CINXE.COM
Acts 7:9 Commentaries: "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him,
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Acts 7:9 Commentaries: "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him,</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><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/7-9.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="/bmcom/acts/7-9.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="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Acts 7:9</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></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/7-8.htm" title="Acts 7:8">◄</a> Acts 7:9 <a href="../acts/7-10.htm" title="Acts 7:10">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/acts/7.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/7.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/7.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/acts/7.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/acts/7.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/acts/7.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/acts/7.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/acts/7.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/acts/7.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/acts/7.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/7.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/acts/7.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/acts/7.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/acts/7.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/acts/7.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/acts/7.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/acts/7.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/acts/7.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/acts/7.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/acts/7.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/acts/4-12.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/acts/7.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/acts/7.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/7.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/acts/7.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/acts/7.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/acts/7.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/acts/7.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/7.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/acts/7.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/acts/7.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/acts/7.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/acts/7.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/7.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/7.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/acts/7.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/acts/7.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/acts/7.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/7.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/acts/7.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">The patriarchs, moved with envy.</span>—This, interpreted by what follows, is the first step in the long induction which is to show that the elect of God had always been opposed and rejected by those who were for the time the representatives of the nation. Envy had actuated the patriarchs when they sold Joseph; envy had led their descendants to deliver up Jesus (<a href="/matthew/27-18.htm" title="For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.">Matthew 27:18</a>). But man’s evil will had not frustrated God’s gracious purpose. Joseph was made ruler over a kingdom. A greater glory might therefore be in store for Him who had now been rejected by them.<p><span class= "bld">Sold Joseph into Egypt.</span>—The objection that Joseph’s brethren sold him not into Egypt, but to the Midianites and Ishmaelites (<a href="/genesis/37-25.htm" title="And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.">Genesis 37:25</a>; <a href="/genesis/37-28.htm" title="Then there passed by Midianites merchants; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.">Genesis 37:28</a>), may well be dismissed as frivolous. They knew the trade which the Midianite slave-dealers carried on, and where their brother would be taken. So Joseph himself says of them “ye sold me hither” (<a href="/genesis/45-5.htm" title="Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God did send me before you to preserve life.">Genesis 45:5</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/benson/acts/7.htm">Benson Commentary</a></div><span class="bld"><a href="/context/acts/7-9.htm" title="And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,...">Acts 7:9-10</a></span>. <span class="ital">And the patriarchs, moved with envy </span>— The rest of the twelve sons of Jacob, though their relation to such holy ancestors might have taught them a much better lesson; yet, influenced by envy at the superior regard which Jacob showed to his favourite son, most inhumanly <span class="ital">sold Joseph </span>— Their brother; <span class="ital">into Egypt </span>— Where he became a slave, and suffered a great variety of calamities; <span class="ital">but God was with him </span>— In the midst of them, supporting him, though he was not in this land, and rendering that country a scene of very glorious providences toward him: for by these things God was working, in a mysterious and surprising manner, for the accomplishment of the prediction before mentioned. From what Stephen relates of the story of Joseph, it was obvious for the members of the council to infer that the greatest favourites of Heaven might suffer by the envy of those who were called the Israel of God; and might be exalted by him after having been rejected by them: a thought worthy of their consideration with respect to Jesus; but prudence would not allow Stephen, in the beginning of his defence, to say expressly what they could not have borne to hear; for that they could not, appears by the manner in which they resented his application of these premises, when, he was drawing toward a conclusion. <span class="ital">And delivered him out of all his afflictions</span> — To which he was exposed in consequence of his integrity and piety; <span class="ital">and gave him favour and wisdom </span>— That is, favour on account of his distinguished wisdom; <span class="ital">in the sight of Pharaoh, </span>who <span class="ital">made him governor over Egypt — </span>Committing all things in the palace, as well as elsewhere, to his direction and management. Thus did God, in the course of his providence, wonderfully exalt this despised Joseph, whom his brethren (then the whole house of Israel) had most outrageously insulted and abused, and even sold for a slave. And thus, Stephen insinuated, hath God exalted Jesus, whom ye treated as a slave, insulted, and abused, scourged, and hanged on a tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/7.