Commentary on Acts 7:17-25

By Bob Myhan

¹⁷ "But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt ¹⁸till another king arose who did not know Joseph. ¹⁹This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.

The “time of the promise” is the end of the 400 year period during which the descendants of Abraham would be oppressed. (Gen. 15:13)

While the nations in Canaan were becoming increasingly wicked, the Israelites were growing into a mighty nation. (Deut. 26:1-5)

This king (Pharaoh) “did not know Joseph” in that he had no particular regard for him and felt he owed nothing to Joseph’s people. Even in our day this often happens after a regime change.

The male infants were “exposed” by being cast into the river for fear they would grow to adulthood, form an army, overthrow the Egyptians and leave (Ex. 1:9-10).

Before continuing, it might be beneficial to rehearse some of the seemingly chance events that resulted in Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt. This is not an exhaustive list of such events.

1. Jacob decided to make Joseph a coat of many colors.

2. Joseph decided to tell his dreams to his brothers.

3. Joseph’s brothers decided to move the flock to Dothan.

4. They decided to put Joseph into a pit, rather than kill him.

5. Some Ishmaelites decided to pass by on their way to Egypt.

6. The brothers decided they would sell Joseph into slavery.

7. Potiphar decided to purchase Joseph as a slave.

8. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph and then decided to frame him.

9. Potiphar decided to put Joseph into prison.

10.   The jailer decided to make Joseph a trustee.

11.   Pharaoh decided to put his butler and baker into prison.

12.   The butler and baker decided to tell Joseph their dreams.

13.   Joseph decided to interpret their dreams.

14.   Pharaoh decided to mention his dreams to the butler.

15.   The butler decided to mention Joseph to Pharaoh.

16.   Pharaoh decided to release Joseph.

17.   Joseph decided to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.

18.   Pharaoh decided to appoint Joseph as Secretary of Agriculture.

19.   Jacob decided to send Joseph’s brothers to Egypt for food.

20.   Joseph decided to keep things in their proper perspective.

These decisions were made by a number of people who were seemingly unaware of their part in fulfilling God’s prediction to Abraham. There is no reason to think that God forced any of the people involved to make the decisions they made. Of course, He could have influenced those decisions but the decisions were theirs to make. There was the miraculous element in the form of dreams. But those who were given the dreams decided to discuss those dreams with others. And Joseph’s dreams seem to have increased his brothers’ hatred of him. This was part of God’s intended purpose in giving Joseph those dreams.

With the words recorded in verses 17-19, Stephen segues into the second section of his speech. Having shown that the one they had rejected had been chosen by God to move the children of Israel from Canaan to Egypt, he now begins to show also that God chose one whom they had rejected to take the children of Israel back to the land of Canaan after the 400 year period.

²⁰At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months.

It was probably the infant’s demeanor that is being referred to in the three passages that describe him. (Ex. 2:2; Acts 7:20; Heb. 11:23) According to both Moses and the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews, Moses was hidden by his parents during those three months in order to prevent his being thrown into the river with the other males born at this time.

²¹But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.

He was “set out” in a basket of bulrushes made waterproof “with asphalt and pitch,” and placed in the Nile River. (Ex. 2:3) Though he was brought up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he was nursed by his own mother. She was even paid to do so. It is probable that he was brought back to Pharaoh’s daughter only after he was weaned. (Ex. 2:4-9)

²²And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

The “wisdom of the Egyptians” can be appreciated by considering the construction of the pyramids and the arts of embalming and mummification, which are still a mystery. They were an extremely advanced civilization. This short description of the life of Moses as an Egyptian indicates that he had risen to prominence and had gained both the attention and respect of the people.

²³Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

The particulars of the first forty years of his life are not revealed. But it is implied that, during the time that he was nursed by his mother, he was taught the history and importance of his own people. He knew he was one of the children of Israel.

²⁴And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. ²⁵For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.

At age forty Moses made a choice.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Heb. 11:24-26)

He apparently perceived that he had been providentially spared at birth so that he could deliver his people from bondage. His mistake was in thinking that his having been raised by Pharaoh’s daughter was all he needed to prepare him for this mission. However, his preparation had only just begun.

(To be continued)

Benevolence and Relief (Part 14)

By Bob Myhan

We must keep in mind that man not God made the chapter and verse divisions in the Bible. It is frequently the case that a chapter is made to begin before a new context begins.

Notice the following.

²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. ¹Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ²Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Verses 19-24 were a parenthesis. Paul now resumes his theme of walking in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh. (16-18)

The Galatians had been led to believe that they could “live in the Spirit” while walking in the Law of Moses. This was erroneous. Their spiritual life had “begun in the Spirit” and must continue “in the Spirit.” They could not be perfected “by the flesh” because “the flesh lusts against the Spirit.” (3:1-3; 5:17)

Paul implicitly identifies conceit as one of “the works of the flesh.” It leads to “provoking one another, and envying one another.”

In what uninspired men have judged as a new context, chapter six is still discussing the merits of walking in the Spirit rather than fulfilling the lust of the flesh. The Law of Moses prescribed physical punishment without mercy (Heb. 10:28) for one who is “overtaken in any trespass;” but the Spirit, via the law of Christ, prescribes restoration. This is one aspect of bearing “one another’s burdens.” The “law of Christ,” of course, is the perfect law of liberty, the gospel, the New Testament.

³For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Conceit is the result of self-deceit. There are other expressions of self-deceit, of course, but conceit is one. We should never think that we cannot fall.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10:12-13)

⁴But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵For each one shall bear his own load.

While we should “bear one another’s burdens” in this life, each of us will “bear his own load” in the judgment. None will go to heaven on someone else’s “coattails.”

⁶Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Verse 6 hearkens back to a series of rhetorical questions Paul asked to emphasize that they were, indeed, “turning away ... from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.” They not received the Spirit “by the works of the law” but “by the hearing of faith” (3:2). They had “begun in the Spirit” but were being taught that they could be “made perfect by the flesh” (3:3). He who supplied the Spirit to them and worked miracles among them was doing so “by the hearing of faith” not “by the works of the law” (3:4). Thus, they should share in the truth they had been taught not the error.

(To be continued)