CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 7:6 God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/7-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/44_Act_07_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 7:6 - Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/acts/7-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/acts/7-6.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/acts/">Acts</a> > <a href="/acts/7.htm">Chapter 7</a> > Verse 6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad6.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/7-5.htm" title="Acts 7:5">◄</a> Acts 7:6 <a href="/acts/7-7.htm" title="Acts 7:7">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/acts/7.htm">New International Version</a> God spoke to him in this way: &#8216For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. <a href="/nlt/acts/7.htm">New Living Translation</a> God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. <a href="/esv/acts/7.htm">English Standard Version</a> And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. <a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. <a href="/blb/acts/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> But God spoke thus, that his seed will be a sojourner in a strange land, and they will enslave it, and will mistreat it four hundred years. <a href="/kjv/acts/7.htm">King James Bible</a> And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. <a href="/nkjv/acts/7.htm">New King James Version</a> But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. <a href="/nasb_/acts/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE STRANGERS IN A LAND THAT WAS NOT THEIRS, AND THEY WOULD ENSLAVE AND MISTREAT THEM FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. <a href="/nasb/acts/7.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. <a href="/nasb77/acts/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “But God spoke to this effect, that his OFFSPRING WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. <a href="/lsb/acts/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But God spoke in this way, that his SEED WOULD BE SOJOURNERS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. <a href="/amp/acts/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And this is, in effect, what God spoke [to him]: That his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS (strangers) IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. <a href="/csb/acts/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> God spoke in this way: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and they would enslave and oppress them for four hundred years. <a href="/hcsb/acts/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> God spoke in this way: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and they would enslave and oppress them 400 years. <a href="/asv/acts/7.htm">American Standard Version</a> And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill, four hundred years. <a href="/cev/acts/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> God said Abraham's descendants would live for a while in a foreign land. There they would be slaves and would be mistreated 400 years. <a href="/erv/acts/7.htm">English Revised Version</a> And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil, four hundred years. <a href="/gwt/acts/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> God told Abraham that his descendants would be foreigners living in another country and that the people there would make them slaves and mistreat them for 400 years. <a href="/gnt/acts/7.htm">Good News Translation</a> This is what God said to him: 'Your descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be slaves and will be badly treated for four hundred years. <a href="/isv/acts/7.htm">International Standard Version</a> "This is what God promised: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and its people would enslave them and oppress them for 400 years. <a href="/msb/acts/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. <a href="/net/acts/7.htm">NET Bible</a> But God spoke as follows: 'Your descendants will be foreigners in a foreign country, whose citizens will enslave them and mistreat them for four hundred years. <a href="/nheb/acts/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> God spoke in this way, that his 'descendants would live as foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. <a href="/wbt/acts/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And God spoke on this wise, That his offspring should sojourn in a foreign land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill four hundred years. <a href="/wey/acts/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed. <a href="/web/acts/7.htm">World English Bible</a> God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And God spoke thus, that his seed will be sojourning in a strange land, and they will cause it to serve, and will do it evil [for] four hundred years. <a href="/blb/acts/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> But God spoke thus, that his seed will be a sojourner in a strange land, and they will enslave it, and will mistreat it four hundred years. <a href="/ylt/acts/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And God spake thus, That his seed shall be sojourning in a strange land, and they shall cause it to serve, and shall do it evil four hundred years, <a href="/slt/acts/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And God spake thus, That his seed shall be dwelling in a strange land; and it shall subjugate them, and inflict evil four hundred years.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage, and treat them evil four hundred years. <a href="/cpdv/acts/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Then God told him that his offspring would be a settler in a foreign land, and that they would subjugate them, and treat them badly, for four hundred years. <a href="/nabre/acts/7.htm">New American Bible</a> And God spoke thus, ‘His descendants shall be aliens in a land not their own, where they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years; <a href="/nrsvce/acts/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> God spoke to him and said, Your descendants will be settlers in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and mistreated for a period of four hundred years. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And God was speaking with him when he said to him, 'Your seed will be a stranger in a foreign land, and they will enslave him and will afflict him four hundred years;'<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And God spoke thus: That his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, and they should enslave them and afflict them, for four hundred years. <a href="/godbey/acts/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And thus God spoke, that his seed shall sojourn in a strange land, and they will enslave it and oppress it four hundred years. <a href="/haweis/acts/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. <a href="/mace/acts/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a> God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years. <a href="/wey/acts/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed. <a href="/worrell/acts/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And God spake thus; that his seed would be a sojourner in a foreign land; and they would bring it into servitude, and ill-use it four hundred years. <a href="/worsley/acts/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And God spake thus unto him, "that his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and they shall in slave and abuse them four hundred years:" <a href="/parallel/acts/7-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=1821" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm">Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin</a> …5He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child. 6<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theos (N-NMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">God</a> <a href="/greek/2980.htm" title="2980: elalēsen (V-AIA-3S) -- A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.">told him</a> <a href="/greek/3779.htm" title="3779: houtōs (Adv) -- Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows)."></a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">that</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4690.htm" title="4690: sperma (N-NNS) -- From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.">descendants</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estai (V-FIM-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">would be</a> <a href="/greek/3941.htm" title="3941: paroikon (Adj-NNS) -- Foreign, alien, subst: a foreigner, sojourner. From para and oikos; having a home near, i.e. a by-dweller.">foreigners</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/245.htm" title="245: allotria (Adj-DFS) -- From allos; another's, i.e. Not one's own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile.">a strange</a> <a href="/greek/1093.htm" title="1093: gē (N-DFS) -- Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.">land,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and that</a> <a href="/greek/1402.htm" title="1402: doulōsousin (V-FIA-3P) -- To enslave. From doulos; to enslave.">they would be enslaved</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auto (PPro-AN3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/2559.htm" title="2559: kakōsousin (V-FIA-3P) -- To treat badly, afflict, embitter, make angry. From kakos; to injure; figuratively, to exasperate.">mistreated</a> <a href="/greek/5071.htm" title="5071: tetrakosia (Adj-ANP) -- Four hundred. Plural from tessares and hekaton; four hundred.">four hundred</a> <a href="/greek/2094.htm" title="2094: etē (N-ANP) -- A year. Apparently a primary word; a year.">years.</a> 7‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13</a> 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. <a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40</a> Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. <a href="/galatians/3-17.htm">Galatians 3:17</a> What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. <a href="/genesis/46-4.htm">Genesis 46:4</a> I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.” <a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">Exodus 1:8-14</a> 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.” ... <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Genesis 47:27</a> Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number. <a href="/exodus/3-7.htm">Exodus 3:7-8</a> The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. <a href="/exodus/6-5.htm">Exodus 6:5-6</a> Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. / Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. <a href="/deuteronomy/26-5.htm">Deuteronomy 26:5-6</a> and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous. / But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. <a href="/psalms/105-23.htm">Psalm 105:23-25</a> Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham. / And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes, / whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants. <a href="/genesis/50-24.htm">Genesis 50:24</a> Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” <a href="/exodus/2-23.htm">Exodus 2:23-25</a> After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God. / So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / God saw the Israelites and took notice. <a href="/exodus/11-7.htm">Exodus 11:7</a> But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. <a href="/exodus/13-14.htm">Exodus 13:14</a> In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. <a href="/exodus/22-21.htm">Exodus 22:21</a> You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And God spoke on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.That.<a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13,16</a> And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; … four.<a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40,41</a> Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years… <a href="/galatians/3-17.htm">Galatians 3:17</a> And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/8-58.htm">Abraham's</a> <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Aliens</a> <a href="/acts/2-10.htm">Belonging</a> <a href="/john/8-33.htm">Bondage</a> <a href="/acts/2-26.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/acts/7-3.htm">Country</a> <a href="/acts/4-29.htm">Cruel</a> <a href="/acts/6-13.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/jeremiah/34-9.htm">Enslave</a> <a href="/john/8-33.htm">Enslaved</a> <a href="/luke/16-27.htm">Entreat</a> <a href="/acts/6-13.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/acts/2-4.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/acts/5-36.htm">Four</a> <a href="/acts/5-42.htm">Home</a> <a href="/acts/5-36.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/acts/5-16.htm">Ill</a> <a href="/genesis/31-50.htm">Ill-Treat</a> <a href="/acts/4-16.htm">Live</a> <a href="/luke/18-32.htm">Mistreated</a> <a href="/acts/7-5.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/luke/9-32.htm">Oppressed</a> <a href="/acts/5-13.htm">Others</a> <a href="/acts/7-5.htm">Posterity</a> <a href="/amos/5-5.htm">Reduced</a> <a href="/acts/7-5.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/acts/4-29.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/acts/6-2.