A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 7:12

"But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time." — Acts 7:12 (ASV)

That there was corn (οντα σιτια). Participle (present active of ειμ) in indirect discourse, after ακουσας, "heard of corn being in Egypt." Σιτια is diminutive of σιτος and means grain (wheat, barley, not our maize or Indian corn), old word also for provisions, victuals, here only in the N.T.

The first time (πρωτον). While Jacob himself remained in Canaan before he went down to Egypt and died there (verse 15f.).