Acts 7:19

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 7:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.
Acts 7:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, etc.] See (<020110>Exodus 1:10) he took crafty, and yet cruel methods, to diminish the children of Israel, and to humble them; weakening their strength by labour, that they might not be able to beget children; ordering the Hebrew midwives to kill all the males that were born; and charging all his people to drown such male children that should escape the hands of the midwives; and evil entreated our fathers; keeping them to hard labour, in mortar and brick, and all rural service; in which he made them to serve with rigour, and thereby made their lives bitter to them; employing them in building cities, pyramids, walls, and towers; making ditches,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Dealt subtilly - He acted deceitfully; he used fraud. The cunning or deceitful attempt which is referred to, is his endeavour to weaken and destroy the Jewish people by causing their male children to be put to death, Exodus 1:22. Our kindred - Our nation, or our ancestors. And evil-entreated - Was unjust and cruel toward them. So that ... - For that purpose, or to “cause” them to cast them out. He dealt with them in this cruel manner, hoping that the Israelites themselves would destroy their own sons, that they might not grow up to experience the same sufferings as their fathers had. The cunning or subtilty of Pharaoh extended to everything that he did to oppress, to keep under, and to…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Exposed - Cast out to perish by hunger or wild beasts. Acts 7:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 1:9-22; Psa 83:4, Psa 83:5, Psa 105:25, Psa 129:1-3; Rev 12:4, Rev 12:5 Acts 7:20”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification