Acts 7 · Verse 22

Acts 7:22

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Acts 7:22, King James Version

Acts 7:22 in other translations

BSBSo Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
WEBMoses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.
ASVAnd Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works.
YLTand Moses was taught in all wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in words and in works.
DARBYAnd Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
BBEAnd Moses was trained in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was great in his words and works.
WebsterAnd Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

What does Acts 7:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 7:20-22

20-22. In which time--of deepest depression. Moses was born--the destined deliverer. exceeding fair--literally, "fair to God" (Margin), or, perhaps, divinely "fair" (see on He 11:23).

Read the full comment on Acts 7:20-22 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. Moses was learned. Or, was instructed. It does not mean that he had that learning, but that he was carefully trained or educated in that wisdom. The passage does not express the fact that Moses was distinguished for learning, but that he was carefully educated, or that pains were taken to make him learned.

In all the wisdom, etc. The learning of the Egyptians was confined chiefly to astrology, to the interpretation of dreams, to medicine, to mathematics, and to their sacred science or traditionary doctrines about religion, which were concealed chiefly under their hieroglyphics. Their learning is not unfrequently spoken of in the Scriptures, 1Kgs 4:30; Comp. Isa 19:11,12. And their knowledge is equally celebrated in the heathen world. It is known that science was carried from Egypt to Phenicia, and thence to Greece; and not a few of the Grecian philosophers travelled to Egypt in pursuit of knowledge.

And was mighty. Was powerful, or was distinguished. This means that he was eminent in Egypt, before he conducted the children of Israel forth. It refers to his addresses to Pharaoh, and to the miracles which he wrought before their departure.

In words. From Ex 4:10, it seems that Moses was "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." When it is said that he was mighty in words, it means that he was mighty in his communications to Pharaoh, though they were spoken by his brother Aaron. Aaron was in his place, and Moses addressed Pharaoh through him, who was appointed to deliver the message, Ex 4:11-16.

Deeds. Miracles, Ex 7, etc.

(*) "Learned" "Instructed" (f) "mighty in words" Lk 24:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 In all the wisdom of the Egyptians - Who were, at that time, the most intelligent and best instructed people in the universe. Philo says, Moses was taught arithmetic, geometry, poetry, music, medicine, and the knowledge of hieroglyphics. In Sohar Cadash, fol. 46, it is said, "that, of the ten portions of wisdom which came into the world, the Egyptians had nine, and that all the inhabitants of the earth had only the remaining portion." Much of the same nature may be seen in the rabbins, though they apply the term wisdom here to magic. Was mighty in words and in deeds - This may refer to the glorious doctrines he taught, and the miracles he wrought in Egypt. Josephus Ant. lib. ii. cap. 10, sect. 1, gives an account of his being general of an Egyptian army, defeating the Ethiopians, who had invaded Egypt, driving them back into their own country, and taking Saba their capital, which was afterwards called Meroe. But this, like many other tales of the same writer, is worthy of little credit. Phoenix says the same of Achilles: - Μυθων τε ῥητηρ' εμεναι, πρηκτηρα τε εργων. Il. ix. v. 443. Not only an orator of words, but a performer of deeds.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 7:17-29

Let us not be discouraged at the slowness of the fulfilling of God's promises. Suffering times often are growing times with the church. God is preparing for his people's deliverance, when their day is darkest, and their distress deepest. Moses was exceeding fair, "fair toward God;" it is the beauty of holiness which is in God's sight of great price. He was wonderfully preserved in his infancy; for God will take…

Read the full comment on Acts 7:17-29 →

Acts 7:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐπαιδεύθηepaideuthēwas instructedG3811
ΜωϋσῆςMōusēsMosesG3475
πάσῃpasēallG3956
σοφίᾳsophia[the] wisdomG4678
Αἰγυπτίων·Aiguptiōnof [the] Egyptians;G124
ἦνēnhe wasG1510
δὲdenowG1161
δυνατὸςdunatosmightyG1415
ἐνeninG1722
λόγοιςlogoiswordsG3056
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔργοιςergoisdeedsG2041

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 7:22

  • Isaiah 19:11

    Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

  • Luke 24:19

    And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

  • 2 Chronicles 9:22

    And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

  • Daniel 1:17-20

    As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

  • Daniel 1:4

    Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

  • 1 Kings 4:29-30

    And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
was learned.
1Ki 4:29; 2Ch 9:22; Isa 19:11; Da 1:4,17-20
and was.
Lu 24:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 7:21

    And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

  • Acts 7:22

    And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

  • Acts 7:23

    And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

Read all of Acts 7

Acts 7:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y fué enseñado Moisés en toda la sabiduría de los egipcios; y era poderoso en sus dichos y hechos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Moïse fut instruit dans toute la sagesse des Égyptiens; et il était puissant dans ses paroles et dans ses actions.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Moses wurde unterwiesen in aller Weisheit der Ägypter; er war aber mächtig in seinen Worten und Werken.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et eruditus est Moyses omni sapientia Ægyptiorum, et erat potens in verbis et in operibus suis.