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>7:1-16 Stephen was charged as a blasphemer of God, and an apostate from the church; therefore he shows that he is a son of Abraham, and values himself on it. The slow steps by which the promise made to Abraham advanced toward performance, plainly show that it had a spiritual meaning, and that the land intended was the heavenly. God owned Joseph in his troubles, and was with him by the power of his Spirit, both on his own mind by giving him comfort, and on those he was concerned with, by giving him favour in their eyes. Stephen reminds the Jews of their mean beginning as a check to priding themselves in the glories of that nation. Likewise of the wickedness of the patriarchs of their tribes, in envying their brother Joseph; and the same spirit was still working in them toward Christ and his ministers. The faith of the patriarchs, in desiring to be buried in the land of Canaan, plainly showed they had regard to the heavenly country. It is well to recur to the first rise of usages, or sentiments, which have been perverted. Would we know the nature and effects of justifying faith, we should study the character of the father of the faithful. His calling shows the power and freeness of Divine grace, and the nature of conversion. Here also we see that outward forms and distinctions are as nothing, compared with separation from the world, and devotedness to God.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/7.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>Moved with envy - That is, dissatisfied with the favor which their father Jacob showed Joseph, and envious at the dreams which indicated that he was to be raised to remarkable honor above his parents and brethren, <a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/37-3.htm">Genesis 37:3-11</a>.<p>Sold Joseph into Egypt - Sold him, that he might be taken to Egypt. This was done at the suggestion of "Judah," who advised it that Joseph might not be put to death by his brethren, <a href="/genesis/37-28.htm">Genesis 37:28</a>. It is possible that Stephen, by this fact, might have designed to prepare the way for a severe rebuke of the Jews for having dealt in a similar manner with their Messiah.<p>But God was with him - God protected him, and overruled all these wicked doings, so that he was raised to extraordinary honors. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/7.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>9-16. the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him—Here Stephen gives his first example of Israel's opposition to God's purposes, in spite of which and by means of which those purposes were accomplished.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/7.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">Moved with envy; </span> enraged: the holy martyr accommodates his apology so, as that they may yet have occasion to reflect on themselves; for as they had sold our Saviour unto strangers, so had their fathers <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">sold Joseph. But God was with him, </span> to favour and bless him; for God’s presence brings all good along with it: with this he comforts himself and others, that it was not without example or precedent that God should be with such whom their persecutors could not endure. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/acts/7.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>And the patriarchs, moved with envy,.... See <a href="/genesis/37-11.htm">Genesis 37:11</a> the sons of Jacob and brethren of Joseph were filled with envy, and enraged at him, because of the evil report of them he brought to his father; and because he had a greater share in his father's love than they had; and because of his dreams, which signified that he should have the dominion over them, and they should be obliged to yield obedience to him: wherefore they <p>sold Joseph into Egypt; they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, who were going down to Egypt, and who carried him thither with them: these twenty pieces of silver, the Jews say, the ten brethren of Joseph divided among themselves; everyone took two shekels, and bought shoes for his feet; to which they apply the passage in <a href="/amos/2-6.htm">Amos 2:6</a> "they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes" (k): and they suggest, that the redemption of the firstborn among the Israelites on account of the selling of Joseph; they say (l), <p>"because they sold the firstborn of Rachel for twenty pieces of silver, let everyone redeem his son, his firstborn, with twenty pieces of silver; says R. Phinehas, in the name of R. Levi, because they sold the firstborn of Rachel for twenty pieces of silver, and there fell to each of them a piece of coined money (the value of half a shekel), therefore let everyone pay his shekel coined.'' <p>They also affirm (m), that the selling of Joseph was not expiated by the tribes, until they were dead, according to <a href="/isaiah/22-14.htm">Isaiah 22:14</a> and that on the account of it, there was a famine in the land of Israel seven years. There seems to be some likeness between the treatment of Joseph and Jesus Christ, which Stephen may have some respect unto; as Joseph was sold by his brethren for twenty of silver, so Christ was sold by one of his disciples, that ate bread with him, for thirty pieces of