As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
Parallel translations
- WEB “But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
- KJV But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
- NKJV “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt
- NASB “But as the time of the promise which God had assured to Abraham was approaching, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,
- NLT “As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As the time of God's promise drew near, the people multiplied greatly in Egypt. God advances His promise right on schedule, even under bondage.
Overview
Stephen marks the approach of the appointed time for the exodus deliverance. Israel's growth in Egypt fulfills God's pledge to make Abraham's offspring numerous. The verse turns the history toward Moses and deliverance, continuing Stephen's argument that God's saving work unfolds according to His own faithful timing, ultimately in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Exod 1:7–12but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
- Acts 7:6God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
- Acts 13:17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
- Gen 15:13–16Then 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.
- Ps 105:24–25And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,
- Exod 1:20So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
- 2 Pet 3:8–9Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 7:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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