22 "Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians , and he was a man of power in words and deeds . 23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty , it entered his mind to visit his brethren , the sons of Israel . 24 "And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly , he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian . 25 "And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand . 26 " On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together , and he tried to reconcile them in peace , saying , 'Men , you are brethren , why e do you injure one another ?' 27 "But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away , saying , ' WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28 ' YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY , DO YOU?' 29 "At this remark , MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN , where he became the father of two sons .
30 "After forty years had passed , AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai , IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH . 31 "When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight ; and as he approached to look more closely , there came the voice of the Lord : 32 ' I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS , THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB .' Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look . 33 " BUT THE Lord SAID TO HIM, ' TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET , FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND . 34 ' I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS , AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW , AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT .' 35 "This Moses whom they disowned , saying , 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE ?' is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush . 36 " This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years . 37 "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel , ' GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN .' 38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai , and who was with our fathers ; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 "Our fathers were unwilling e to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt , 40 SAYING TO AARON , 'MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT -WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM'. 41 "At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol , and were rejoicing in the works of their hands .
42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven ; as it is written in the book of the prophets , ' IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS , WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL ? 43 ' YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA , THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP . I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 7:22-43
Commentary on Acts 7:17-29
(Read Acts 7:17-29)
Let us not be discouraged at the slowness of the fulfilling of God's promises. Suffering times often are growing times with the church. God is preparing for his people's deliverance, when their day is darkest, and their distress deepest. Moses was exceeding fair, "fair toward God;" it is the beauty of holiness which is in God's sight of great price. He was wonderfully preserved in his infancy; for God will take special care of those of whom he designs to make special use. And did he thus protect the child Moses? Much more will he secure the interests of his holy child Jesus, from the enemies who are gathered together against him. They persecuted Stephen for disputing in defence of Christ and his gospel: in opposition to these they set up Moses and his law. They may understand, if they do not wilfully shut their eyes against the light, that God will, by this Jesus, deliver them out of a worse slavery than that of Egypt. Although men prolong their own miseries, yet the Lord will take care of his servants, and effect his own designs of mercy.
Commentary on Acts 7:30-41
(Read Acts 7:30-41)
Men deceive themselves, if they think God cannot do what he sees to be good any where; he can bring his people into a wilderness, and there speak comfortably to them. He appeared to Moses in a flame of fire, yet the bush was not consumed; which represented the state of Israel in Egypt, where, though they were in the fire of affliction, yet they were not consumed. It may also be looked upon as a type of Christ's taking upon him the nature of man, and the union between the Divine and human nature. The death of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, cannot break the covenant relation between God and them. Our Saviour by this proves the future state, Matthew 22:31. Abraham is dead, yet God is still his God, therefore Abraham is still alive. Now, this is that life and immortality which are brought to light by the gospel. Stephen here shows that Moses was an eminent type of Christ, as he was Israel's deliverer. God has compassion for the troubles of his church, and the groans of his persecuted people; and their deliverance takes rise from his pity. And that deliverance was typical of what Christ did, when, for us men, and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. This Jesus, whom they now refused, as their fathers did Moses, even this same has God advanced to be a Prince and Saviour. It does not at all take from the just honour of Moses to say, that he was but an instrument, and that he is infinitely outshone by Jesus. In asserting that Jesus should change the customs of the ceremonial law. Stephen was so far from blaspheming Moses, that really he honoured him, by showing how the prophecy of Moses was come to pass, which was so clear. God who gave them those customs by his servant Moses, might, no doubt, change the custom by his Son Jesus. But Israel thrust Moses from them, and would have returned to their bondage; so men in general will not obey Jesus, because they love this present evil world, and rejoice in their own works and devices.
Commentary on Acts 7:42-50
(Read Acts 7:42-50)
Stephen upbraids the Jews with the idolatry of their fathers, to which God gave them up as a punishment for their early forsaking him. It was no dishonour, but an honour to God, that the tabernacle gave way to the temple; so it is now, that the earthly temple gives way to the spiritual one; and so it will be when, at last, the spiritual shall give way to the eternal one. The whole world is God's temple, in which he is every where present, and fills it with his glory; what occasion has he then for a temple to manifest himself in? And these things show his eternal power and Godhead. But as heaven is his throne, and the earth his footstool, so none of our services can profit Him who made all things. Next to the human nature of Christ, the broken and spiritual heart is his most valued temple.