Acts 7:39

To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust [him] from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

To whom {G3739} our {G2257} fathers {G3962} would {G2309} not {G3756} obey {G1096}{G5255}, but {G235} thrust him from them {G683}, and {G2532} in their {G846} hearts {G2588} turned back again {G4762} into {G1519} Egypt {G125},

“But our fathers did not want to obey him. On the contrary, they rejected him and in their hearts turned to Egypt,

But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt,

Context

In Acts 7:39, Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, is delivering a powerful defense before the Sanhedrin, recounting the history of Israel from Abraham to Solomon. His sermon highlights a recurring theme: Israel's consistent pattern of rejecting God's chosen messengers and His divine will. This particular verse focuses on the generation delivered from Egyptian bondage, emphasizing their deep-seated rebellion against Moses, whom God had appointed to lead them. Stephen uses this historical account to underscore the present generation's similar rejection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate prophet and deliverer, thereby building his case against his accusers who were about to stone him.

Key Themes

  • Rebellion and Disobedience: The phrase "To whom our fathers would not obey" directly points to the Israelites' defiant refusal to follow Moses' leadership and, by extension, God's commands. This was not merely a lapse but an active "thrust[ing] him from them," indicating a deliberate rejection of divine authority.
  • Spiritual Apostasy and Heart Condition: The core of the verse lies in "and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt." This reveals that their rebellion was not just external but originated from a deep, inward desire. Despite witnessing miraculous deliverance and God's provision, their hearts longed for the perceived security and familiarity of their past bondage, preferring it over the freedom and covenant relationship God offered. This inward turning away directly foreshadows their making of the golden calf, mentioned in the very next verse (Acts 7:40).
  • Rejection of God's Messenger: By rejecting Moses, whom God had sent as a deliverer and lawgiver, the Israelites were effectively rejecting God Himself. This pattern of rejecting God's chosen messengers is a central theme in Stephen's sermon, culminating in the rejection of Jesus Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "turned back again into Egypt" is epestrepsan eis Aigupton. The verb epestrepsan (from epistrephō) means to "turn back," "return," or "revert." Here, it vividly portrays a spiritual regression, a desire to return to a former state of being. It signifies more than just a physical longing for the land of Egypt; it implies a deeper craving for the "old life," the old ways, and a system without direct reliance on God's miraculous provision and guidance. This inward turning away demonstrates a profound lack of faith and trust in God's plan, despite the incredible signs and wonders they had witnessed during the Exodus and in the wilderness.

Practical Application

Acts 7:39 serves as a powerful warning against spiritual backsliding and the danger of allowing our hearts to long for past sins or comforts that hinder our walk with God. It challenges us to reflect on our own spiritual journey:

  • Beware of a Rebellious Heart: We must guard against a spirit of disobedience towards God's Word and His appointed leadership, understanding that true rebellion begins in the heart.
  • Examine Your Desires: Honestly assess your inner desires. Are you truly pressing forward in faith, or do you secretly yearn for the "Egypt" of your past—old habits, sinful comforts, or worldly dependencies that keep you from God's full purpose?
  • Embrace God's Deliverance: Just as the Israelites were delivered from physical bondage, believers are delivered from spiritual bondage through Christ. We must not, like them, reject this freedom or seek to return to the slavery of sin (Galatians 5:1), but rather embrace the liberty and new life found in Him.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Numbers 14:3

    And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

  • Numbers 14:4

    And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

  • Numbers 11:5

    We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

  • Exodus 16:3

    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.

  • Nehemiah 9:16

    But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

  • Nehemiah 9:17

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

  • Acts 7:51

    ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

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