerful, decisive, and overwhelming intervention, emphasizing that their deliverance was not due to human strength but God's irresistible power. This phrase appears often in the Old Testament to describe the Exodus (e.g., Ex 6:6; Deut 4:34).
  • brought he them out of it: Refers directly to the Exodus, the climactic deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This was the foundational redemptive act for Israel, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and establishing His reputation as their mighty Redeemer.

• Word-group analysis:

  • "The God...chose...exalted...brought he them out": This sequence emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and continuous action throughout Israel's history. It's a progression from election to prosperity amidst adversity, culminating in powerful liberation, all by divine doing.
  • "Our fathers...the people...them": The recurring reference to "fathers" and "the people" highlights the generational continuity of God's relationship with Israel and His faithfulness to His chosen lineage.
  • "Strangers in the land of Egypt...out of it": This encapsulates the journey from oppression and foreign sojourning to triumphant freedom and homecoming, all through God's intervention. The "stranger" motif resonates with biblical theology where Israel was also a stranger to the promised land.

Acts 13 17 Bonus section

The phrase "high arm" (brachionos hypsēlou) has deep roots in Hebrew Scriptures and carries significant theological weight. It personifies God's power in action, implying visible strength that overcomes all opposition. In Jewish tradition, this often alluded to the ten plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea, which shattered the power of Egypt and its gods, confirming YHWH's absolute supremacy. This phrase subtly communicates a polemic against the polytheism of Egypt and highlights the unique omnipotence of the God of Israel. Paul's use of this powerful imagery ensures his Jewish audience immediately grasps the divine origin and irresistible nature of the subsequent historical events he will recount, building an undeniable foundation for the Christ-event. Furthermore, the selection of this particular historical period — election of fathers, multiplication in Egypt, and exodus — sets up the typology for future salvific acts, particularly the greater deliverance wrought by Jesus.

Acts 13 17 Commentary

Acts 13:17 encapsulates a concise but profound theological statement about God's redemptive work. Paul's strategic recitation of Israel's history emphasizes God's consistent, initiating, and powerful involvement. First, the emphasis on God choosing the patriarchs underscores divine election as the foundation of Israel's existence; it was not their merit but God's sovereign grace. Second, His exaltation of the people while they were strangers in Egypt illustrates God's ability to bless and empower His people even in hostile environments and during oppression, setting them apart and causing them to flourish miraculously. This period also served as a time of testing and growth for the nascent nation. Finally, the iconic declaration that God brought them out with an high arm references the Exodus, Israel's defining moment of salvation. This mighty act of liberation was a demonstration of God's overwhelming power not only against Pharaoh and his army but also subtly against the false gods of Egypt, proving that the God of Israel was supreme. For Paul's audience, this narrative confirmed God's faithfulness to His promises, establishing the pattern of divine intervention which he would then apply to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as the ultimate, albeit spiritual, Exodus for all humanity. This verse grounds the New Covenant message in the long-established reality of God's power and redemptive purpose within salvation history.