silver; and as it was through envy the brethren of Joseph used him in this manner, so it was through envy that the Jews delivered Jesus Christ to Pontius Pilate, to be condemned to death: of this selling of Joseph into Egypt, Justin the historian speaks (n); his words are, <p>"Joseph was the youngest of his brethren, whose excellent wit his brethren fearing, secretly took him and sold him to strange merchants, by whom he was carried into Egypt.'' <p>And then follow other things concerning him, some true and some false; Stephen here adds, <p>but God was with him; see <a href="/genesis/39-2.htm">Genesis 39:2</a> he was with him, and prospered him in Potiphar's house; he was with him, and kept him from the temptations of his mistress; he was with him in prison, and supported and comforted him, and at length delivered him from it, and promoted him as follows; and caused all the evil that befell him to work for good to him and his father's family. <p>(k) Pirke Eliezer, c. 38. (l) T. Hieros. Shekalim, fol. 46. 4. (m) Pirke Eliezer, ib. (n) L. 36. c. 2.<a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/acts/7.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2"><span class="cverse3">{3}</span> And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was <span class="cverse3">{f}</span> with him,</span><p>(3) Steven diligently recounts the horrible misdeeds of some of the fathers, to teach the Jews that they ought not rashly to rest in the authority or examples of the fathers.<p>(f) By these words are meant the peculiar favour that God shows men: for he seems to be away from those whom he does not help: and on the other hand, he is with those whom he delivers out of troubles, no matter how great the troubles may be.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/acts/7.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/context/acts/7-9.htm" title="And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,...">Acts 7:9-13</a>. <span class="greekheb">Ζηλώσαντες</span>] here of <span class="ital">envious jealousy</span>, as often also in classical writers. Certainly Stephen in this mention has already in view the similar malicious disposition of his judges towards Jesus, so that in the ill-used Joseph, as afterwards also in the despised Moses (both of whom yet became deliverers of the people), he sees historical types of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἀπέδοντο εἰς Αἴγ</span>.] <span class="ital">they gave him away</span> (by <span class="ital">sale</span>, comp. <a href="/acts/5-8.htm" title="And Peter answered to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much.">Acts 5:8</a>) <span class="ital">to Egypt</span> (comp. <a href="/genesis/45-4.htm" title="And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.">Genesis 45:4</a>, LXX.). For analogous examples to <span class="greekheb">ἀποδ</span>. <span class="greekheb">εἰς</span>, see Elsner, p. 390.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>The following clauses, rising higher and higher with simple solemnity, are linked on by <span class="greekheb">καί</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">χάριν κ</span>. <span class="greekheb">σοφίαν</span>] It is simplest (comp. <a href="/genesis/39-21.htm" title="But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.">Genesis 39:21</a>) to explain <span class="greekheb">χάριν</span> of the <span class="ital">divine</span> bestowal of grace, and to refer <span class="greekheb">ἐναντίον Φαρ</span>. merely to <span class="greekheb">σοφίαν</span>: <span class="ital">He gave him grace</span> (generally) <span class="ital">and</span> (in particular) <span class="ital">wisdom before Pharaoh</span>, namely, according to the history which is presumed to be well known, in the interpretation of dreams as well as for other counsel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἡγούμ</span>.] “vice regis cuncta regentem,” <a href="/genesis/41-43.htm" title="And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.">Genesis 41:43</a>, Grotius.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">κ</span>. <span class="greekheb">ὁλ</span>. <span class="greekheb">τ</span>. <span class="greekheb">οἰκ</span>. <span class="greekheb">αὐτ</span>.] as <span class="ital">high steward</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">χορτάσματα</span>] <span class="ital">fodder</span> for their cattle. So throughout with Greek writers, and comp.LXX. <a href="/genesis/24-25.htm" title="She said moreover to him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.">Genesis 24:25</a>; <a href="/genesis/24-32.htm" title="And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.">Genesis 24:32</a>; <a href="/genesis/42-27.htm" title="And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.">Genesis 42:27</a>; <a href="/judges/19-19.htm" title="Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man which is with your servants: there is no want of any thing.">Jdg 19:19</a>; <a href="http://apocrypha.org/ecclesiasticus/33-29.htm" title="But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.">Sir 33:29</a>; <a href="http://apocrypha.org/ecclesiasticus/38-29.htm" title="So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;">Sir 38:29</a>. <span class="ital">A scarcity of fodder</span>, to which especially belongs the want of <span class="ital">cereal</span> fodder, is the most urgent difficulty, in a failure of crops, for the possessors of large herds of cattle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ὄντα σιτία</span>] <span class="ital">that there was corn</span>. The question, Where? finds its answer from the context and the familiar history. The following <span class="greekheb">εἰς Αἴγυπτον</span> (see critical remarks) belongs to <span class="greekheb">ἐξαπέστ</span>., and is, from its epoch-making significance, emphatically placed first. On <span class="greekheb">ἀκούειν</span>, <span class="ital">to learn</span>, with the predicative participle, see Winer, p. 325 [E. T.436]; frequent also in Greek writers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἀνεγνωρίσθη</span>] <span class="ital">he was recognised</span> by his brethren (Plat. <span class="ital">Pol.</span> p. 258 A, <span class="ital">Pharm.