“But as the time of the promise which God had assured to Abraham was approaching, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,
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,
- BSB As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
- NKJV “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew 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 1:7–12The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
- Acts 7:6God 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.
- Acts 13:17The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.
- Gen 15:13–16He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.
- Ps 105:24–25He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.
- Exod 1:20God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.
- 2 Pet 3:8–9But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one 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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