Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die. New Living Translation This king exploited our people and oppressed them, forcing parents to abandon their newborn babies so they would die. English Standard Version He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. Berean Standard Bible He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. Berean Literal Bible Having dealt treacherously with our kindred, this one mistreated our fathers, making them expose their infants, that they would not live. King James Bible The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. New King James Version This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. New American Standard Bible It was he who shrewdly took advantage of our nation and mistreated our fathers in order that they would abandon their infants in the Nile, so that they would not survive. NASB 1995 “It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. NASB 1977 “It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. Legacy Standard Bible It was he who deceitfully took advantage of our family and mistreated our fathers to set their infants outside so that they would not survive. Amplified Bible He shrewdly exploited our race and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their [male] babies so that they would die. Berean Annotated Bible He exploited our people and oppressed (afflicted) our fathers {pateras}, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. Christian Standard Bible He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them abandon their infants outside so that they wouldn’t survive. Holman Christian Standard Bible He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them leave their infants outside, so they wouldn’t survive. American Standard Version The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live. Contemporary English Version He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them. He even made them leave their babies outside, so they would die. English Revised Version The same dealt subtilly with our race, and evil entreated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live. GOD'S WORD® Translation This king was shrewd in the way he took advantage of our people. He mistreated our ancestors. He made them abandon their newborn babies outdoors, where they would die. Good News Translation He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them, forcing them to put their babies out of their homes, so that they would die. International Standard Version By shrewdly scheming against our people, he oppressed our ancestors and forced them to abandon their infants to the elements, so that they wouldn't live. NET Bible This was the one who exploited our people and was cruel to our ancestors, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. New Heart English Bible The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they would not stay alive. Webster's Bible Translation The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and ill-treated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. Weymouth New Testament He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. World English Bible The same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthis one, having dealt subtly with our family, did evil to our fathers, causing to expose their babies, that they might not live; Berean Literal Bible Having dealt treacherously with our kindred, this one mistreated our fathers, making them expose their infants, that they would not live. Young's Literal Translation this one, having dealt subtilely with our kindred, did evil to our fathers, causing to expose their babes, that they might not live; Smith's Literal Translation He having deceived our race by sophistry, inflicted evil upon our fathers, to make their babes cast out, that they should not breed. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThis same dealing craftily with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their children, to the end they might not be kept alive. Catholic Public Domain Version This one, encompassing our kindred, afflicted our fathers, so that they would expose their infants, lest they be kept alive. New American Bible He dealt shrewdly with our people and oppressed [our] ancestors by forcing them to expose their infants, that they might not survive. New Revised Standard Version He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe dealt deceitfully with our kindred, ill treated our forefathers, and commanded that they cast out their male children to the end that they might not live. Aramaic Bible in Plain English He was deceptive toward our race and did evil to our fathers and commanded to cast out their male infants that they would not live. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentHe dealt insidiously with our race, and afflicted our fathers, so that they exposed their infants, in order that they might not live. Godbey New Testament He dealing fraudulently with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their infants, so that they should not live. Haweis New Testament This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. Mace New Testament this prince employ'd all his arts against our nation, and persecuted our fathers, by obliging them to expose their young children, in order to extirpate the race. Weymouth New Testament He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live. Worrell New Testament The same, dealing craftily with our race, ill-treated our fathers, in causing their children to be cast out, that they might not be preserved alive. Worsley New Testament and oppressed our fathers, causing their children to be exposed, that their race might be extinguished. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin…18Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt. 19He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. 