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Acts 7:9

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And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

And {G2532} the patriarchs {G3966}, moved with envy {G2206}, sold {G591} Joseph {G2501} into {G1519} Egypt {G125}: but {G2532} God {G2316} was {G2258} with {G3326} him {G846},

“Now the Patriarchs grew jealous of Yosef and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But Adonai was with him;

Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him,

Commentary

Acts 7:9 is part of Stephen's powerful defense speech before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts the history of Israel to demonstrate God's consistent work through His chosen people, often despite their rebellion and unbelief. This particular verse focuses on the story of Joseph, a pivotal figure in Israel's early history.

Context

Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, is accused of blasphemy against Moses and God. In his defense, he doesn't directly address the charges but instead provides a sweeping historical overview, beginning with Abraham and moving through the patriarchs, Joseph, Moses, and the wilderness wanderings. He highlights instances where God acted mightily, even when His people rejected His messengers or fell into sin. Acts 7:9 specifically recalls the incident where Joseph's own brothers conspired against him, driven by jealousy over Jacob's favoritism and Joseph's prophetic dreams.

Key Themes

  • Human Envy and Sin: The verse explicitly states that the patriarchs were "moved with envy" (Greek: zēlos, ζῆλος), a powerful and destructive emotion that led them to commit a grave sin against their own brother. This highlights the pervasive nature of sin, even among the ancestors of God's chosen nation.
  • Divine Providence and Sovereignty: Despite the brothers' wicked intentions, the verse immediately pivots to "but God was with him." This emphasizes God's overarching control and ability to work through human sin to accomplish His perfect will. The sale of Joseph into Egypt, though born of malice, was ultimately part of God's plan to preserve Jacob's family and prepare the way for their eventual deliverance from famine. This theme is powerfully articulated later by Joseph himself in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."
  • God's Presence in Adversity: Joseph's journey was marked by betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Yet, in every circumstance, God's presence was his constant companion and source of blessing. This divine faithfulness is a recurring motif in the Joseph narrative, as seen in Genesis 39:2, "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man."

Linguistic Insights

The term "patriarchs" refers to the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), who became the heads of the twelve tribes. The phrase "moved with envy" uses the Greek word zēlos (ζῆλος), which can mean zeal, jealousy, or envy. In this context, it clearly denotes a negative, destructive form of jealousy that motivated their actions against Joseph, leading to his sale into slavery.

Practical Application

Acts 7:9 offers several profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when facing injustice, betrayal, or suffering caused by others' malice, we can find comfort in knowing that God is sovereign. He can take the worst of human intentions and weave them into His greater, good purposes.
  • God's Constant Presence: Like Joseph, we are assured that "God was with him." In our own trials and periods of adversity, we are never truly alone. The Lord's presence is a source of strength, comfort, and guidance.
  • Beware of Envy: The destructive power of envy, as demonstrated by Joseph's brothers, serves as a stark warning. The Bible consistently admonishes against this sin, recognizing its capacity to corrupt relationships and lead to harmful actions (e.g., Galatians 5:21).
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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Genesis 39:2 (14 votes)

    And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

  • Psalms 105:17 (12 votes)

    He sent a man before them, [even] Joseph, [who] was sold for a servant:

  • Isaiah 43:2 (10 votes)

    When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  • Genesis 45:4 (9 votes)

    And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I [am] Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

  • Isaiah 41:10 (9 votes)

    ¶ Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Genesis 39:21 (8 votes)

    But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

  • Genesis 39:23 (8 votes)

    The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing [that was] under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and [that] which he did, the LORD made [it] to prosper.