Acts 7:35

35 This Moses whom they denied, saying, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman on [upon] us? God sent this prince and again-buyer, with the hand of the angel, that appeared to him in the bush.

Acts 7:35 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:35

This Moses, whom they refused
That is, the Israelites; the Ethiopic version reads, "his kinsmen denied"; those of his own nation, and even of his family: "saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge?" as Dathan, or whoever said the words in ( Acts 7:27 ) .

the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer;
or "a redeemer"; so the Jews often call Moses, saying F26

``as was the first redeemer, so shall be the last Redeemer.''

He was an eminent type of the Messiah; and the redemption of the people of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage, by him, was emblematical of redemption from the bondage of sin, Satan, and the law by Jesus Christ; and as Moses had his mission and commission from God, so had Jesus Christ, as Mediator; and as Moses was despised by his brethren, and yet made the ruler and deliverer of them, so, though Jesus was set at nought by the Jews, yet he was made both Lord and Christ, and exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour. Moses was sent "by the hands of the angel, which appeared to him in the bush"; and who was the second person in the Godhead; the Father sent him by the Son, not as an instrument, but as having the power and authority over him, to govern, direct, and assist him. The Alexandrian copy, and the Vulgate Latin version read, "with the hand of the angel"; he sent Moses along with him to be used by him as an instrument in his hand, to deliver the people of Israel; nor does this at all contradict what the Jews say F1 at the time of the passover:

``and the Lord hath brought us out of Egypt, (Kalm ydy le al) , "not by the hands of an angel", nor by the hands of a seraph, nor by the hands of a messenger, but the holy blessed God, by his own glory, by himself;''

for he did not deliver them by a created angel, but by an uncreated one.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 11. fol. 202. 2. Midrash Ruth, fol. 33. 2. & Midrash Kohelet, fol. 63. 2.
F1 Haggada Shel Pesach. p. 13. Ed. Rittangel.

Acts 7:35 In-Context

33 But God said to him, Do off the shoes of thy feet, for the place in which thou standest is holy earth.
34 I seeing saw the tormenting of my people that is in Egypt [I seeing saw the affliction, or tormenting, of my people that is in Egypt], and I heard the mourning of them, and came down to deliver them. And now come thou, and I shall send thee into Egypt.
35 This Moses whom they denied, saying, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman on [upon] us? God sent this prince and again-buyer, with the hand of the angel, that appeared to him in the bush.
36 This Moses led them out [This led them out], and did wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the red sea, and in desert forty years.
37 This is Moses, that said to the sons of Israel, God shall raise to you a prophet of your brethren, [and] as me ye shall hear him.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.