Acts 7:15
What does Acts 7:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:15 means
Jacob went down to Egypt and died there, as did the fathers. Stephen compresses years into a sentence, focusing on the simple fact: the patriarchs finished their pilgrimage outside the promised land. Their deaths in Egypt underscore that God’s promise transcended their lifetimes; they lived and died by faith in what was yet to come. The verse humbles pretensions tied to place, reminding that even the greatest fathers were pilgrims. It also prepares for the emphasis on burial in the next verse, signaling that, though they died away from Canaan, their identity and hope remained tethered to God’s promise concerning the land He would give their descendants.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers;
KJV
King James Version · 1611So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Jacob went down to Egypt, and came to his end there, and so did our fathers;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Jacob went down to Egypt, and died, himself and our fathers,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, and our fathers.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers,
Context
Having described the family’s move, Stephen states the deaths of Jacob and the fathers. Verse 16 will discuss their being carried to Shechem and laid in a tomb connected with Abraham’s purchase. This closes the patriarchal migration narrative and bridges to the period of Israel’s multiplication and oppression in Egypt (verses 17–19), leading into the birth and early life of Moses. The brevity here serves to keep the focus on God’s unfolding plan through generations, rather than on personal details of each patriarch’s life and death.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 46:3
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
- Genesis 49:33
And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
- Deuteronomy 10:22
Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now Jehovah thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
- Joshua 24:4
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
- Numbers 20:15
how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
- Exodus 1:6
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Acts 7
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Acts 7.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Being Filled with the Spirit
The Bible encourages believers to be filled with the Spirit, a divine empowerment for Christian life and witness
Topic
Bible Verses About Baptism
Baptism is a significant act symbolizing new life in Christ, repentance, and identification with his death, burial, and resurrection.
Topic
Bible Verses About Bible Reading
The Bible encourages us to read, study, and meditate on God’s Word to grow in faith and wisdom.
What the Bible says about…