Acts 7 17

Acts 7:17 kjv

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

Acts 7:17 nkjv

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

Acts 7:17 niv

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

Acts 7:17 esv

"But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt

Acts 7:17 nlt

"As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 17 Meaning

Acts 7:17 declares that as the prophesied time neared for God's ancient promise to Abraham concerning his numerous descendants and their emergence from Egypt, the Hebrew people greatly increased and multiplied while residing in Egypt. This verse highlights God's sovereign control over time and His unfailing faithfulness to His covenants, particularly His oath-bound promise to Abraham, which He meticulously brought to pass despite their dwelling in a foreign land.

Acts 7 17 Context

Acts 7:17 is a pivotal statement within Stephen's extensive defense speech before the Sanhedrin. He is accused of speaking against the Temple and the Law. In response, Stephen presents a detailed theological history of Israel, emphasizing God's dealings with His people from Abraham onward. He methodically shows how God acted before the Law (given at Sinai) and outside of the Temple structure. This verse, therefore, serves to highlight the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises, specifically the Abrahamic promise of numerous descendants, setting the stage for the miraculous Exodus. Stephen's underlying point is that God's plan unfolds by His divine initiative, not by human institutions, and that the Israelites frequently resisted this divine leading, a clear challenge to his contemporary audience's rigid adherence to external rituals and locations over the true heart of God's purpose.

Acts 7 17 Word analysis

• But when: ὡς δέ (hōs de). Introduces a significant temporal and transitional point, marking the moment an event began to materialize, linking it directly to the preceding narrative of the patriarchal period.
• the time: ὁ χρόνος (ho chronos). Refers to the specific, appointed duration or season, a divinely set period for the unfolding of God's purpose, not merely abstract time.
• of the promise: τῆς ἐπαγγελίας (tēs epangelias). Refers to the solemn divine declaration or commitment. Here, it specifically denotes the covenant promises God made to Abraham, primarily regarding his seed (descendants) and their future. This term signifies God's initiated, gracious self-commitment.
• drew nigh: ἤγγισεν (ēggisen). From ἐγγίζω (engizō), meaning to approach or come near. Implies not just proximity but a state of readiness for imminent fulfillment. God's timing is precise.
• which God: ὁ Θεὸς (ho Theos). Emphasizes the divine source and author of the promise. This promise originates from God Himself, making its fulfillment certain.
• had sworn: ὤμοσεν (ōmosen). From ὀμνύω (omnyō), meaning to take an oath, swear by. This verb stresses the unchangeable, immutable, and unbreakable nature of God's promise. It denotes a solemn, binding commitment.
• to Abraham: τῷ Ἀβραάμ (tō Abraam). Identifies the specific patriarch to whom the promise and oath were made, highlighting the foundational nature of the Abrahamic covenant in God's redemptive history.
• the people: ὁ λαὸς (ho laos). Refers specifically to the Israelite descendants of Abraham, indicating their collective identity and growth as a distinct group under God's oversight.
• grew: ἠύξησεν (ēuxēsen). From αὐξάνω (auxanō), meaning to increase, augment, cause to grow. Indicates natural increase or population growth.
• and multiplied: καὶ ἐπληθύνθη (kai eplēthynthē). From πληθύνω (plēthynō), meaning to make abundant, increase, or be numerous. This signifies a supernatural or extraordinary expansion of their numbers, emphasizing a divinely accelerated rate of growth, far beyond typical demographic expansion.
• in Egypt: ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ (en Aigyptō). Specifies the geographical location where this multiplication occurred, a land of servitude, but where God's promise still found powerful fulfillment.

Words-group analysis

• "But when the time of the promise drew nigh": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over history and prophetic fulfillment. The promise given to Abraham had a preordained timeline for its major events to unfold, showing that divine promises are not merely wishes but pre-planned realities. It underscores God's meticulous timing in salvation history.
• "which God had sworn to Abraham": This emphasizes the unbreakable and immutable nature of God's covenant with Abraham. The use of "sworn" signifies an oath, elevating the promise from a simple statement to an inviolable, guaranteed commitment by the very nature of God, who cannot lie and binds Himself for human assurance.
• "the people grew and multiplied in Egypt": This clearly demonstrates the tangible, literal fulfillment of the promise of numerous descendants (Gen 12:2, 13:16, 15:5) despite adverse circumstances. Their growth in Egypt, a foreign and eventually hostile land, attests to God's miraculous power to fulfill His word irrespective of external conditions, and indeed, to bring it about in what appeared to be unlikely or oppressive circumstances. It is a testament to divine blessing overcoming human limitations.

Acts 7 17 Bonus section

• The dramatic multiplication of Israel in Egypt, from 70 souls (Gen 46:27) to hundreds of thousands or even millions (implied by the number of men ready for war, Num 1:46), is presented by Stephen as the necessary numerical prerequisite for God to form a "great nation," fulfilling a core aspect of the Abrahamic promise before bringing them into their own land.
• Stephen's emphasis on God "swearing" an oath echoes Old Testament theology where God's oath provides certainty and solace (Psa 105:8-9, Heb 6:13-14), especially in times of waiting or hardship. This highlights God's initiative and commitment being more foundational than any human law or institution.
• The placement of this verse is strategic: it bridges the patriarchal narratives with the Exodus, showing that God's historical intervention follows His long-term, declared purpose, connecting what might appear as disparate historical events into one unified redemptive plan. It subtly refutes any idea that God was only active with His people after the Law was given or in the promised land.

Acts 7 17 Commentary

Acts 7:17 concisely expresses the remarkable faithfulness of God to His oath-bound promise to Abraham. Stephen articulates that at the divinely appointed time, centuries after the original covenant, the descendants of Abraham experienced explosive demographic growth while sojourning in Egypt. This was not a coincidence but the direct result of God supernaturally orchestrating their increase as a preparatory step for the Exodus and the eventual formation of a great nation. The multiplication in a land of eventual slavery served to demonstrate God's power and ability to fulfill His word in seemingly impossible conditions. Stephen presents this historical fact as irrefutable evidence of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His covenant. It reminds us that God's plans are eternal, not constrained by human calendars or geographical limitations, and His oaths are sovereign guarantees.