Acts 7 7

Acts 7:7 kjv

And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

Acts 7:7 nkjv

'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.'

Acts 7:7 niv

But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,' God said, 'and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.'

Acts 7:7 esv

'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.'

Acts 7:7 nlt

'But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,' God said, 'and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.'

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 7 meaning

Acts 7:7 is part of Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts the history of Israel to demonstrate God's consistent plan and the people's frequent rejection of it. This specific verse, a direct quote or paraphrase of Gen 15:14, asserts God's solemn promise to Abraham regarding his descendants. It declares that the nation (Egypt) which would enslave Abraham's lineage would face divine judgment. Following this judgment, God promised that His people would be delivered and subsequently worship Him in a designated sacred place. The verse highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, His righteous justice against oppressors, and His ultimate purpose for His people's liberation: to serve and worship Him.

Acts 7 7 Context

Acts 7:7 is a crucial part of Stephen's extended address to the Sanhedrin, which spans from Acts 7:2 to Acts 7:53. This speech is a historical overview of Israel's relationship with God, beginning with Abraham and continuing through the patriarchs, Moses, and the wilderness generation, leading up to the temple's construction. Stephen's intent is multifaceted: to defend himself against accusations of blasphemy against the Law, Temple, and customs, and conversely, to expose the Jewish leaders' consistent pattern of resisting God's chosen messengers throughout history.

Verse 7 specifically references God's covenant with Abraham, detailed in Gen 15:13-14, which predicted the future oppression of Abraham's descendants, God's judgment on their oppressors, and their eventual liberation to serve God. By starting with Abraham, Stephen establishes that God's plan and presence were not confined to the land of Israel, the Tabernacle, or the Temple, but began with a simple tent-dweller and a promise. He is strategically reminding his audience of God's sovereignty and His historical initiative, challenging their rigid interpretation of their traditions and institutions. The reference to "serve me in this place" directly foreshadows the Mosaic covenant at Mount Sinai (often understood as "this place") and the establishment of a cultic service there, which Stephen later contrasts with the transient nature of the Tabernacle and Temple, ultimately pointing towards a more spiritual understanding of God's dwelling and worship.

Acts 7 7 Word analysis

• And (Καί - kai): A conjunction, serving to connect this statement directly to the preceding prophecy given to Abraham in Acts 7:6 about his descendants being sojourners and enslaved. It signals a continuation of the divine pronouncements.
• the nation (τὸ ἔθνος - to ethnos): Refers specifically to Egypt, which enslaved the Israelites. The use of "ethnos" (nation, gentile) is noteworthy as it emphasizes God's dealings with a non-covenantal power, over whom He asserts sovereign judgment.
• to whom (ᾧ - hō): A relative pronoun indicating the object of the following clause.
• they shall be in bondage (δουλεύσουσιν - douleusousin): From "douleuō," meaning "to serve as a slave," "to be in servitude." It describes enforced labor and subjugation, highlighting the harsh reality of the coming affliction. The future tense (fut. act. indic.) conveys certainty of the prophecy.
• will I judge (ἐγὼ κρινῶ - egō krinō): A strong assertion of divine justice. "Egō" (I) is emphatic, stressing God's personal and active role. "Krinō" means "to judge," "to pass sentence," implying a decisive act of retribution against the oppressive nation for their treatment of His people.
• said God (εἶπεν ὁ Θεός - eipen ho Theos): This phrase unequivocally attributes the prophecy to God, emphasizing its divine authority and inerrancy. Stephen uses it to underscore the trustworthiness and ultimate source of these historical predictions.
• and after that (καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα - kai meta tauta): Signifies a clear chronological sequence in God's plan: judgment then deliverance. It points to God's precise timing and the structured fulfillment of His promises.
• shall they come forth (ἐξελεύσονται - exeleusontai): From "exerchomai," meaning "to come out," "to go forth." It speaks of liberation and exodus, specifically referencing the Israelites' departure from Egypt. This also is future active indicative, expressing prophetic certainty.
• and serve me (καὶ λατρεύσουσίν μοι - kai latreusousin moi): "Latreuō" distinctively means "to serve, minister, or worship in a sacred or religious sense," particularly concerning divine worship or cultic service. It's not general labor (douleuō). This highlights the purpose of their deliverance: to enter into a relationship of devoted worship and obedience to God. "Moi" (me) is emphatic, referring to God.
• in this place (ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ - en tō topō toutō): "Topos" means "place." While "this place" isn't explicitly defined in Gen 15:14, within the context of the Exodus narrative and God's later command to Moses, it refers to Mount Sinai where they would worship God after their liberation (Exod 3:12). Stephen connects this promise of service directly to a geographic, sacred location, initially outside the promised land.

Word-groups/phrases analysis:

• "the nation to whom they shall be in bondage": This phrase directly identifies the oppressor (Egypt) and the state of suffering God's people would endure, yet also foreshadows divine intervention. It illustrates that God knows and plans even for periods of tribulation.
• "will I judge, said God": This emphatic declaration stresses divine sovereignty and active intervention. It assures that suffering is not without oversight and that God’s justice will prevail against all oppression, affirming His commitment to His covenant people. The direct attribution to "God" leaves no doubt as to the authority of the statement.
• "and after that shall they come forth, and serve me": This group outlines the divinely ordained sequence: liberation followed by dedicated worship. It underscores that freedom from bondage is not an end in itself, but a means to enter into a deeper, spiritual relationship of service with God. This points to the purpose of redemption.
• "serve me in this place": This specific command to worship in "this place" (Sinai) foreshadows the giving of the Law and the establishment of the covenant. It illustrates that God desires a structured, consecrated form of worship, not merely vague devotion, though the later context of Stephen's speech will spiritualize and universalize this "place."

Acts 7 7 Bonus section

The pattern described in Acts 7:7—suffering, divine judgment on the oppressor, and ultimate liberation leading to worship—is a recurring theme throughout biblical history and has theological implications for the broader narrative of redemption. This sequence typifies God's relationship with His chosen people. The "service" (λατρεύω) at Sinai, enabled by deliverance from Egypt, foreshadows the New Covenant reality where believers are freed from the bondage of sin to serve the living God in Spirit and truth (Rom 1:9, Heb 9:14). Stephen uses this historical anchor to implicitly challenge the Sanhedrin's misplaced confidence in human institutions like the Temple, suggesting that true worship ("service to God") existed long before and continued beyond these structures, always contingent upon God's initiative and man's response of faith. The Exodus event, foundational for Israel, becomes a template for God's larger redemptive work.

Acts 7 7 Commentary

Acts 7:7, embedded in Stephen's historical discourse, serves as a pivotal link in demonstrating God's consistent plan of salvation and His active involvement in Israel's history. It is a direct reaffirmation of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 15:13-14), stressing God's foreknowledge and sovereign control over human events. The verse highlights three key divine attributes: His prophetic accuracy (foretelling both the bondage and the liberation), His unwavering justice (judging the oppressors), and His redemptive purpose (leading His people out to serve Him). The nature of "service" (λατρεύσουσιν, latreuousin) points specifically to sacred worship and obedience, indicating that God's ultimate goal for His people's deliverance was a covenantal relationship, not merely physical freedom. By bringing this ancient promise into the present context, Stephen implies that God's faithfulness, despite the nation's repeated failures and rejections of His messengers (a theme he develops later), remains steadfast, culminating in Jesus Christ.