Acts 7:22

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

And {G2532} Moses {G3475} was learned {G3811} in all {G3956} the wisdom {G4678} of the Egyptians {G124}, and {G1161} was {G2258} mighty {G1415} in {G1722} words {G3056} and {G2532} in {G1722} deeds {G2041}.

So Moshe was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became both a powerful speaker and a man of action.

So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works.

Commentary

Acts 7:22 is part of Stephen's powerful defense before the Jewish Sanhedrin, where he recounts the history of Israel, highlighting God's faithfulness and the nation's consistent rebellion. This particular verse describes the early life and qualifications of Moses, the great deliverer and lawgiver.

Context

In this pivotal chapter, Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivers a comprehensive sermon tracing Israel's history from Abraham through the patriarchs, the sojourn in Egypt, and the wilderness wanderings. His purpose is to demonstrate how God had always acted sovereignly through chosen individuals, often rejected by their own people, and to show that the temple and the law were not ends in themselves but pointers to God's greater plan. Moses is a key figure in this narrative, and Stephen emphasizes his exceptional upbringing and abilities to underscore God's preparation of him. This sets the stage for Moses' later divine commission and the eventual rejection of him by some, paralleling the rejection of Christ. Stephen's bold message ultimately leads to his martyrdom, as seen in Acts 7:54-60.

Key Themes

  • Divine Preparation: The verse highlights that Moses received an unparalleled education in the most advanced civilization of his time. This was not accidental but part of God's providential plan to equip him for the monumental task of leading Israel out of bondage and delivering the Law.
  • Holistic Development: Moses was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," signifying intellectual, administrative, scientific, and even spiritual knowledge (from an Egyptian perspective). Furthermore, he was "mighty in words and in deeds," indicating eloquence, persuasive power, and effective leadership through action. This portrays a well-rounded leader.
  • Paradox of Moses' Speech: It's noteworthy that this description comes from Stephen, given Moses' initial claim to God that he was "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue" (Exodus 4:10). This contrast suggests either that Moses overcame his perceived weakness through divine empowerment, or that Stephen's statement refers to Moses' inherent, God-given potential and later developed abilities, perhaps after forty years in Midian.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Wisdom" (sophia): The Greek term refers to comprehensive knowledge, skill, and practical understanding. In the context of Egypt, it would have included sciences, mathematics, astronomy, administration, history, and perhaps even their religious and magical arts. Moses excelled in all these areas.
  • "Mighty" (dynatos): This word implies power, ability, and effectiveness. When applied to "words," it suggests compelling rhetoric, authority in communication, and persuasive speech. When applied to "deeds," it points to his capacity for decisive action, leadership, and the execution of God's will through miraculous signs and administrative acts.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today:

  • God Uses Diverse Backgrounds: God can use any background or education for His purposes. Moses' Egyptian training, though from a pagan culture, was redeemed and utilized by God for His divine plan. Our skills and experiences, no matter their origin, can be sanctified and employed for God's glory.
  • Preparation is Key: While God can call anyone, He also often prepares individuals extensively for significant roles. This preparation might involve formal education, life experiences, or periods of wilderness training, as it did for Moses.
  • God Empowers Weaknesses: The apparent contradiction between Stephen's description and Moses' self-assessment reminds us that God can transform our perceived weaknesses into strengths, enabling us to be "mighty" for His purposes, as He promises in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
  • Balanced Leadership: True leadership, modeled by Moses, requires both intellectual capacity (wisdom) and the ability to communicate effectively (words) and act decisively (deeds).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 19:11 (4 votes)

    Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

  • Daniel 1:4 (3 votes)

    Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:22 (3 votes)

    And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

  • 1 Kings 4:29 (2 votes)

    ¶ And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that [is] on the sea shore.

  • 1 Kings 4:30 (2 votes)

    And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

  • Daniel 1:17 (2 votes)

    ¶ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

  • Daniel 1:20 (2 votes)

    And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.