Acts 7:39

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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},

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 7:39 is a pivotal verse within Stephen's powerful defense before the Sanhedrin, encapsulating Israel's enduring pattern of rebellion against God's chosen messengers. Stephen recounts how the generation delivered from Egyptian bondage, despite witnessing divine miracles, defiantly refused to obey Moses, God's appointed leader. Instead, their hearts yearned for the perceived security and comforts of Egypt, illustrating a profound spiritual apostasy and a rejection of God's liberating will, a historical precedent for the Sanhedrin's rejection of Jesus Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 7:39 is situated within Stephen's lengthy and impassioned sermon, which spans from Acts 7:2 to 7:53. This discourse is not merely a historical recap but a theological argument. Stephen meticulously traces the history of Israel, highlighting a recurring motif: God's faithfulness in sending deliverers and prophets, and Israel's consistent pattern of rejecting them. The immediate context of this verse is Stephen's recounting of Moses's leadership and the Exodus generation's rebellion in the wilderness. He details Moses's divine commission and the Israelites' initial defiance, setting the stage for their ultimate rejection of the very one God sent to lead them to freedom. This historical narrative serves as a direct indictment of Stephen's contemporary audience, who, like their ancestors, are rejecting God's ultimate messenger, Jesus Christ. The verse directly precedes the account of the golden calf, a prime example of their "turning back" to idolatry ([Acts 7:40](/acts/7-40 "Acts 7:40 - The Golden Calf")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the forty-year wilderness wandering of the Israelites after their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This period was marked by God's direct provision (manna, water from the rock) and His presence (the pillar of cloud and fire, the Tabernacle). Culturally, the Israelites had been deeply influenced by Egyptian polytheism and its associated practices during their centuries of bondage. Despite being liberated, many harbored a slave mentality and a nostalgic longing for the "flesh pots" of Egypt, preferring the familiar, albeit oppressive, past over the challenging, faith-demanding journey into the promised land. This longing was not merely for food but represented a deeper spiritual desire for the perceived stability and idolatrous practices of Egypt, rather than the radical dependence on the one true God required by the Mosaic covenant ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4-6 "Numbers 11:4-6 - The People Complain for Meat")). Their rejection of Moses was a rejection of God's authority and a desire to revert to a life without divine guidance.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Stephen's sermon and the book of Acts. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Rejection of God's Messengers**. Stephen systematically shows how Israel repeatedly resisted and rejected those whom God sent, from Joseph to Moses, and ultimately to Jesus ([Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen's Accusation")). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Spiritual Apostasy and Idolatry**. The "turning back again into Egypt" signifies more than a physical longing; it represents a deep-seated spiritual regression and a desire to return to the idolatrous practices and mindset of their former bondage, rather than embracing the freedom and covenant relationship with Yahweh. This inward turning of the heart is the root of their outward disobedience, leading to the making of the golden calf ([Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf")). Lastly, the verse emphasizes the **Hardness of Heart**. Despite witnessing God's mighty acts of deliverance and His sustained provision, their hearts remained unyielding and rebellious, preferring their own desires over God's will. This theme of a hardened heart is a consistent warning throughout Scripture, particularly in the wilderness narratives ([Psalm 95:8](/psalm/95-8 "Psalm 95:8 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **thrust (Greek, _apōthéomai'_):** From G683, meaning "to push off, figuratively, to reject." This word conveys a forceful and deliberate act of pushing away or repudiating. It's not a passive drifting away but an active, willful rejection of Moses, and by extension, God's authority. This highlights the severity of their disobedience, indicating a conscious decision to disassociate themselves from the leadership God had established.
* **hearts (Greek, _kardía'_):** From G2588, meaning "the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle." This term is crucial because it points to the internal disposition, the core of one's being, including intellect, emotion, and will. Stephen emphasizes that their rebellion was not merely external behavior but stemmed from a deep-seated, inward desire and inclination. Their physical journey out of Egypt was not matched by a spiritual transformation of their inner being.
* **turned back again (Greek, _stréphō'_):** From G4762, meaning "to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)." This verb denotes a complete reversal or turning away. The addition of "again" underscores a regression to a former state. It vividly portrays a spiritual U-turn, a desire to revert to the old ways and the perceived security of their past bondage, rather than moving forward in faith towards the promised land.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"To whom our fathers would not obey,"**: This clause immediately establishes the central theme of rebellion. Stephen directly implicates the "fathers" (ancestors) of his audience, laying bare their historical pattern of disobedience. The refusal to "obey" Moses was a conscious act, indicating a lack of submission to God's chosen leader and, by extension, to God Himself. This sets a precedent for the Sanhedrin's own rejection of Jesus.
* **"but thrust [him] from them,"**: This phrase intensifies the preceding one, demonstrating the active and forceful nature of their rejection. It wasn't just passive disobedience but an aggressive pushing away of Moses's authority and presence. This act signifies a desire to remove God's appointed representative from their midst, preferring to chart their own course rather than follow divine guidance.
* **"and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,"**: This is the theological crux of the verse. It reveals the root cause of their rebellion: an internal, spiritual longing for their past life of bondage and idolatry. Despite the physical liberation and miraculous provision, their "hearts" (their inner desires, thoughts, and will) remained captive to the allure of Egypt. This "turning back again" signifies a profound spiritual regression, a preference for the familiar comforts and false gods of their past over the challenging path of faith and freedom with the true God.

