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Joseph sent, and called Jacob, his father, to him, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.
Verse Takeaways
1
Why 75 and Not 70?
Nearly all commentators explain that Stephen's number of 75 people comes from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), which was commonly used in his day. The Hebrew text of Genesis states 70. This is not seen as an error, but as Stephen quoting the version of Scripture most familiar to his audience. Some scholars, like John Gill, even offer ways to harmonize the numbers by including Jacob's sons' wives in the count of 'kindred'.
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Acts
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
All his kindred. His father and family, Genesis 45:17–28 and Genesis 46:1-26.
Threescore and fifteen souls. Sev…
Three-score and fifteen souls (εν ψυχαις εβδομηκοντα πεντε). Stephen follows the LXX which counts some grandchildren of Joseph and…
19th Century
Anglican
Now there came a famine . . .—As far as we can trace the sequence of thought, the suggested inference appears to be that just as t…
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Baptist
Note those words, the time of the promise, and remember that every promise has its due time of fulfillment, and that there is a time of pr…
Stephen’s address next turns to the sons of Jacob, or “the twelve patriarchs” as they were known more popularly. Here Stephen’s point is that God w…
16th Century
Protestant
When he says that Jacob came into Egypt with seventy-five souls, it does not agree with the words of Moses, for Moses mentions seventy only. Jerome…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Then sent Joseph Gifts and presents to his father, and wagons, to fetch down him and his family into Egypt, ([Refere…
Stephen was charged as a blasphemer of God and an apostate from the church; therefore, he shows that he is a son of Abraham and takes pride in this…