Acts 7:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"They sold him into Egypt." Though they knew no fault in their brother, they treated him so wickedly. They did this at the very time when he had come to them with food for them. By their act they assisted the prophecy without knowing it. Against their will they became the causes of his prosperity, though only after many trials for him. They brought upon themselves great fear and unbearable shame. Yet Joseph did not remember the wrong and plotted nothing terrible against them. On the contrary, he fed them when they were tormented by hunger and made them known to Pharaoh.

In the speech which Stephen delivered in the hall of the Sanhedrin, in answer to the high priest’s interrogation, he recalled before his judges the history of the people of God. He began with their forefather Abraham and ended with Solomon (vv. 1-50).

In conclusion he reproached the persecutors of Christians for their resistance to the Holy Spirit, Who was calling them to salvation (vv. 51-53).

Stephen’s speech is both defensive and accusatory. The accusation reported that he had spoken blasphemous words against the Law of Moses and the Jerusalem temple, and against Moses and God.

Stephen's further account of Joseph is wholly and exactly based on the narratives of Genesis. "Wisdom" means the wisdom shown by Joseph especially in interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker, and of King Pharaoh himself (Gen 40; Gen 41).

Tormented by hunger, the patriarchs of the Hebrew people went to Joseph, at first without knowing it was he. Later they came to him after recognizing him as the brother whom they had sold.

Their descendants, tormented by spiritual hunger, did not want to go to Christ the Savior, despite His merciful and joyful call: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Mt 5:6).

They did not want to go to Him even when His glory had been exalted in so many ways. He had risen, ascended into heaven, and sent the Spirit, the Comforter and Giver of every spiritual gift of grace.