Acts 7 9

Acts 7:9 kjv

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

Acts 7:9 nkjv

"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him

Acts 7:9 niv

"Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Acts 7:9 esv

"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him

Acts 7:9 nlt

"These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 9 Meaning

Acts 7:9 states, "And the patriarchs, greatly envying Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him." This verse is part of Stephen's extensive historical summary, demonstrating a consistent pattern in Israel's history: the rejection of God's appointed leaders and deliverers by their own people. Here, it specifically highlights that Joseph, a beloved son and chosen instrument of God's providence, was betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers—the patriarchs—due to intense envy. Crucially, despite this profound betrayal and human wickedness, the verse emphasizes God's faithful and abiding presence with Joseph, turning their evil intent for good.

Acts 7 9 Context

Acts 7:9 is nestled within Stephen's extended speech before the Sanhedrin, where he is accused of blasphemy against God, Moses, the Law, and the Temple. Rather than directly defending himself, Stephen delivers a panoramic historical account of Israel, starting with Abraham. His purpose is to demonstrate a recurrent pattern: God's covenant people repeatedly resisted the Holy Spirit and rejected God's chosen messengers—from Abraham's time to Joseph, then Moses, and ultimately the Messiah, Jesus. Stephen uses their revered history to highlight their ancestors' (and by implication, his accusers') consistent disobedience and rebellion against God's appointed leaders and truth. The story of Joseph illustrates that even the venerated patriarchs engaged in grave sin—motivated by envy—against one of their own who was appointed by God for a special purpose, yet God's faithful presence with Joseph prevailed and achieved His salvific plan. This historical context sets the stage for Stephen's ultimate accusation against the Sanhedrin: that they too, like their fathers, have resisted the Holy Spirit and betrayed and murdered the Righteous One.

Acts 7 9 Word analysis

• And the patriarchs (οἱ πατριάρχαι - hoi patriarchai): Refers to the ancestral fathers of the Israelite nation, specifically Jacob's twelve sons, who were the heads of the twelve tribes. Stephen calls them by this esteemed title, then highlights their significant moral failure. This choice emphasizes that even the venerated founders of Israel were prone to deep sin.
• greatly envying (ζηλώσαντες - zēlōsantes): Derived from zēloō, meaning to "burn with zeal" or "be ardently jealous/envious." Here, it signifies a strong, consuming negative emotion of bitter jealousy or envy. It underscores the profound ill-will and covetousness that drove the brothers' actions against Joseph. Envy is a recurring motif in the Bible for the motivation behind rejecting God's chosen ones (e.g., Cain's envy of Abel, Saul's envy of David, the religious leaders' envy of Jesus).
• Joseph (τὸν Ἰωσήφ - ton Iōsēph): Jacob's favored son, blessed with dreams that prophesied his future leadership over his brothers. He serves as a powerful type of Christ, foreshadowing Jesus in being hated, betrayed by his own people for a price, suffering unjustly, being exalted to power, and ultimately saving those who wronged him. Stephen's audience would have recognized the parallels between Joseph's rejection and the contemporary rejection of Jesus.
• sold him (ἀπέδοντο - apedonto): From apodidomi, meaning "to give back" or "to sell." The act of selling highlights a callous disregard for Joseph's humanity and family bonds, driven by mercenary gain and profound ill will. This detail reinforces the parallel to Jesus, who was also "sold" for a price (Matt 26:15).
• into Egypt (εἰς Αἴγυπτον - eis Aigypton): This specifies the destination of Joseph's slavery. Egypt, a foreign land of oppression, ironically became the place where God would preserve Joseph and ultimately save his family and the nascent nation of Israel. It represents both exile and the place of God's providential preparation.
• and God was with him (καὶ ἦν ὁ Θεὸς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ - kai ēn ho Theos met' autou): This is a pivotal theological statement contrasting human malice with divine faithfulness. En (ἦν), the imperfect tense of "to be," indicates God's continuous and abiding presence with Joseph through all his trials. "The God" (ho Theos) refers to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God. This phrase emphasizes God's providence and unwavering support for His chosen servant, even amid deep suffering and injustice, ensuring His ultimate purposes are achieved regardless of human evil. This is a foundational theme in the narrative of God's dealings with His people.

Acts 7 9 Bonus section

• Typological Significance: Joseph serves as a prominent type of Christ. Both were beloved sons, rejected and betrayed by their own (Joseph by brothers, Jesus by fellow Jews), sold for silver, endured false accusations and unjust suffering, were sovereignly exalted to power (Joseph to save Egypt and his family, Jesus to the right hand of God for universal salvation), and ultimately saved those who had wronged them. Stephen masterfully uses this historical example to subtly indict his accusers who had similarly rejected the Messiah.
• Reversal of Expectation: The Jews prided themselves on their patriarchal heritage. Stephen acknowledges this but immediately points out a flaw within that esteemed history. This subversive use of their own revered tradition to demonstrate their ancestors' (and implicitly their own) pattern of sin would have been profoundly impactful, yet infuriating, to his audience.
• God's Sovereignty and Human Agency: The verse beautifully articulates the biblical paradox where human wickedness and free will (the patriarchs' envy and sale of Joseph) operate simultaneously with God's overarching sovereignty and presence ("God was with him"). God neither condones nor causes their sin but actively works through and transforms it to accomplish His good purposes, bringing about a greater good than would have been possible without the suffering.

Acts 7 9 Commentary

Stephen's recitation of Joseph's story in Acts 7:9 serves as a potent theological argument within his defense. He uses the well-known history of the patriarchs—held in high esteem by his audience—to expose a recurring pattern of rebellion and rejection within Israel's spiritual lineage. The envy driving Joseph's brothers to sell him is presented as a stark example of internal corruption among God's people. This highlights that their sin began not with foreign idols, but within their own families and towards their own righteous members. Yet, the divine response is not vengeance, but providence. The crucial phrase, "and God was with him," elevates the narrative from human depravity to divine sovereignty. It demonstrates that despite the malicious actions of people, God's presence, protection, and purpose for His chosen servant remained unwavering. This divinely orchestrated suffering ultimately led to Joseph's exaltation and the salvation of the very family who wronged him, demonstrating God's ability to redeem and turn evil actions into good for those He favors. This deeply foreshadows the rejection of Christ by His own people, His suffering, and His ultimate exaltation, bringing salvation.