Acts 7:13Meaning & 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).

Joseph’s moving brotherly relation to the brothers who sold him, his mercy toward them, his presentation of them to Pharaoh, his costly embassy to his father, and his calling of all Jacob’s posterity: a fervent account of all this could also have worked beneficially upon the hearers.

Such tender scenes were recalled that anyone not entirely alien to brotherly feeling and disposition should have felt sympathy for all innocent sufferers.

This was especially so for One such as Jesus Christ appeared to be before the eyes of many unprejudiced people. Someone said of Him: “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (Jn 9:33).

Joseph appeared beautiful. Christ the Savior, revealing Himself to the world, spoke as no one had ever spoken (see Jn 7:46).