Act 7:7, 11, 36, 40, 13:17 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 7. And the nation , etc. Referring particularly to the Egyptians. Will I judge . The word judge, in the Bible, often means to execute judgment , as well as to pronounce it; that is, to punish . See , etc. It has this meaning here. God regarded their oppressive acts as deserving his indignation, and he evinced it in the plagues with which he visited them, and in their overthrow in the Red Sea. Shall serve me . Shall worship me, or be regarded as my people. In this place . That is, in the place where God made this promise to Abraham. These words are not found in Genesis; but similar words are found in ; and it was a practice, in making quotations, to quote the sense only, or to connect two or more promises having relation to the same thing. (a) "serve me in this place"

Acts 7:7

Verse 7. And the nation, etc. Referring particularly to the Egyptians.

Will I judge. The word judge, in the Bible, often means to execute judgment, as well as to pronounce it; that is, to punish. See Jn 18:31, 3:17, 8:50, 12:47, Acts 24:6, 1Cor 5:13, etc. It has this meaning here. God regarded their oppressive acts as deserving his indignation, and he evinced it in the plagues with which he visited them, and in their overthrow in the Red Sea.

Shall serve me. Shall worship me, or be regarded as my people.

In this place. That is, in the place where God made this promise to Abraham. These words are not found in Genesis; but similar words are found in Ex 3:12; and it was a practice, in making quotations, to quote the sense only, or to connect two or more promises having relation to the same thing.

(a) "serve me in this place" Ex 3:12

Acts 7:11

Verse 11. Now there came a dearth. A famine. Gen 41:54.

And Chanaan. Jacob was living at that time in Canaan.

Found no sustenance. No food; no means of living.

(i) "there came a dearth" Gen 41:54

Acts 7:36

Verse 36. Wonders and signs.Miracles, and remarkable interpositions of God. Acts 2:22.

In the land of Egypt. By the ten,plagues, Exodus chapters 4-12.

In the Red sea. Dividing it, and conducting the Israelites in safety, and overthrowing the Egyptians, Ex 13.

In the wilderness. During their forty years' journey to the promised land. The wonders or miracles were, providing them with manna daily; with flesh in a miraculous manner; with water from the rock, etc., Exodus chapters 16 and 17.

(d) "after that he had showed" Exodus chapters 7-11,14 (e) "forty years" Ex 16:35

Acts 7:40

Verse 40. Saying unto Aaron. Ex 32:1

Make us gods. That is, idols.

(n) "Saying unto Aaron" Ex 32:1 (=) "wot" "know"

Acts 13:17

Verse 17. The God of this people. Who has manifested himself as the peculiar friend and protector of this nation. This implied a belief that he had been particularly their God; a favourite doctrine of the Jews, and one that would conciliate their favour towards Paul.

Of Israel. The Jews.

Chose our fathers. Selected the nation to be a chosen and peculiar people to himself, De 7:6,7.

And exalted the people. Raised them up from a low and depressed state of bondage. He elevated them from a prostrate state of slavery to freedom, and to peculiar privileges as a nation.

When they dwelt as strangers in Egypt. εντηπαροικια. This properly refers to their dwelling there as foreigners. They were always strangers there in a strange land. It was not their home. They never mingled with the people; never became constituent parts of the government; never united with their usages and laws. They were a strange, separate, depressed people there; not less so than Africans are strangers, and foreigners, and a depressed and degraded people in this land, [U.S.] Gen 36:7, Ex 6:4, 22:21, 23:9; Lev 19:34, De 10:19.

And with an high arm. This expression denotes great power. The arm denotes strength, as that by which we perform anything. A high arm, an arm lifted up, or stretched out, denotes that strength exerted to the utmost. The children of Israel are represented as having been delivered with an "outstretched arm," De 26:8, Ex 6:6. "With a strong hand," Ex 6:1. Reference is made in these places to the plagues inflicted on Egypt, by which the Israelites were delivered; to their passage through the Red Sea; to their victories over their enemies, etc.

(a) "our fathers" De 7:6,7 (b) "as strangers" Ps 105:23 (*) "in the land of Egypt" "sojourned" (c) "high arm" Ex 13:14,16