20At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.… Cross References He exploited our people Exodus 1:11-12 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. / But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. Exodus 5:6-9 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: / “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. / But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ … Psalm 105:25 whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants. and oppressed our fathers, Deuteronomy 26:6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. Exodus 1:13-14 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly / and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh. Exodus 5:10-14 So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. / Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’” / So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. … forcing them to abandon their infants Exodus 1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.” Exodus 1:15-17 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, / “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.” / The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. so they would die. Matthew 2:16-18 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. / Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: / “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Psalm 106:37-38 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Jeremiah 19:4-5 because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. / They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind. Exodus 1:8-22 Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” … Exodus 2:1-10 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, / and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. / But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. … Genesis 15:13-14 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. / But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions. Exodus 3:9-10 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. / Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Treasury of Scripture The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. Exodus 1:9-22 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: … Psalm 83:4,5 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance… Psalm 105:25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants. Jump to Previous Adopted Advantage Alive Babes Babies Cast Casting Children Craftily Crafty Dealt Designs Die End Entreated Evil Fathers Forced Forcing Forefathers Ill-Treated Infants Kindred Live Making Mistreated Nation Newborn Oppressed Permitted Policy Race Shrewd Subtilly Throw Towards Treacherously Wouldn't YoungJump to Next Adopted Advantage Alive Babes Babies Cast Casting Children Craftily Crafty Dealt Designs Die End Entreated Evil Fathers Forced Forcing Forefathers Ill-Treated Infants Kindred Live Making Mistreated Nation Newborn Oppressed Permitted Policy Race Shrewd Subtilly Throw Towards Treacherously Wouldn't YoungActs 7 1. Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,2. shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers, 20. before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built; 37. that Moses himself witnessed of Christ; 44. and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time; 51. reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold. 54. Whereupon they stone Stephen to death, 59. who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them. He exploited our people This phrase refers to the actions of the Pharaoh in Egypt during the time of Moses. The Israelites, who had initially come to Egypt during the time of Joseph, had grown in number and strength. The new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, felt threatened by their presence and sought to control them through exploitation. This exploitation involved forced labor and harsh treatment, as described in Exodus 1:11-14. The Pharaoh's actions were driven by fear of the Israelites' potential to join Egypt's enemies in case of war, as mentioned in Exodus 1:9-10. and oppressed our fathers forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt who oppressed the Israelites, as described in the context of Stephen's speech in Acts 7. He is a central figure in the account of Israel's enslavement and the subsequent Exodus. 2. Israelites The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were living in Egypt and subjected to harsh slavery under Pharaoh's rule. 3. Stephen A deacon in the early church and the first Christian martyr. In Acts 7, he delivers a speech before the Sanhedrin, recounting the history of Israel and highlighting their repeated rejection of God's messengers. 4. Egypt The land where the Israelites were enslaved. It serves as a backdrop for the oppression described in Acts 7:19. 5. Infants The Hebrew babies whom Pharaoh ordered to be killed, as part of his oppressive measures against the Israelites. Teaching Points The Reality of OppressionActs 7:19 reminds us of the harsh realities faced by God's people throughout history. Believers today can take comfort in knowing that God sees and hears the cries of the oppressed. Faith in Adversity The faith of the Israelites, particularly the parents of Moses, serves as an example for us to trust in God's deliverance even when circumstances seem dire. God's Sovereign Plan Despite Pharaoh's evil intentions, God's plan for the deliverance of His people was not thwarted. This encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty over our lives. The Cost of Disobedience The Israelites' suffering in Egypt was a result of a Pharaoh who did not know God. This serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God's commands. The Importance of Remembering History Stephen's recounting of Israel's history serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering and learning from the past to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Acts 7:19?2. How does Acts 7:19 illustrate God's sovereignty despite human oppression? 