#### Literary Devices
Stephen masterfully employs several literary devices to strengthen his argument. **Irony** is prominent, as the Israelites, having been miraculously delivered from literal slavery in Egypt, paradoxically longed to return to it spiritually. They rejected the freedom and divine guidance offered by God through Moses, preferring the perceived security of their former bondage. This highlights the tragic human tendency to cling to the familiar, even if it is destructive. **Symbolism** is also key, with "Egypt" representing not just a geographical location but a spiritual state of bondage, idolatry, and reliance on worldly systems rather than on God. Their desire to return to Egypt symbolizes a desire for spiritual regression and a rejection of the covenant relationship. Furthermore, Stephen uses **Historical Parallelism**, drawing a direct line between the ancestors' rejection of Moses and his contemporary audience's rejection of Jesus. This rhetorical strategy serves as a powerful indictment, showing that the Sanhedrin is repeating the very sins of their forefathers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 7:39 profoundly illustrates the pervasive human tendency towards spiritual apostasy and the hardening of the heart against divine truth and authority. It reveals that outward obedience is insufficient if the heart remains uncommitted or longs for the "Egypts" of past sin and worldly comforts. This verse underscores God's persistent faithfulness despite humanity's consistent rebellion, a theme that runs throughout redemptive history. It serves as a stark reminder that true freedom is found not in returning to the familiar but in pressing forward in faith and obedience to God's revealed will, even when the path is challenging. The Israelites' failure to trust God's provision and their preference for a known, albeit enslaved, past over an unknown, divinely-guided future, stands as a perpetual warning against spiritual complacency and a lack of faith.

* [Numbers 14:3-4](/numbers/14-3-4 "Numbers 14:3-4 - Israel's Desire to Return to Egypt"): "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? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."
* [Hebrews 3:7-11](/hebrews/3-7-11 "Hebrews 3:7-11 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts"): "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)"
* [1 Corinthians 10:6-10](/1_corinthians/10-6-10 "1 Corinthians 10:6-10 - Warnings from Israel's History"): "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 7:39 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, serving as a powerful cautionary tale against the dangers of spiritual backsliding and the subtle allure of past comforts or sinful patterns. It compels us to honestly examine the true condition of our hearts. Are we genuinely pressing forward in our walk with Christ, embracing the freedom and new life He offers, or do we secretly harbor a longing for the "Egypts" of our past—old habits, worldly dependencies, or familiar comforts that hinder our spiritual growth? This verse reminds us that true obedience stems from a heart fully devoted to God, not merely external compliance. It challenges us to identify and repent of any areas where we might be "thrusting away" God's guidance or His appointed messengers in our lives, whether that be through His Word, His Spirit, or His church. The call is to fully embrace the deliverance Christ has provided and to continually turn our hearts towards Him, lest we fall into the same pattern of rebellion and spiritual regression that plagued the Israelites.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Egypts" might I be secretly longing for in my own life, even after experiencing God's deliverance?**
* **In what ways might I be resisting or "thrusting away" God's guidance or the wisdom He provides through His Word or His people?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that is truly obedient and fully committed to God, rather than one that is prone to spiritual regression?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my inner desires align with God's will for my life, rather than yearning for past comforts or sinful patterns?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Israelites, after witnessing so many miracles, still want to return to Egypt?**

Answer: The Israelites' desire to return to Egypt, despite experiencing miraculous deliverance and divine provision, highlights a profound spiritual issue: a lack of faith and a preference for perceived security over radical dependence on God. While in Egypt, they were slaves, but their lives were structured and predictable, with a consistent food supply. The wilderness, by contrast, demanded daily reliance on God for everything, which often felt uncertain and challenging. Their longing for Egypt wasn't necessarily a desire for slavery itself, but for the "flesh pots" and perceived stability, even if it meant bondage ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4-6 "Numbers 11:4-6 - The People Complain for Meat")). This reveals a "slave mentality" that had not been fully eradicated by their physical liberation. Their hearts remained untransformed, preferring the known comforts of their past, however oppressive, to the unknown, faith-filled journey God called them to. This serves as a powerful reminder that physical freedom does not automatically equate to spiritual freedom; the heart must also be transformed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Stephen's indictment in Acts 7:39, detailing Israel's rejection of Moses and their longing for Egypt, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the rejection of Jesus Christ by His own people. Just as Moses was God's chosen deliverer whom Israel refused to obey and thrust away, so too was Jesus, the ultimate Prophet and Messiah, rejected by the very nation He came to save ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). The "turning back again into Egypt" by the Exodus generation prefigures the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of those who refused to accept Christ, preferring the old covenant system and human traditions over the new life and freedom He offered. Jesus, the greater Moses, came to lead His people out of the bondage of sin and into the true promised land of God's kingdom. His death on the cross and resurrection provide the ultimate deliverance, not just from physical slavery but from spiritual death. Unlike the Israelites whose hearts remained in Egypt, Christ offers a new covenant where God's law is written on the heart, enabling true obedience and a genuine turning towards God ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts"); [Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "The New Covenant")). Thus, Acts 7:39 not only highlights historical rebellion but also magnifies the grace of God in sending Christ to overcome humanity's persistent sinfulness and to offer a transformative, heart-level deliverance that the old covenant could not fully achieve ([Hebrews 3:1-6](/hebrews/3-1-6 "Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus Greater Than Moses")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.