Acts 7:18 - until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph.
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What does "Acts 7:18" mean?
The verse "until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph" from Acts 7:18 is part of Stephen's speech to the Jewish Sanhedrin in the Book of Acts. It refers to a significant period in the history of the Israelites in Egypt. Let's break down what it means:
"Until there arose a different king...": This signifies a change in Egyptian leadership and, more importantly, a shift in the political climate and attitude towards the Israelites. The implication is that enough time has passed that the original pharaoh, who favored Joseph and his family, has died, and a new pharaoh has ascended to the throne.
"...who didn’t know Joseph.": This is the crucial part. It doesn't necessarily mean the new pharaoh was literally ignorant of Joseph's existence or his past deeds. Instead, it means the new pharaoh did not acknowledge or value Joseph's legacy, his contributions to Egypt, or the special status granted to his people. This pharaoh likely saw the Israelites as a growing foreign population that posed a potential threat to his rule. He no longer felt any obligation to them based on past favors.
In essence, the verse is saying: A new pharaoh came to power who didn't feel bound by the past and viewed the Israelites not as a privileged group but as a potential problem. This shift in perspective led to the oppression and enslavement of the Israelites, setting the stage for the Exodus.
Significance in Stephen's Speech:
Stephen uses this historical reference to draw parallels between the Israelites' experience in Egypt and the Jews' rejection of Jesus. He's suggesting that just as the Egyptians forgot Joseph's good deeds and turned against his people, the Jews have forgotten God's blessings and turned against Jesus, the promised Messiah. It's a way of showing that rejection and persecution of God's chosen people have been a recurring theme throughout history.
Acts 7:18 - until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph.
What does "Acts 7:18" mean?
The verse "until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph" from Acts 7:18 is part of Stephen's speech to the Jewish Sanhedrin in the Book of Acts. It refers to a significant period in the history of the Israelites in Egypt. Let's break down what it means:
"Until there arose a different king...": This signifies a change in Egyptian leadership and, more importantly, a shift in the political climate and attitude towards the Israelites. The implication is that enough time has passed that the original pharaoh, who favored Joseph and his family, has died, and a new pharaoh has ascended to the throne.
"...who didn’t know Joseph.": This is the crucial part. It doesn't necessarily mean the new pharaoh was literally ignorant of Joseph's existence or his past deeds. Instead, it means the new pharaoh did not acknowledge or value Joseph's legacy, his contributions to Egypt, or the special status granted to his people. This pharaoh likely saw the Israelites as a growing foreign population that posed a potential threat to his rule. He no longer felt any obligation to them based on past favors.
In essence, the verse is saying: A new pharaoh came to power who didn't feel bound by the past and viewed the Israelites not as a privileged group but as a potential problem. This shift in perspective led to the oppression and enslavement of the Israelites, setting the stage for the Exodus.
Significance in Stephen's Speech:
Stephen uses this historical reference to draw parallels between the Israelites' experience in Egypt and the Jews' rejection of Jesus. He's suggesting that just as the Egyptians forgot Joseph's good deeds and turned against his people, the Jews have forgotten God's blessings and turned against Jesus, the promised Messiah. It's a way of showing that rejection and persecution of God's chosen people have been a recurring theme throughout history.