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/john/8-33.htm">Slavery</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-22.htm">Sojourn</a> <a href="/acts/2-10.htm">Sojourning</a> <a href="/john/10-5.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/john/15-21.htm">Treat</a> <a href="/acts/6-12.htm">Way</a> <a href="/john/21-1.htm">Wise</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/13-26.htm">Abraham's</a> <a href="/acts/13-17.htm">Aliens</a> <a href="/acts/9-2.htm">Belonging</a> <a href="/acts/7-7.htm">Bondage</a> <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/acts/7-7.htm">Country</a> <a href="/acts/12-1.htm">Cruel</a> <a href="/acts/9-27.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/jeremiah/15-14.htm">Enslave</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Enslaved</a> <a href="/acts/24-4.htm">Entreat</a> <a href="/acts/7-19.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/acts/7-18.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/acts/10-11.htm">Four</a> <a href="/acts/7-20.htm">Home</a> <a href="/acts/13-19.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/acts/7-34.htm">Ill</a> <a href="/acts/12-1.htm">Ill-Treat</a> <a href="/acts/7-19.htm">Live</a> <a href="/acts/7-19.htm">Mistreated</a> <a href="/acts/13-23.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/acts/7-19.htm">Oppressed</a> <a href="/acts/13-16.htm">Others</a> <a href="/acts/8-33.htm">Posterity</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-27.htm">Reduced</a> <a href="/acts/13-23.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/acts/7-7.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/acts/7-7.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/acts/7-9.htm">Slavery</a> <a href="/genesis/12-10.htm">Sojourn</a> <a href="/acts/13-17.htm">Sojourning</a> <a href="/acts/17-18.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/acts/14-5.htm">Treat</a> <a href="/acts/8-25.htm">Way</a> <a href="/acts/10-14.htm">Wise</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 7</div>1. <a href="/acts/7-1.htm">Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,</a> 2. <a href="/acts/7-2.htm">shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,</a> 20. <a href="/acts/7-20.htm">before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;</a> 37. <a href="/acts/7-37.htm">that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;</a> 44. <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time;</a> 51. <a href="/acts/7-51.htm">reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold.</a> 54. <a href="/acts/7-54.htm">Whereupon they stone Stephen to death, </a> 59. <a href="/acts/7-59.htm">who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>God told him This phrase refers to God's communication with Abraham, as recorded in <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13</a>. It highlights the direct revelation from God, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and Abraham. This divine communication underscores the prophetic nature of God's promises and the unfolding of His plan for Israel.that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land This prophecy refers to the Israelites' future sojourn in Egypt. The term "foreigners" indicates their status as non-citizens, which is significant in the ancient Near Eastern context where land and lineage were crucial for identity and rights. The "strange land" is Egypt, where the Israelites lived as aliens, as seen in <a href="/genesis/47-4.htm">Genesis 47:4</a>. This foreshadows the Exodus narrative and highlights the theme of God's people living in a world that is not their ultimate home.and that they would be enslaved This part of the prophecy foretells the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt, as described in <a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">Exodus 1:8-14</a>. The historical context of Egyptian slavery involved harsh labor and oppression, which is a central theme in the narrative of Israel's deliverance. This period of enslavement serves as a type of the bondage of sin, from which Christ delivers believers.and mistreated The mistreatment of the Israelites in Egypt included not only forced labor but also attempts to suppress their population, as seen in <a href="/exodus/1-15.htm">Exodus 1:15-22</a>. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the suffering of God's people and God's eventual intervention on their behalf. It also prefigures the persecution faced by the early church and believers throughout history.four hundred years The "four hundred years" is a rounded figure that corresponds to the period of Israel's sojourn and oppression in Egypt. This timeframe is also mentioned in <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13</a> and is reconciled with the 430 years mentioned in <a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40-41</a>, which includes the time from Abraham's covenant to the Exodus. This period signifies a complete cycle of testing and preparation for the fulfillment of God's promises, culminating in the Exodus, which is a type of Christ's redemptive work.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The sovereign deity who communicates His plans and prophecies to His people. 2. <a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a> The patriarch to whom God made the promise regarding his descendants. 3. <a href="/topical/d/descendants_of_abraham.htm">Descendants of Abraham</a> Refers to the Israelites, who would experience enslavement and mistreatment. 4. <a href="/topical/f/foreign_land.htm">Foreign Land</a> Egypt, where the Israelites were enslaved for four hundred years. 5. <a href="/topical/s/stephen.htm">Stephen</a> The speaker in <a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm">Acts 7</a>, delivering a defense before the Sanhedrin, recounting Israel's history.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_faithfulness.htm">God's Sovereignty and Faithfulness</a> God's promises are sure and will come to pass, even if they involve periods of suffering or waiting. <a href="/topical/u/understanding_god's_timing.htm">Understanding God's Timing</a> The four hundred years of enslavement remind us that God's timing is not our own, and His plans often unfold over long periods. <a href="/topical/e/endurance_through_trials.htm">Endurance Through Trials</a> The Israelites' experience in Egypt teaches us about enduring hardship with the hope of deliverance, trusting in God's ultimate plan. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophecy.htm">The Role of Prophecy</a> Prophecies serve as a reminder of God's control over history and His ability to bring about His purposes. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a> Like Abraham, we are called to have faith in God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 7</a> <a href="/q/why_400_years_in_acts_7_6_vs._430_in_ex._12_40.htm">Why does Stephen cite a 400-year period in Acts 7:6 when Exodus 12:40 indicates 430 years of Israelite bondage? </a> <a href="/q/why_is_400_years_important_in_egypt.htm">What is the significance of 400 years in Egypt?