Acts 7:17-36

Acts 7:17-36

[17] But  when  the time  of the promise  drew nigh,  which  God  to Abraham,  the people  grew  and  multiplied  in  Egypt,  [18] Till  another  king  arose,  which  knew  not  Joseph.  [19] The same  dealt subtilly  kindred,  and evil entreated  fathers,  so that  they cast out  their  young children,  to the end  not  live.  [20] In  which  time  Moses  was born,  and  exceeding  fair,  and  nourished up  in  father's  house  three  months:  [21] And  when he  was cast out,  Pharaoh's  daughter  him  up,  and  nourished  him  for  her own  son.  [22] And  Moses  was learned  in all  the wisdom  of the Egyptians,  and  mighty  in  words  and  in  deeds.  [23] And  when  he  was full  forty years  old,  it came  into  his  heart  to visit  his  brethren  the children  of Israel.  [24] And  one  of them suffer wrong,  he defended  him, and  avenged  him that was oppressed,  and smote  the Egyptian:  [25] For  he supposed  his  brethren  would have understood  how  that God  by  his  hand  would deliver  them:  but  they understood  not.  [26] And  the next  day  unto them  as they strove,  and  would have set  them  at  one again,  saying,  Sirs,  brethren;  do ye wrong  one to another?  [27] But  his neighbour  wrong  him  away,  saying,  Who  made  a ruler  and  a judge  over  [28] Wilt  thou  kill  as  thou diddest  the Egyptian  yesterday?  [29] Then  fled  Moses  at  saying,  and  was  a stranger  in  the land  of Madian,  where  he begat  two  sons.  [30] And  when forty  years  were expired,  to him  in  the wilderness  of mount  Sina  an angel  in  a flame  of fire  in a bush.  [31] When  Moses  it, he wondered  at the sight:  and  as he  drew near  to behold  it, the voice  of the Lord  came  him,  [32] Saying, I  am the God  fathers,  the God  of Abraham,  and  the God  of Isaac,  and  the God  of Jacob.  Then  Moses  trembled,  and durst  not  behold.  [33] Then  said  the Lord  to him,  Put off  thy shoes  feet:  for  the place  thou standest  holy  ground.  [34] the affliction  people  which  is in  Egypt,  and  I have heard  their  groaning,  and  am come down  to deliver  them.  And  now  come,  I will send  into  Egypt.  [35] Moses  whom  they refused,  saying,  Who  made  a ruler  and  a judge?  did God  send  to be a ruler  and  a deliverer  by  the hand  of the angel  which  to him  in  the bush.  [36] He  them  out,  after that he had shewed  wonders  and  signs  in  the land  of Egypt,  and  in  the Red  sea,  and  in  the wilderness  forty  years. 

What does Acts 7:17-36 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Stephen"s understanding of Moses was as orthodox as his view of God, but his presentation of Moses" career made comparison with Jesus" career unmistakable. As in the previous pericope, there is a double emphasis in this one, first, on God"s faithfulness to His promises in the Abrahamic Covenant and, second, on Moses as a precursor of Jesus.
"More specifically than in the life of Joseph, Stephen sees in the story of Moses a type of the new and greater Moses-Christ himself." [1]