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 7:39 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/7-39.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/44_Act_07_39.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 7:39 - Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></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/7-39.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/7-39.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 39</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="/ad1.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/7-38.htm" title="Acts 7:38">◄</a> Acts 7:39 <a href="/acts/7-40.htm" title="Acts 7:40">►</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="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </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> &#8220But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/nlt/acts/7.htm">New Living Translation</a> “But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt. <a href="/esv/acts/7.htm">English Standard Version</a> Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, <a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/blb/acts/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient, but thrust away, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <a href="/kjv/acts/7.htm">King James Bible</a> To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, <a href="/nkjv/acts/7.htm">New King James Version</a> whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, <a href="/nasb_/acts/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him; on the contrary they rejected him and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, <a href="/nasb/acts/7.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, <a href="/nasb77/acts/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, <a href="/lsb/acts/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, <a href="/amp/acts/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Our fathers were unwilling to be subject to him [and refused to listen to him]. They rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/csb/acts/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/hcsb/acts/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him away, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/asv/acts/7.htm">American Standard Version</a> to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, <a href="/cev/acts/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> But our ancestors refused to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt. <a href="/erv/acts/7.htm">English Revised Version</a> to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, <a href="/gwt/acts/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> but our ancestors were not willing to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt. <a href="/gnt/acts/7.htm">Good News Translation</a> "But our ancestors refused to obey him; they pushed him aside and wished that they could go back to Egypt. <a href="/isv/acts/7.htm">International Standard Version</a> but our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and wished to return to Egypt. <a href="/msb/acts/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/net/acts/7.htm">NET Bible</a> Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, <a href="/nheb/acts/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <a href="/wbt/acts/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, <a href="/wey/acts/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/web/acts/7.htm">World English Bible</a> to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> to whom our fathers did not wish to become obedient, but thrusted away, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <a href="/blb/acts/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient, but thrust away, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <a href="/ylt/acts/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> to whom our fathers did not wish to become obedient, but did thrust away, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <a href="/slt/acts/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> To whom our fathers would not be obedient, but rejected, and in their hearts they turned back into Egypt,<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Whom our fathers would not obey; but thrust him away, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt, <a href="/cpdv/acts/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> It is he whom our fathers were not willing to obey. Instead, they rejected him, and in their hearts they turned away toward Egypt, <a href="/nabre/acts/7.htm">New American Bible</a> “Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, <a href="/nrsvce/acts/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Yet our fathers would not listen to him, but they left him, and in their hearts turned towards Egypt. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And our fathers chose not to obey him, but they forsook him and in their hearts they returned to Egypt,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> To him our fathers were not willing to be obedient; but they rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, <a href="/godbey/acts/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient, but thrust him away, and turned back in their hearts towards Egypt, <a href="/haweis/acts/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, <a href="/mace/acts/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a> him our fathers would not obey, but rejected him, and they return'd to their Egyptian disposition. <a href="/wey/acts/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. <a href="/worrell/acts/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> to whom our fathers wished not to become obedient, but thrust him away, and in their hearts turned back again to Egypt; <a href="/worsley/acts/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> To whom our fathers would not be subject, but renounced him, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt, <a href="/parallel/acts/7-39.