Acts 7:11 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Then a terrible famine hit all of Egypt and Canaan, bringing serious hardship. Our ancestors couldn't find food anywhere to keep themselves alive.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Sometimes life hits hard and even the basics become impossible to find.

📚 Historical Context

In the book of Acts, Stephen is delivering a speech to the Sanhedrin, retelling key events from Israel's history to defend his faith and show God's consistent guidance. This verse specifically refers to the famine during the time of Joseph, as recorded in Genesis, which affected Egypt and Canaan, forcing Jacob and his family to relocate for survival. Through this narrative, Stephen highlights how God used such crises to preserve and direct His people toward His greater purposes.

Explore Similar Verses

Jeremiah 44:9

Have you seriously forgotten all the terrible things your ancestors did? The awful choices your kings made? The damage their wives caused? And what about your own mess-ups and the harm your own wives have done? All of this went down right there in Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.

Acts 7:19

This ruler was sneaky and cruel to our people, treating our ancestors terribly. He made them abandon their babies outside to die so they wouldn't survive.

Luke 11:47

This is messed up! You're out here building fancy monuments for the prophets, but your ancestors are the ones who killed them.

Ask the AI Assistant

Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.

Share or Save

📚 Historical Context

Explore Similar Verses

Ask the AI Assistant

Translation & Methodology Sources