Acts 7 23

Acts 7:23 kjv

And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

Acts 7:23 nkjv

"Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

Acts 7:23 niv

"When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.

Acts 7:23 esv

"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

Acts 7:23 nlt

"One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel.

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 23 Meaning

Acts 7:23 describes a pivotal moment in Moses' early life. At the age of forty, after being raised in Pharaoh's household, a profound and deliberate resolve formed in his heart to turn from his privileged life and engage deeply with his biological kin, the children of Israel, who were suffering under Egyptian bondage. This was an act of personal identification and an inward stirring to care for and potentially intervene on behalf of his oppressed people.

Acts 7 23 Context

This verse is part of Stephen's long discourse before the Sanhedrin, found in Acts chapter 7. Stephen is defending himself against charges of blasphemy against the temple and the law. His speech, rather than a direct refutation, is a sweeping historical summary of Israel's relationship with God, demonstrating how God's presence and promises extended beyond the temple and how Israel consistently resisted the Holy Spirit by rejecting God's chosen deliverers, from Joseph to Moses and ultimately to Jesus Christ. Acts 7:23 is presented as a crucial turning point in Moses' life, highlighting his compassionate identification with his people and serving as a parallel to Christ's coming to His own, only to be rejected. The verse emphasizes divine providence in Moses' preparation, even through his Egyptian upbringing.

Acts 7 23 Word analysis

• But (δέ - de): This particle signals a transition or change. Here, it marks a significant shift from Moses' upbringing (as described in previous verses) to a decisive, active internal motivation and action.
• when he was forty years old (τεσσαρακονταετής - tessarakontaetēs): This specific age is highly symbolic in biblical narratives, often representing a period of significant testing, preparation, or a full generation. For Moses, it marks the end of his first phase of life—forty years of training in Pharaoh's court. This suggests a mature decision, not an impulsive act of youth. His life unfolds in three forty-year periods (Egypt, Midian, wilderness).
• it came into his heart (ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ - anebē epi tēn kardian autou): This Greek idiom literally means "it went up upon his heart." "Heart" (kardia) in the biblical sense is not merely the seat of emotion but the center of intellect, will, and decision-making. Thus, this phrase indicates a deep-seated conviction, a deliberate intention, and a well-formed resolve, rather than a fleeting thought or mere feeling. It signifies a pivotal internal commitment.
• to visit (ἐπισκέψασθαι - episkepsasthai): This verb is stronger than a casual glance. It implies an intentional inspection, often with a view to provide help, care for, or intervene. In this context, it suggests Moses' compassionate oversight and a burgeoning sense of responsibility towards his suffering people, seeking to alleviate their burdens.
• his brethren (τοὺς ἀδελφούς - tous adelphous): Refers to his biological kin, his fellow Israelites. Despite his adopted royal status, Moses retained his ethnic identity. This phrase highlights his choice to identify with his people, abandoning his Egyptian standing for solidarity.
• the children of Israel (τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ - tous huios Israēl): This common biblical designation for the Jewish people underscores their covenantal identity and descent from Jacob (Israel). It reinforces Moses' intentional alignment with God's chosen people, distinct from his life in Egypt.

Words-group analysis

• But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart: This phrase highlights divine providence in Moses' development. His 40 years of elite Egyptian education and cultural immersion providentially prepared him for future leadership. The deliberate maturation of his intent to help his people signifies that his action was not a youthful whim, but a well-considered resolution at a divinely appointed time in his life, suggesting God's preparatory work within him before the explicit burning bush encounter.
• to visit his brethren, the children of Israel: This specific choice to "visit"—with its connotation of care and intervention—his "brethren, the children of Israel" is an act of profound self-identification. Despite growing up an Egyptian prince, Moses chose to recognize and embrace his true lineage and destiny. It was an active choice of association with the downtrodden, driven by compassion and possibly a nascent sense of divine calling, reflecting a selfless commitment to his people over personal comfort and privilege.

Acts 7 23 Bonus section

• Divine Foreknowledge and Preparation: This verse illustrates how God prepares individuals for His purposes, even through seemingly disparate life experiences. Moses' Egyptian upbringing was not wasted but equipped him with leadership skills, political insight, and wisdom for his future role as a deliverer and lawgiver. His decision at 40 was part of a larger divine unfolding, indicating a God who orchestrates even the personal inclinations of His servants.
• Moses as a Type of Christ: Stephen's narrative frequently presents Moses as a significant type (foreshadowing) of Christ. Moses' deliberate choice to leave behind privilege to identify with and "visit" his oppressed brethren resonates powerfully with Jesus' incarnational act—leaving heavenly glory to become human and suffer with His people to redeem them (Php 2:5-8). Both faced rejection from their own people despite offering salvation.
• Personal Initiative and God's Timing: While the full divine commission came later at the burning bush, this verse shows Moses taking a significant step out of compassion and an emerging sense of identity. It teaches that even before a direct divine calling, God often prepares our hearts and leads us through inclinations and concerns for others, aligning our will with His purposes in His perfect timing.
• Stephen's Rhetorical Strategy: By dwelling on Moses' life, Stephen highlights God's historical interaction with Israel, showing that even their greatest prophet was initially rejected. This builds a case against the Sanhedrin, subtly accusing them of continuing the pattern of their ancestors in rejecting God's Anointed One, Jesus.

Acts 7 23 Commentary

Acts 7:23 pinpoints a crucial turning point in Moses' life, demonstrating his proactive identification with his oppressed kin even before his formal call at the burning bush. Forty years in the luxury and learning of Pharaoh's court, Moses deliberately chose solidarity with the suffering Hebrew slaves. His decision was not a casual one, but a deep-seated conviction within his "heart," representing his intellect and will, to "visit" them with a view to help and intervene. This highlights Moses' profound empathy and prophetic recognition of his true identity and God's people, even when separated by privilege and circumstance. Stephen emphasizes this pivotal moment to showcase God's patient preparation of a deliverer and Israel's consistent pattern of rejecting the very ones God sent to them. Moses, who chose to abandon a princely life to align with his enslaved brethren, foreshadows Christ, who, though divine, emptied Himself to identify with humanity in its bondage and redeem it. Moses’ act of choosing to "visit" anticipates the ultimate "visitation" of God to His people in Jesus Christ for their redemption.