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=2127" 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> …38He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us. 39<a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmōn (PPro-G1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">But our</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: pateres (N-NMP) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">fathers</a> <a href="/greek/2309.htm" title="2309: ēthelēsan (V-AIA-3P) -- To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. ">refused</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: genesthai (V-ANM) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">to</a> <a href="/greek/5255.htm" title="5255: hypēkooi (Adj-NMP) -- Listening to, obedient, submissive. From hupakouo; attentively listening, i.e. submissive.">obey</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hō (RelPro-DMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">him.</a> <a href="/greek/235.htm" title="235: alla (Conj) -- But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.">Instead,</a> <a href="/greek/683.htm" title="683: apōsanto (V-AIM-3P) -- Or apothomai ap-o'-thom-ahee from apo and the middle voice of otheo or otho; to push off, figuratively, to reject.">they rejected him</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</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/846.htm" title="846: autōn (PPro-GM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">their</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tais (Art-DFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2588.htm" title="2588: kardiais (N-DFP) -- Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.">hearts</a> <a href="/greek/4762.htm" title="4762: estraphēsan (V-AIP-3P) -- Strengthened from the base of trope; to twist, i.e. Turn quite around or reverse.">turned back</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">to</a> <a href="/greek/125.htm" title="125: Aigypton (N-AFS) -- Egypt. Of uncertain derivation.">Egypt.</a> 40They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’…<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="/exodus/32-1.htm">Exodus 32:1-4</a> Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. ... <a href="/numbers/14-3.htm">Numbers 14:3-4</a> Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” / So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” <a href="/nehemiah/9-16.htm">Nehemiah 9:16-17</a> But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. / They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them. <a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Psalm 106:19-21</a> At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. / They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt, <a href="/jeremiah/7-24.htm">Jeremiah 7:24-26</a> Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. / From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again. / Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers. <a href="/ezekiel/20-8.htm">Ezekiel 20:8</a> But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. <a href="/deuteronomy/9-12.htm">Deuteronomy 9:12-16</a> And the LORD said to me, “Get up and go down from here at once, for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten image.” / The LORD also said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. / Leave Me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. Then I will make you into a nation mightier and greater than they are.” ... <a href="/isaiah/30-9.htm">Isaiah 30:9-11</a> These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!” <a href="/1_samuel/8-7.htm">1 Samuel 8:7-8</a> And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. / Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. <a href="/hosea/11-7.htm">Hosea 11:7</a> My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them. <a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a> O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! <a href="/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46-47</a> If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. / But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” <a href="/romans/10-21.htm">Romans 10:21</a> But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” <a href="/hebrews/3-7.htm">Hebrews 3:7-11</a> Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/10-6.htm">1 Corinthians 10:6-11</a> These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” / We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,whom.<a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51,52</a> Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye… <a href="/nehemiah/9-16.htm">Nehemiah 9:16</a> But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,<a href="/psalms/106-16.htm">Psalm 106:16,32,33</a> They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD… but.<a href="/acts/7-27.htm">Acts 7:27</a> But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?<a href="/judges/11-2.htm">Judges 11:2</a> And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.<a href="/1_kings/2-27.htm">1 Kings 2:27</a> So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.and in.<a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Exodus 14:11,12</a> And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? … <a href="/exodus/16-3.htm">Exodus 16:3</a> And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.<a href="/exodus/17-3.htm">Exodus 17:3</a> And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/5-4.htm">Authority</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-32.htm">Controlled</a> <a href="/acts/7-36.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/acts/7-38.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/acts/7-38.htm">Forefathers</a> <a href="/acts/5-11.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/acts/7-25.htm">However</a> <a href="/acts/4-19.htm">Instead</a> <a href="/acts/6-7.htm">Obedient</a> <a href="/acts/5-32.htm">Obey</a> <a href="/acts/7-35.htm">Refused</a> <a href="/acts/7-35.htm">Rejected</a> <a href="/acts/5-10.htm">Side</a> <a href="/hosea/8-5.htm">Spurned</a> <a href="/john/3-36.htm">Subject</a> <a href="/luke/10-20.htm">Submit</a> <a href="/acts/7-27.htm">Thrust</a> <a href="/acts/5-22.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/acts/3-26.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/john/7-1.htm">Unwilling</a> <a href="/acts/7-28.htm">Wish</a> <a href="/acts/7-19.htm">Wouldn't</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/8-19.htm">Authority</a> <a href="/romans/7-5.htm">Controlled</a> <a href="/acts/7-40.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Forefathers</a> <a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/acts/7-48.htm">However</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Instead</a> <a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Obedient</a> <a href="/acts/13-22.htm">Obey</a> <a href="/acts/14-2.htm">Refused</a> <a href="/romans/11-1.htm">Rejected</a> <a href="/acts/8-31.htm">Side</a> <a href="/numbers/14-23.htm">Spurned</a> <a href="/acts/17-32.htm">Subject</a> <a href="/romans/8-7.htm">Submit</a> <a href="/acts/13-46.htm">Thrust</a> <a href="/acts/7-42.