Acts 7:14

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

Acts 7:14 (KJV)

Context

This verse is part of Stephen’s speech before the Jewish council. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, was defending his faith and recounting the history of Israel to the religious leaders. In this portion, he speaks about Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers but rose to power in Egypt.

Meaning

Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his kindred, numbering “threescore and fifteen souls” (seventy-five people). This event refers to the reunion of Jacob’s entire family in Egypt during a severe famine. The number seventy-five follows the Septuagint and Samaritan Pentateuch, while the Hebrew text in Genesis 46:26-27 gives seventy. The difference arises from counting methods: the seventy-five includes Joseph, his two sons, and possibly additional descendants. This detail does not affect the theological message of God’s faithfulness.

Biblical connections

This family reunion fulfills God’s promise to Abraham. In Genesis 15:13-14, God revealed that Abraham’s descendants would be strangers in a land not their own, serving as slaves and afflicted for four hundred years, but God would judge that nation and bring them out with great substance. The move to Egypt marks the beginning of this promise’s fulfillment. It also shows Joseph’s faithfulness in providing for his family, bringing them to Goshen, and foreshadows the later deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Application

Despite hardships, God orchestrated events so that Joseph’s family was preserved and prospered in Egypt. Joseph, once sold into slavery, became instrumental in preserving his family and fulfilling God’s promise. This encourages believers to trust God’s timing and provision, even when circumstances seem uncertain, and to honor parents and care for relatives, as Joseph did.

Reflection

The number seventy-five emphasizes the small beginning of what would become a great nation, fulfilling God’s promise to multiply Abraham’s descendants. God works through ordinary family events to accomplish His purposes, and the continuity of His plan through the patriarchs leads to the nation of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the Exodus.