Devine Scripture

Acts 7:29

What does Acts 7:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 7:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 7:29 means

Moses fled and became a sojourner in Midian, where he fathered two sons. The prince-turned-fugitive enters a humbler season. Stephen underlines the theme of pilgrimage again: God’s chosen servant lives as an alien, away from power and prominence. Domestic detail—two sons—suggests a settled, ordinary life, a stark contrast to Egypt’s court. Yet this obscurity is God’s school for Moses. In Midian he learns patience, dependence, and shepherding—skills he will need for leading Israel. Stephen reminds his audience that God often forms His servants in hidden places, and that delay does not mean abandonment. Preparation in exile precedes powerful commission.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And at these words, Moses went in flight to the land of Midian, and was living there for a time, and had two sons.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And Moses fled at this word, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Moses fled upon this word: and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Madiam, where he begat two sons.

Context

Having faced rejection, Moses withdraws to Midian and starts a family. The next phase, in verses 30–34, will feature God’s dramatic self-disclosure at the burning bush and Moses’ commissioning. This transition from human initiative to divine call is essential in Stephen’s argument. It also parallels Joseph’s pattern of humiliation preceding exaltation, and anticipates the second approach motif, where the rejected deliverer returns with God’s authority.

v.28Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?

v.29This passage

v.30And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 18:2

    And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,

  • Exodus 2:14

    And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely the thing is known.

  • Exodus 4:19

    And Jehovah said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.

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