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/acts/9-40.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/acts/18-15.htm">Unwilling</a> <a href="/acts/9-6.htm">Wish</a> <a href="/acts/19-40.htm">Wouldn't</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> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/acts/7.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>But our fathers refused to obey him This phrase highlights the persistent theme of rebellion against divine leadership, a recurring issue throughout Israel's history. The Greek word for "refused" (ἠθέλησαν) implies a deliberate choice against willingness or desire. This refusal is not just a passive neglect but an active decision to reject God's appointed leader, Moses. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' frequent resistance to God's commands, as seen in their wilderness wanderings. The term "fathers" connects the audience to their ancestral lineage, emphasizing a generational pattern of disobedience. This serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of rejecting divine authority.Instead, they rejected him The word "rejected" (ἀπώσαντο) in Greek carries the connotation of pushing away or repudiating. This action signifies a strong, conscious dismissal of Moses, who was God's chosen instrument for their deliverance. The historical context here is crucial; despite witnessing miraculous signs and wonders, the Israelites' hearts were hardened. This rejection is emblematic of humanity's broader tendency to dismiss God's messengers, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative. It serves as a warning against the dangers of spiritual obstinacy and the importance of heeding God's appointed leaders.and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt The phrase "in their hearts" (ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν) indicates an internal, spiritual rebellion rather than a physical return. The heart, in biblical terms, is the seat of will and emotion, suggesting that their true allegiance was not with God but with their former life of bondage. "Turned back to Egypt" symbolizes a longing for the familiar, even if it meant returning to slavery. Egypt, in this context, represents sin and the world, a place of spiritual bondage. This turning back is a metaphor for apostasy, illustrating the struggle between faithfulness to God and the allure of past sins. It challenges believers to examine their own hearts and ensure their devotion remains steadfast.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(39) To whom our fathers would not obey.--The historical parallelism is continued. The people rejected Moses then (the same word is used as in <a href="/acts/7-27.htm" title="But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?">Acts 7:27</a>) as they were rejecting Christ now, even after He had shown Himself to be their redeemer from a worse than Egyptian bondage.In their hearts turned back again into Egypt.--The sin was one often repeated, but the history referred to is probably that in <a href="/exodus/16-3.htm" title="And the children of Israel said to them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for you have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.">Exodus 16:3</a>. For a later example see <a href="/numbers/11-5.htm" title="We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:">Numbers 11:5</a>.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 39. - Obedient for obey, A.V.; turned back in their hearts unto Egypt for in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, A.V. Our fathers would not be obedient, though God had bestowed such signal marks of favor upon them. Turned back in their hearts. A striking instance of their rejection of God's chiefest mercies. <a href="/commentaries/acts/7-39.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[But] our ἡμῶν (hēmōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. fathers πατέρες (pateres) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. refused ἠθέλησαν (ēthelēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2309.htm">Strong's 2309: </a> To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. to γενέσθαι (genesthai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. obey ὑπήκοοι (hypēkooi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5255.htm">Strong's 5255: </a> Listening to, obedient, submissive. From hupakouo; attentively listening, i.e. submissive. [him]. ᾧ (hō) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. Instead, ἀλλὰ (alla) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_235.htm">Strong's 235: </a> But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. they rejected [him] ἀπώσαντο (apōsanto) Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_683.htm">Strong's 683: </a> Or apothomai ap-o'-thom-ahee from apo and the middle voice of otheo or otho; to push off, figuratively, to reject. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. 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. their αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural <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. hearts καρδίαις (kardiais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2588.htm">Strong's 2588: </a> Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle. turned back ἐστράφησαν (estraphēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4762.htm">Strong's 4762: </a> Strengthened from the base of trope; to twist, i.e. Turn quite around or reverse. to εἰς (eis) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. Egypt. Αἴγυπτον (Aigypton) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_125.htm">Strong's 125: </a> Egypt. Of uncertain derivation. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/7-39.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 7:39 To whom our fathers wouldn't be obedient (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/7-38.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 7:38"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 7:38" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/7-40.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 7:40"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 7:40" /></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>