Acts 7:35

35 "This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge? [a]-this one God sent as a ruler and a redeemer by means of the angel who 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 "Then the Lord said to him: Take the sandals off your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34 I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to rescue them. And now, come, I will send you to Egypt.
35 "This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge? -this one God sent as a ruler and a redeemer by means of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert for 40 years.
37 "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers.

Footnotes 1

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.