Acts 7:22

22 "Moses was educated in all 1the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.

Acts 7:22 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:22

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
&c,] Which was reckoned very considerable: ( 1 Kings 4:30 ) Philo the Jew says F5 that he learned arithmetic, geometry, and every branch of music, the hieroglyphics, the Assyrian language, and the Chaldean knowledge of the heavens, and the mathematics; yet was not a magician, or skilled in unlawful arts, as Justin suggests F6:

and was mighty in words;
he had a command of language, and a large flow of words, and could speak properly and pertinently upon any subject; for though he was slow of speech, and of tongue, and might have somewhat of a stammering in speaking, yet he might have a just diction, a masculine style, and a powerful eloquence, and the matter he delivered might be very great and striking:

and in deeds;
or in "his deeds", as the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read: he was a man of great abilities, and fit for business both in the cabinet and in the field. Josephus F7 relates an expedition of his against the Ethiopians, whilst he was in Pharaoh's court, in which he obtained victory over them, when the Egyptians had been greatly oppressed by them; in which his prudence and fortitude were highly commended.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 De Vita Mosis, l. 1. p. 606. Clement. Alex. Strom. l. 1. p. 343.
F6 L. 36. c. 2.
F7 Antiqu l. 2. c. 10. sect. 1. 2. 3.

Acts 7:22 In-Context

20 "It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father's home.
21 "And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.
22 "Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
24 "And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 1 Kings 4:30; Isaiah 19:11
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.