</span> p. 127 A, <span class="ital">Lach.</span> p.181 C), to be taken <span class="ital">passively</span>, as also <a href="/genesis/45-1.htm" title="Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.">Genesis 45:1</a>, when the LXX. thus translates <span class="greekheb">הִתְוַדַּע</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">τὸ γένος τοῦ Ἰωσήφ</span>] the name (instead of the simple <span class="greekheb">αὐτοῦ</span>, as A E, 40, Arm. Vulg. read) is significantly repeated (Bornem. ad Xen. Symp. 7. 34; Kühner, ad Xen. Anab. i. 7. 11); a certain sense of patriotic pride is implied in it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/acts/7.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/acts/7-9.htm" title="And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,">Acts 7:9</a>. <span class="greekheb">ζηλώσαντες</span>, <span class="ital">cf.</span> <a href="/genesis/37-11.htm" title="And his brothers envied him; but his father observed the saying.">Genesis 37:11</a>, and so in <a href="/genesis/26-14.htm" title="For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.">Genesis 26:14</a>; <a href="/genesis/30-1.htm" title="And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.">Genesis 30:1</a>, <a href="/isaiah/11-13.htm" title="The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.">Isaiah 11:13</a>, <a href="http://apocrypha.org/ecclesiasticus/37-10.htm" title="Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.">Sir 37:10</a>; used also in a bad sense in <a href="/acts/17-5.htm" title="But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.">Acts 17:5</a>, <a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm" title="Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,">1 Corinthians 13:4</a>, <a href="/james/4-2.htm" title="You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.">Jam 4:2</a>, and so in classical writers. It may be used here absolutely, as in A.V. (see Grimm, Nösgen), or governing <span class="greekheb">Ἰωσήφ</span>, as in R.V.—<span class="greekheb">ἀπέδ</span>. <span class="greekheb">εἰς</span>, <span class="ital">cf.</span> for construction <a href="/genesis/45-4.htm" title="And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.">Genesis 45:4</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/acts/7.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">9</span>. <span class="ital">the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph</span>] The same word is used (<a href="/acts/17-5.htm" title="But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.">Acts 17:5</a>) of the hostile feelings of the Jews at Thessalonica against Paul and Silas. In the history (<a href="/context/genesis/37-4.htm" title="And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him....">Genesis 37:4-5</a>) it is said “his brethren hated him,” and (<a href="/genesis/37-11.htm" title="And his brothers envied him; but his father observed the saying.">Genesis 37:11</a>) “they envied him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">sold Joseph into Egypt</span>] See <a href="/genesis/37-28.htm" title="Then there passed by Midianites merchants; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.">Genesis 37:28</a> for the way in which this was done.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">but God was with him</span>] Read, and God, &c. The conjunction is <span class="greekheb">καί</span>. The statement is from <a href="/genesis/39-2.htm" title="And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.">Genesis 39:2</a>; <a href="/genesis/39-21.htm" title="But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.">Genesis 39:21</a>; <a href="/genesis/39-23.htm" title="The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.">Genesis 39:23</a>, and is used by Stephen here to give point to his argument that God’s presence is not circumscribed, and so neither should His worship be tied to place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/7.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/acts/7-9.htm" title="And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,">Acts 7:9</a>. [<span class="greekheb">Ζηλώσαντες</span>, <span class="ital">moved with envy</span>) Stephen shows that the ancestors of the Jews were already at that early time stiff-necked.—V. g.]—<span class="greekheb">ἀπέδοντο εἰς Αἴγυπτον</span>, <span class="ital">sold away into Egypt</span>) <span class="ital">removed</span> (<span class="ital">alienated</span>) <span class="ital">from</span> them him who was presently after carried away <span class="ital">into Egypt</span>. An abbreviated expression: and so the LXX., <a href="/genesis/45-4.htm" title="And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.">Genesis 45:4</a>, “I am Joseph, whom <span class="greekheb">ἀπέδοσθε εἰς Αἴγυπτον</span>.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> <span class="accented">- Moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him</span>, for <span class="accented">moved with envy sold Joseph</span>, A.V., more correctly, and in accordance with <a href="/genesis/37-11.htm">Genesis 37:11</a>, LXX.; <span class="accented">and</span> for <span class="accented">but</span>, A.V. <span class="cmt_word">Moved with jealousy</span>, etc. Here breaks out that part of Stephen's argument which went to show how the Israelites had always ill-used their greatest benefactors, and resisted the leaders sent to them by God. Acts 7:9<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/7.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>Moved with envy (ζηλώσαντες)<p>Compare <a href="/james/4-1.htm">James 4:1</a>; and see on envying, <a href="/james/3-14.htm">James 3:14</a>. <div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><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><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../acts/7-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 7:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 7:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../acts/7-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 7:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 7:10" /></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>