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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Acts 7:23

When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Court;   Government;   Readings, Select;   Thompson Chain Reference - Stephen;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Pharaoh;   Stephen;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gospel;   Moses;   Number;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Leadership;   Moses;   Old Testament in the New Testament, the;   Persecution;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Future State;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Stephen;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Number Systems and Number Symbolism;   Preaching in the Bible;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mark, Gospel According to;   Stephen;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boyhood ;   Inspiration and Revelation;   Israel;   Moses;   Numbers;   Numbers (2);   Time;   Visitation;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Egypt;   Stephen;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Exodus, the;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Four;   Number;   Persecution;   Stephen;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Forty, the Number;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
"When Moses was about forty, he rode down to meet some of his real kin.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
Bible in Basic English
But when he was almost forty years old, it came into his heart to go and see his brothers, the children of Israel.
Darby Translation
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;
New King James Version
"Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
Christian Standard Bible®
"As he was approaching the age of 40, he decided to visit his brothers, the Israelites.
World English Bible
But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
Weymouth's New Testament
"And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.
King James Version (1611)
And when he was full forty yeres old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Literal Translation
And when a period of forty years was fulfilled to him, it arose in his heart to look upon his brothers, the sons of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan he was fourtye yeare olde, it came in to his mynde to vyset his brethren the children of Israel.
Mace New Testament (1729)
when he was full forty years old, he took the resolution to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
THE MESSAGE
"When he was forty years old, he wondered how everything was going with his Hebrew kin and went out to look things over. He saw an Egyptian abusing one of them and stepped in, avenging his underdog brother by knocking the Egyptian flat. He thought his brothers would be glad that he was on their side, and even see him as an instrument of God to deliver them. But they didn't see it that way. The next day two of them were fighting and he tried to break it up, told them to shake hands and get along with each other: ‘Friends, you are brothers, why are you beating up on each other?'
Amplified Bible
"But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
American Standard Version
But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when he was full forty yeare olde it came into his hert to visit his brethren the chyldren of Israhel.
Update Bible Version
But when he was well-near forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers the sons of Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
`And when forty years were fulfilled to him, it came upon his heart to look after his brethren, the sons of Israel;
New Century Version
"When Moses was about forty years old, he thought it would be good to visit his own people, the people of Israel.
New English Translation
But when he was about forty years old, it entered his mind to visit his fellow countrymen the Israelites.
Contemporary English Version
When Moses was forty years old, he wanted to help the Israelites because they were his own people.
Complete Jewish Bible
"But when he was forty years old, the thought came to him to visit his brothers, the people of Isra'el.
English Standard Version
"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when he was full fourtie yeere olde, it came into his heart to visite his brethren, the children of Israel.
George Lamsa Translation
And when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
Hebrew Names Version
But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Yisra'el.
International Standard Version
"When he was forty years old, his heart was moved to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel.Exodus 2:11-12;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And when he became a son of forty years, it arose upon his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel.
Murdock Translation
And when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
New Living Translation
"One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel.
New Life Bible
When he was forty years old, he thought he should visit his brothers, the Jews.
English Revised Version
But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
New Revised Standard
"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when there was being fulfilled unto him a period of forty years, it came up on his heart to look after his brethren the sons of Israel;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
King James Version
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Lexham English Bible
"But when he was forty years old, it entered in his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when he was full fourtie yeres olde, it came into his heart to visite his brethren the chyldren of Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
"When Moses was about 40 years old, he decided to visit his own people, the people of Israel.
New American Standard Bible
"But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his countrymen, the sons of Israel.
Good News Translation
"When Moses was forty years old, he decided to find out how his fellow Israelites were being treated.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But whanne the tyme of fourti yeer was fillid to hym, it roos vp `in to his herte, that he schulde visite hise britheren, the sones of Israel.

Contextual Overview

17As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number. 18Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt. 19He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. 20At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father's house. 21When he was set outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. 23When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.24And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him. 25He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not. 26The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating one another?'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Exodus 2:11, Exodus 2:12, Hebrews 11:24-26

it came: Exodus 35:21, Exodus 35:29, 1 Chronicles 29:17-19, 2 Chronicles 30:12, Ezra 1:1, Ezra 1:5, Ezra 7:27, Proverbs 21:1, 2 Corinthians 8:16, Philippians 2:12, Philippians 2:13, James 1:17, Revelation 17:17

to: Acts 15:36, Exodus 4:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 3:11 - General Exodus 7:7 - General Deuteronomy 31:2 - I am an Deuteronomy 34:7 - an hundred Romans 9:3 - my kinsmen

Cross-References

Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
Genesis 7:8
The clean and unclean animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground
Genesis 7:9
came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two, male and female, as God had commanded him.
Genesis 7:10
And after seven days the floodwaters came upon the earth.
Genesis 7:14
they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature.
Genesis 7:15
They came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two of every creature with the breath of life.
Genesis 7:17
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.
Genesis 7:18
So the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters.
Genesis 7:20
The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits.
Genesis 7:21
And every creature that had moved upon the earth perished-birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when he was full forty years old,.... This Stephen had from tradition, and not from Scripture, which is silent about the age of Moses at this time, and only says, "it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown", Exodus 2:11 but that he was at this time at such an age, is the general sense of the Jews. Upon the above mentioned passage they have this note h

"twenty years old was Moses at that time; and there are that say, that he was forty years old. And i elsewhere still more particularly; Moses was "forty" years in the palace of Pharaoh, forty years in Midian, (the Amsterdam edition reads,

במדבר, "in the wilderness", wrongly,) and he served Israel forty years.''

Indeed, the fabulous history of his life makes him to be but fifteen years of age at this time k; but Stephen's account is undoubtedly right, and which is confirmed by the above testimonies.

It came into his heart; by the Spirit of God, under a more than ordinary impulse of which he now was:

to visit his brethren, the children of Israel; whom he knew to be his brethren, partly from the common report in Pharaoh's court concerning him, and partly from the mark of circumcision in his flesh, and chiefly from divine revelation: for some years he had lived a courtly and military life, and had took no notice of the Israelites in their oppressions; but now the Lord laid it upon his heart to visit them, and observe how things were with them; and though he could not use any public and open authority, yet Philo the Jew says l, that he exhorted the officers to use mildness and moderation with them, and comforted and encouraged the Israelites to bear their burdens with patience and constancy, and not sink under them; suggesting, that things would take another turn, and would change for the better in time.

h Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 3. i Bereshit Rabba, sect. 100, fol. 88. 4. k Chronicon Mosis, fol. 5. 2. l De Vita Mosis, l. 1. p. 608, 609.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Full forty years old - This is not recorded in the Old Testament; but it is a constant tradition of the Jews that Moses was 40 years of age when he undertook to deliver them. Thus, it is said, “Moses lived in the palace of Pharaoh forty years; he was forty years in Midian; and he ministered to Israel forty years” (Kuinoel).

To visit ... - Probably with a view of delivering them from their oppressive bondage. Compare Acts 7:25.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 7:23. When he was full forty years old — This was a general tradition among the Jews: "Moses was forty years in Pharaoh's court, forty years in Midian, and forty years he served Israel."

To visit his brethren — Probably on the ground of trying to deliver them from their oppressive bondage. This desire seems to have been early infused into his mind by the Spirit of God; and the effect of this desire to deliver his oppressed countrymen was his refusing to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter-see Hebrews 11:24, and thus renouncing all right to the Egyptian crown, choosing rather to endure addiction with the people of God than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.


 
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