Acts 7:39

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

Acts 7:39 in Other Translations

KJV
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
ESV
39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,
NLT
39 “But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt.
MSG
39 words our fathers would have nothing to do with.
CSB
39 Our forefathers were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him away, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

Acts 7:39 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:39

To whom our fathers would not obey
But often murmured against him, and were disobedient to him, and to the oracles he delivered to them, and so to God, whose oracles they were:

but thrust him from them;
as one of the two Hebrews did, when he interposed to make up the difference between them; and which was an emblem and presage of what that people would afterwards do; ( Acts 7:27 )

and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt;
they wished themselves there again, they lusted after the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, leeks, onions, and garlic there; and went so far as to move for a captain, and even to appoint one to lead them back thither again.

Acts 7:39 In-Context

37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’
38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’
41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made.

Cross References 1

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