(Verse 9) - Moved with envy - That is, dissatisfied with the favor which their father Jacob showed Joseph, and envious at the dreams which indicated that he was to be raised to remarkable honor above his parents and brethren, (Gen. 37:3-11).

Sold Joseph into Egypt - Sold him, that he might be taken to Egypt. This was done at the suggestion of “Judah,” who advised it that Joseph might not be put to death by his brethren, (Gen. 37:28). It is possible that Stephen, by this fact, might have designed to prepare the way for a severe rebuke of the Jews for having dealt in a similar manner with their Messiah.

But God was with him - God protected him, and overruled all these wicked doings, so that he was raised to extraordinary honors.

(Verse 10) - And delivered him  - That is, restored him to liberty from his servitude and humiliation, and raised him up to high honors and offices in Egypt.

Favor and wisdom - The favor was the result of his wisdom. His wisdom was particularly evinced in interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, (Gen. 41).

And he made him governor  - (Gen. 41:40).

All his house - All the family, or all the court and government of the nation.

(Verse 11) - Now there came a dearth - A famine, (Gen. 41:54).

And Canaan - Jacob was living at that time in Canaan.

Found no sustenance - No food; no means of living.

(Verse 12) - Was corn in Egypt - The word “corn” here rather denotes “wheat.” (See Matt. 12:1).

Our fathers - His ten sons; all his sons except Joseph and Benjamin, (Gen. 42): Stephen here “refers” only to the history, without entering into details. By this general reference he sufficiently showed that he believed what Moses had spoken, and did not intend to show him disrespect.

(Verse 13) - Joseph was made known – (Gen. 45:4).

Joseph’s kindred  - His relatives; his family, (Gen. 45:16).

(Verse 14) - All his kindred - His father and family, (Gen. 45:17-28; 46:1-26).

Threescore and fifteen souls - Seventy-five persons. There has been much perplexity felt in the explanation of this passage. In Gen. 46:26, Exo. 1:5, and Deut. 10:22, it is expressly said that the number which went down to Egypt consisted of 70 persons. The question is, in what way these accounts can be reconciled? It is evident that Stephen has followed the account which is given by the Septuagint. In Gen. 46:27, that version reads, “But the sons of Joseph who were with him in Egypt were nine souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob which came with Jacob into Egypt were seventy-five souls.” This number is made out by adding these nine souls to the 66 mentioned in Gen. 46:26. The difference between the Septuagint and Moses is, that the former mentions five descendants of Joseph who are not recorded by the latter. The “names” of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh are recorded in 1 Chr. 7:14-21. Their names were Ashriel, Machir, Zelophehad, Peresh, sons of Manasseh; and Shuthelah, son of Ephraim. Why the Septuagint inserted these, it may not be easy to see. But such was evidently the fact; and the fact accords accurately with the historic record, though Moses did not insert their names. The solution of difficulties in regard to chronology is always difficult; and what might be entirely apparent to a Jew in the time of Stephen, may be wholly inexplicable to us.