Acts 7:35

35 hunc Mosen quem negaverunt dicentes quis te constituit principem et iudicem hunc Deus principem et redemptorem misit cum manu angeli qui apparuit illi in rubo

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 dixit autem illi Dominus solve calciamentum pedum tuorum locus enim in quo stas terra sancta est
34 videns vidi adflictionem populi mei qui est in Aegypto et gemitum eorum audivi et descendi liberare eos et nunc veni et mittam te in Aegyptum
35 hunc Mosen quem negaverunt dicentes quis te constituit principem et iudicem hunc Deus principem et redemptorem misit cum manu angeli qui apparuit illi in rubo
36 hic eduxit illos faciens prodigia et signa in terra Aegypti et in Rubro mari et in deserto annis quadraginta
37 hic est Moses qui dixit filiis Israhel prophetam vobis suscitabit Deus de fratribus vestris tamquam me
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.