“...and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8b by Bob DeWaay Gospel of Grace Fellowship Acts 7:23-39 God Raises Up Moses Who Is Rejected January 17, 2015

2 Acts 7:23 (ESV) When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. The term “visit” (episkeptomai) is important theologically Luke 1:68; 1:78; 7:16; Acts 15:14; James 1:27 Matt. 25:36; LXX Ezekiel 34:11; Deut. 11:12; Genesis 50:24 As a noun: Lk 19:44; 1Peter 2:12; 1Tim 3:1 Acts 1:20 In other forms: Hebrews 12:15; 1Peter 5:2 “Visit” implies inspection to care for or in some cases to bring judgment God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

3 Acts 7:24, 25 (ESV) And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. This is Stephen’s commentary on the Exodus event In this account Moses avenged the Hebrew Stephen portrays Moses’ action as righteous God Raises Up Moses Who Is Rejected (Acts 23:27-39)

4 Acts 7:26, 27 (ESV) And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?’ Moses is rejected on his first “visit” to his people This will serve as a type of Christ as Stephen confronts the Jewish leadership (Acts 7:51-53) God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

5 Acts 7:28, 29 (ESV) Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. This begins the 2 nd 40 year segment of Moses’ life His sons are Gershom, and Eliezer. Exodus 2:14 shows that Moses was afraid because his deed was known in Egypt God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

6 Acts 7:30, 31 (ESV) Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: “Passed” is ple_roo_ “fulfilled” – God’s purposes This is narrated in Exodus 3:1ff

7 Acts 7:32, 33 (ESV) ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’ There was a dispute about the temple mount (Acts 6:13; Luke 19:45-47; Luke 23:45; Acts 5:18-21) God’s presence made the burning bush holy; what was now important was teaching the gospel God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

8 Acts 7:34 (ESV) I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt Deliver” is “rescue” and the same Greek is in Acts 7:10 for God rescuing Joseph. “Sent” is apostello_ and is used of the apostles God personally meets Moses and sends him God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

9 Acts 7:35 (ESV) This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. Moses had “rejected “ (arneomai) to be called Pharaoh’s son (Heb 11:24) and ironically they rejected (arneomai) Moses The implication is that God sent Jesus to be redeemer and ruler and they rejected Him (see Luke 24:21 where “redeem” is used) God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

10 Acts 7:36, 37 (ESV) This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ The link to Jesus is made even more explicit Stephen cites Deuteronomy 18:15 (see Acts 3:22) See Luke 9:33-36 – God Himself identified Jesus as the One to whom to listen God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39

11 Acts 7:38, 39 (ESV) This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt Stephen called the Law “living oracles” showing high regard for it Their fathers disobeyed Moses and turned from God They turned from “living” oracles to a dead idol God Raises Up Moses: Acts 7:23-39