Acts 7 45

Acts 7:45 kjv

Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

Acts 7:45 nkjv

which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,

Acts 7:45 niv

After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David,

Acts 7:45 esv

Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David,

Acts 7:45 nlt

Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 45 Meaning

Acts 7:45 signifies that the "tent of witness" (tabernacle), the movable sanctuary bearing testimony to God's presence and covenant with Israel, was carried by succeeding generations of Israelites into the Promised Land. This entry was accomplished under the leadership of Joshua (whose name in Greek is Jesus), with divine assistance in expelling the existing Gentile nations to establish Israel's inheritance. Stephen recounts this as part of Israel's journey, showing God's presence extended beyond the fixed Temple, through portable dwellings and active divine intervention in history.

Acts 7 45 Context

Acts 7:45 is part of Stephen's extensive speech delivered before the Sanhedrin, where he faces accusations of blasphemy against the Law, Moses, and the Temple (Acts 6:13-14). In his defense, Stephen does not directly refute the charges but recounts the history of Israel from Abraham to Solomon, demonstrating how God consistently worked through individuals and in various places, not exclusively in the Temple.

This particular verse explains a pivotal moment in that historical narrative: the entrance of the "tent of witness" (the Tabernacle) into the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership. Stephen uses this to highlight several points: that God's presence was initially portable (the Tabernacle vs. the later fixed Temple); that God directly intervened in fulfilling His promises (driving out the Gentiles); and, critically, by using the Greek name "Jesus" for Joshua, Stephen subtly draws a parallel between Joshua, who led Israel into the physical promised land, and Jesus Christ, who leads believers into spiritual salvation and rest. It challenges the accusers' narrow focus on a rigid temple structure by showing God's dynamic historical engagement with His people, even prior to a permanent sanctuary.

Acts 7 45 Word analysis

• which also: Refers directly back to the "tent of witness" (or tabernacle of testimony) mentioned in Acts 7:44. It indicates the continuous nature of God's presence, moving with His people.
• our fathers that came after: Designates the generations of Israelites who succeeded those who journeyed in the wilderness under Moses. Specifically, this refers to the generation led by Joshua.
• brought in: (Greek: εἰσήγαγον, eisēgagon). Implies an action of leading, introducing, or carrying into. This underscores the intentional and divinely orchestrated movement of the tabernacle into the Promised Land.
• with Jesus: (Greek: Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous). This is the key lexical point. Iēsous is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Yehoshua, or Joshua. Stephen's deliberate use of this name here links Joshua, the one who led God's people into their physical inheritance, with Jesus Christ, the one who leads God's people into their spiritual inheritance and rest (as expanded upon in Hebrews 4:8). It draws a profound theological connection, suggesting that Joshua foreshadowed Christ's greater leadership.
• into the possession: (Greek: κατάσχεσιν, kataschesin). Refers to the act of taking possession, inheritance, or settling into a place. It highlights the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to give Israel the land.
• of the Gentiles: (Greek: ἐθνῶν, ethnōn). Refers to the nations, specifically the non-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan (e.g., Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites). This emphasizes that the land was not empty, but God's action was required to clear it for His people.
• whom God drove out: (Greek: ἐξῶσεν, exōsen). Emphasizes the decisive and powerful action of God Himself. It stresses divine agency, showing that the conquest was not merely human effort but a sovereign act of God. This counters any notion that Israel conquered by its own strength or righteousness (Deut 9:4-5).
• before the face of our fathers: Means in front of, on behalf of, or directly preceding our fathers. It highlights God's direct and protective involvement in leading Israel and clearing their path to inhabit the land He promised.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "which also our fathers that came after brought in": This phrase highlights the continuity of the tabernacle's presence as it was passed down and actively moved by the generations entering Canaan. It connects the wilderness experience to the Promised Land.
• "with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles": This specific grouping emphasizes the pivotal role of Joshua (Jesus) in fulfilling the promise of the land's inheritance, displacing its current occupants. The intentional naming "Jesus" draws an immediate connection to Christ's salvific role.
• "whom God drove out before the face of our fathers": This clearly attributes the successful acquisition of the land directly to God's sovereign power and intervention on behalf of His chosen people. It reinforces that the land was a gift, secured by divine might.

Acts 7 45 Bonus section

• The usage of Iēsous for Joshua in Acts 7:45 (and Hebrews 4:8) is unique and highlights Stephen's profound understanding of biblical typology, viewing Old Testament figures and events as foreshadowing Christ. It suggests that Joshua's role as a deliverer and leader into the inheritance was a divinely orchestrated prefigurement of Jesus Christ.
• This verse subtly reinforces the idea that God is not spatially confined. From dwelling in a portable tabernacle to His ultimate incarnation in Jesus Christ, God continually revealed His presence in dynamic and unrestrictive ways, transcending human-built structures.
• Stephen's recounting of history is a pointed reminder to his audience that the blessings they enjoy (like the Promised Land) were obtained by God's direct intervention, not by their merit, setting a precedent for understanding salvation as purely God's gracious work.

Acts 7 45 Commentary

Acts 7:45 is a pivotal verse in Stephen's masterful defense before the Sanhedrin, carefully weaving historical narrative with profound theological implications. By recounting how the "tent of witness" was brought into Canaan under the leadership of "Jesus" (Joshua), Stephen undermines his accusers' static, temple-centric view of God. The Tabernacle, unlike the fixed Temple, represented God's mobile, unconfined presence, demonstrating that God was with His people even during their wilderness journey and through various phases of their history.

The choice to use Iēsous for Joshua is a brilliant rhetorical and theological move. It deliberately draws a parallel between Joshua, who led Israel into a physical "rest" (the promised land), and Jesus Christ, who leads His people into a greater, spiritual rest (salvation and the heavenly kingdom). This subtle connection challenges the Sanhedrin to consider whether they are resisting the true inheritor of Joshua's legacy – not one who brings physical land, but eternal salvation. Furthermore, the emphasis that "God drove out" the Gentiles stresses divine sovereignty over human action, reiterating that God's purposes are accomplished through His own power, whether it be in land conquest or in offering salvation through Christ. Stephen's entire speech aims to show how Israel's history is a story of continuous divine initiative and human resistance, culminating in the ultimate rejection of God's final messenger, Jesus, by those who held tightly to physical institutions over spiritual truth.