Bible Study series: Acts 7:35-41. Stephen’s defense is building up to something.
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I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 7:35-41
35 “This is Moses whom they rejected, saying, “Who appointed you ruler and judge?” This is the one whom God sent as ruler and deliverer with the hand of an angel who appeared to him in a bush. 36 This is the one who led them out, doing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the desert for forty years. 37 This is Moses who spoke to the descendants of Israel: ‘God shall raise up a prophet like me from among your brothers’ [Deut. 18:15]. 38 This is the one who was in the assembly in the desert with the angel speaking to him at Mt. Sinai, even with our ancestors; this is the one who received the living word to give to us.
39 But our ancestors did not want to become obedient to him, but on the contrary they pushed him away and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who shall go before us. For this Moses, who has led us from the land of Egypt, we don’t know what became of him’ [Ex. 42:1]. 41 And they made a calf in those days and brought sacrifices to the idol and began to celebrate the works of their hands. (Acts 7:35-41)
Comments:
Stephen’s main message before the Sanhedrin is that Moses was the gold standard, and the ancient Israelites did not listen to him. Moses also prophesied that God would raise up a prophet like him, who, it is implied, was Jesus. Would the Sanhedrin listen to Moses? Of course not. Finally, the High Council knew they had pushed for his execution by the Roman government. Stephen drives the point home.
35-38:
Stephen uses the pronoun “this one” several times here and adds the name Moses twice: “This is Moses!” Or “this Moses!” Stephen is rubbing it in the Sanhedrin’s faces—this is the one, but he was rejected and refused! And by history and tradition so do you do the same thing to him, Sanhedrin!”
“angel”: this is probably the preincarnate Son of God, according to the context (Exod. 3). An angel, both in Hebrew and Greek, is really a messenger. Angels are created beings, while Jesus was the one who created all things, including angels (John 1:1-4). Renewalists believe that angels appear to people in their dreams or in person. It is God’s ongoing ministry through them to us.
Here is a multi-part study of angels in the area of systematic theology, but first, here is a summary list of the basics:
Angels:
(a) Are messengers (in Hebrew mal’ak and in Greek angelos);
(b) Are created spirit beings;
(c) Have a beginning at their creation (not eternal);
(d) Have a beginning, but they are immortal (deathless).
(e) Have moral judgment;
(f) Have a certain measure of free will;
(g) Have high intelligence;
(h) Do not have physical bodies;
(i) But can manifest with immortal bodies before humans;
(j) They can show the emotion of joy.
Angels: Their Duties and Missions
Angels: Their Names and Ranks and Heavenly Existence
Angels: Their Origins, Abilities, and Nature
Moses was rejected even though he had the mighty call of God on him, issued by the angel at the burning bush.
“Rejected”: It can also mean “denied.” When people reject you, God puts his hand on you. He never rejects you.
“wonders and signs”:
“Wonders”: Teras (pronounced teh-ras). It is often translated as “wonders” and is always in the plural. Only once does it appear without “signs,” in Acts 2:19, where wonders will appear in the sky. Wonders inspire awe and worship of God through Christ who performs the wonders. They testify that God in his kingdom power is here to save and rescue people.
“Signs”: Sēmeion (pronounced say-may-on). In the plural it is mostly translated as “signs” or “miraculous signs.” A sign points towards the loving God. Signs are indicators of God breaking into his world, to help people and announce that he is here to save and rescue them and put things right.
For the phrase, see Acts 2:22, 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 8:13; 14:3.
For nearly all the references of those two words and a theology of them, please click on:
What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?
“deliverer”: the Greek word lutrōtēs (pronounced loo-troh-tayss) appears only here in the NT. It means “redeemer,” but translators have “deliverer.” In other words, Moses was the human instrument by whom God would punish the Egyptians for punishing his people, and then God would take them out of slavery. God was redeeming his people through Moses.
Stephen implies that Moses’s prophecy about another prophet whom God will raise up alludes to Jesus. Did the Sanhedrin see it? Maybe some got an inkling.
39-41:
“did not want”: it is the frequent verb thelō (pronounced theh-loh), and it means “wish,” “will,” “want,” “desire” or “is willing.” Here it describes ancient Hebrews who had a significantly free will, which is a gift from God. All humans have this gift, and so they too can resist God’s call for salvation and obedience to his commands.
“but on the contrary”: This is phrase comes from one Greek conjunction alla (pronounced as it looks), which means a sharp contrast.
“they pushed him away”: It is the same word used in v. 27. They rejected God, and this put them in a dangerous position. In v. 42, he will turn his back on them and hand them over to their own vices.
These three verses are a strong indictment. Stephen is not holding back! The Sanhedrin’s fathers—their ancestors—turned away from God and made a golden calf. Worst of all, they threw a party, a celebration, before the thing they made. This all happened while Moses was on Mt. Sinai communicating with the angel of the Lord! In v. 41, “the works of their hands” prepares the way for the criticism of the temple, which was “handmade things” (v. 48). Don’t turn a holy thing—the temple—into an idol.
GrowApp for Acts 7:35-41
1. The ancient Israelites wandered around in the wilderness and became disobedient and wandered away from their dependence on God. The wilderness symbolizes our life down here on earth. Are you praying that you will persevere (hang in there) as you journey through your personal wilderness?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
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