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_reformed_arminianism.htm">What was the Synagogue of the Freedmen?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_paul's_450_years_conflict_ot.htm">Acts 13:19–20: Why does Paul’s recounting of Israel’s history (a 450-year period) seem to conflict with Old Testament timelines? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) And that they should bring them into bondage . . .--Here again there is another apparent discrepancy of detail. Taking the common computation, the interval between the covenant with Abraham and that with Moses was 430 years (<a href="/galatians/3-17.htm" title="And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel, that it should make the promise of none effect.">Galatians 3:17</a>), of which only 215 are reckoned as spent in Egypt. The Israelites were indeed sojourners in a strange land for the whole 430 years, but the history shows that they were not in bondage nor evil entreated till the Pharaoh arose who knew not Joseph. The chronological difficulty, however, lies in reconciling St. Paul's statement in <a href="/galatians/3-17.htm" title="And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel, that it should make the promise of none effect.">Galatians 3:17</a> with the language of <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm" title="And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;">Genesis 15:13</a>, which gives 400 years as the sojourning in Egypt, and <a href="/exodus/12-40.htm" title="Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelled in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.">Exodus 12:40</a>, which gives 430, and with which St. Stephen is in substantial agreement. St. Paul appears to have followed the LXX. reading of <a href="/exodus/12-40.htm" title="Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelled in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.">Exodus 12:40</a>, which inserts "in the land of Cannan," and in some MSS. "they and their fathers," and with this the Samaritan Pentateuch agrees. Josephus varies, in some passages (Ant. ii. 15, ? 2), giving 215 years; in others (Ant. ii. 9, ? 1; Wars, v. 9, ? 4), 400. All that can be said is, as before, that chronological accuracy did not affect the argument in either case. It was enough for St. Stephen, as for St. Paul, to accept this or that system of dates, as they had been taught, without inquiring into the grounds on which it rested. Such inquiries were foreign to the Jewish character generally, and above all to that character when possessed by the sense of new and divine realities. Round numbers were enough for them to mark the successive stages of God's dealings with His people.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 6. - In a strange land; a land belonging to some one else (<a href="/hebrews/11-9.htm">Hebrews 11:9</a>, γῆ ἀλλοτρία, as here); a land in which he had none inheritance, not yet become the possession of his seed; for as the writer to the Hebrews says, he dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob; not applicable, therefore, in the first instance to Egypt at all. And this sojourning as strangers and pilgrims lasted altogether four hundred and thirty years, vie. two hundred and fifteen years in Canaan, and two hundred and fifteen in Egypt; which agrees exactly with St. Paul's reckoning in round numbers of four hundred years from the giving of the promise to Abraham to the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (<a href="/galatians/3-17.htm">Galatians 3:17</a>). The "four hundred years" must not be taken in connection with the bondage" and the ill treatment which characterized the last half of the period, but as spoken of the whole period during which they had not possession of the promised land. Bring them into bondage. So the LXX.; but the Hebrew, as rendered in the A.V., has "and they shall serve them." But some (see Gesenius, 'Thes.') render the Hebrew as the LXX. Do. Four hundred years. This is a round number, as in <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13</a>. The exact time, as given in <a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40, 41</a>, was four hundred and thirty years. <a href="/commentaries/acts/7-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>God Θεὸς (Theos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. told [him] ἐλάλησεν (elalēsen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2980.htm">Strong's 2980: </a> A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. descendants σπέρμα (sperma) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4690.htm">Strong's 4690: </a> From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant. would be ἔσται (estai) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. foreigners πάροικον (paroikon) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3941.htm">Strong's 3941: </a> Foreign, alien, subst: a foreigner, sojourner. From para and oikos; having a home near, i.e. a by-dweller. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. a strange ἀλλοτρίᾳ (allotria) Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_245.htm">Strong's 245: </a> From allos; another's, i.e. Not one's own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile. land, γῇ (gē) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1093.htm">Strong's 1093: </a> Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. they would be enslaved δουλώσουσιν (doulōsousin) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1402.htm">Strong's 1402: </a> To enslave. From doulos; to enslave. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. mistreated κακώσουσιν (kakōsousin) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2559.htm">Strong's 2559: </a> To treat badly, afflict, embitter, make angry. From kakos; to injure; figuratively, to exasperate. four hundred τετρακόσια (tetrakosia) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5071.htm">Strong's 5071: </a> Four hundred. Plural from tessares and hekaton; four hundred. years. ἔτη (etē) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2094.htm">Strong's 2094: </a> A year. Apparently a primary word; a year. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/7-6.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 7:6 God spoke in this way: that his (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/7-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 7:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 7:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/7-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 7:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 7:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>