Acts 13:17

The God of this people Israel ¹  chose our ancestors ²  and made the people great ³  during their stay as foreigners ⁴  in the country ⁵  of Egypt, and with uplifted arm ⁶  he led them out of it.

Ge 12:1-3; Ge 17:7,8; Ex 1:7-9; Ex 6:1-14:31; Ex 15:1-21; Ex 18:11; De 4:20,34; De 4:37; De 7:6-8; De 7:19; De 9:5; De 10:22; De 14:2; 1Sa 4:8; Ne 9:7,8; Ne 9:9-12; Ps 77:13-20; Ps 78:12,13,42-53; Ps 105:6-12,42,43; Ps 105:23,24; Ps 105:26-39; Ps 106:7-11; Ps 114:1-8; Ps 135:4; Ps 135:8-10; Ps 136:10-15; Isa 41:8,9; Isa 44:1; Isa 63:9-14; Jer 32:20,21; Jer 33:24-26; Am 2:10; Mic 6:4; Mic 7:15,16; Ac 7:2-53; Ac 7:17; Ac 7:36; 1Pe 2:9

¹ tn Or “people of Israel.”

² tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

sn Note how Paul identifies with his audience by referring to our ancestors. He speaks as a Jew. God’s design in history is the theme of the speech. The speech is like Stephen’s, only here the focus is on a promised Son of David.

³ tn That is, in both numbers and in power. The implication of greatness in both numbers and in power is found in BDAG 1046 s.v. ὑψόω 2.

⁴ tn Or “as resident aliens.”

⁵ tn Or “land.”

⁶ sn Here uplifted arm is a metaphor for God’s power by which he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. See Exod 6:1, 6; 32:11; Deut 3:24; 4:34; Ps 136:11-12.