3. What lessons can we learn from Pharaoh's actions in Acts 7:19? 4. How does Acts 7:19 connect to God's deliverance in Exodus? 5. How can we trust God when facing modern-day oppression like in Acts 7:19? 6. In what ways can Acts 7:19 inspire us to protect vulnerable communities today? 7. How does Acts 7:19 reflect God's sovereignty in the face of oppression? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Acts 7:19? 9. How does Acts 7:19 align with God's promise to Abraham? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 7? 11. How does God view acts of injustice? 12. What defines social justice? 13. What are the key themes in the Book of Amos? 14. In Acts 7:16, Stephen says Abraham bought a burial place in Shechem, yet Genesis 33:19 credits Jacob with that purchase. Which account is correct? What Does Acts 7:19 Mean He exploited our people• “He” points to the new Pharaoh “who did not know Joseph” (Acts 7:18; Exodus 1:8). Scripture records this as literal history, showing how quickly a nation can turn against God’s people. • Pharaoh’s exploitation meant using Israel’s numerical strength for his own gain (Exodus 1:9-11). Making them build “store cities” was a calculated move to sap their energy and keep them from rising. • God foretold such affliction back in Genesis 15:13-14, reminding us that His Word never fails. and oppressed our fathers • The oppression intensified when forced labor became bitter slavery (Exodus 1:13-14). Brick-making under cruel taskmasters broke spirits and bodies alike. • Acts 7:6 echoes this very promise: “They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.” What God predicts, history records. • Yet even under the lash, Israel’s numbers grew (Exodus 1:12). Divine blessing outpaced human cruelty, underscoring Proverbs 21:30—“No wisdom, no understanding, no plan can prevail against the LORD.” forcing them to abandon their infants • Pharaoh’s next step was infanticide: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile” (Exodus 1:22). Stephen condenses this horror into one stark line. • Midwives feared God more than Pharaoh, sparing many babies (Exodus 1:15-17). Their civil disobedience shows that obedience to God outranks obedience to man (Acts 5:29). • Hebrews 11:23 celebrates the faith of Moses’ parents, who hid him “because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” so they would die • Pharaoh’s aim was genocide—wiping out Israel’s future by killing its sons. Behind his decree lurked the ancient serpent’s attempt to thwart God’s redemptive plan (Revelation 12:4-5). • Psalm 105:25 reflects on this moment: “He turned their hearts to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.” Even hatred is under God’s sovereign hand, bending history toward deliverance. • God overturned death-plans with life: from the Nile came Moses, floating in a basket, destined to lead the exodus (Exodus 2:3-10). What Pharaoh meant for evil, God used for good (Genesis 50:20). summary Acts 7:19 compresses centuries of suffering into one verse, spotlighting Pharaoh’s escalating campaign: exploit, oppress, kill. Each step fulfills God’s earlier warnings and sets the stage for His mighty rescue. The literal record of bondage and attempted infanticide magnifies the faithfulness of God, who preserved His people, raised up a deliverer, and moved history toward the ultimate Redeemer. (19) So that they cast out their young children.--Literally, to make their children cast out so that they should not be brought forth alive. The latter verb is used in the LXX. narrative (Exodus 1:17).Verse 19. - Race for kindred, A.V., as in ver. 13; that they should cast out for so that they east out, A.V.; babes for young children, A.V.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Heοὗτος (houtos) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. exploited κατασοφισάμενος (katasophisamenos) Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2686: To deal craftily with, outwit. Middle voice from kata and sophizo; to be crafty against, i.e. Circumvent. our ἡμῶν (hēmōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. people γένος (genos) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 1085: Offspring, family, race, nation, kind. From ginomai; 'kin'. [and] oppressed ἐκάκωσεν (ekakōsen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2559: To treat badly, afflict, embitter, make angry. From kakos; to injure; figuratively, to exasperate. our ἡμῶν (hēmōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. fathers, πατέρας (pateras) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. forcing [them] ποιεῖν (poiein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. to abandon ἔκθετα (ektheta) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 1570: Cast out, exposed (to the elements), abandoned. From ek and a derivative of tithemi; put out, i.e. Exposed to perish. their αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. infants βρέφη (brephē) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 1025: Infant, babe, child in arms. Of uncertain affinity; an infant literally or figuratively. so εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. they would die. ζωογονεῖσθαι (zōogoneisthai) Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive Strong's 2225: From the same as zoon and a derivative of ginomai; to engender alive, i.e. to rescue from death. Links Acts 7:19 NIVActs 7:19 NLT Acts 7:19 ESV Acts 7:19 NASB Acts 7:19 KJV Acts 7:19 BibleApps.com Acts 7:19 Biblia Paralela Acts 7:19 Chinese Bible Acts 7:19 French Bible Acts 7:19 Catholic Bible NT Apostles: Acts 7:19 The same took advantage of our race (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
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