Acts 7:22

22 And Moses was instructed in all [the] wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his 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 In which time Moses was born, and was exceedingly lovely, who was nourished three months in the house of his father.
21 And when he was cast out, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and brought him up for herself [to be] for a son.
22 And Moses was instructed in all [the] wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
23 And when a period of forty years was fulfilled to him, it came into his heart to look upon his brethren, the sons of Israel;
24 and seeing a certain one wronged, he defended [him], and avenged him that was being oppressed, smiting the Egyptian.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.