ACTS 7 17-37

  Book of the Acts of the First Believers

(Stephen continues his very good history lesson) 17 - “But as the time of the promise [of a homeland] drew near, which God had told Abraham, the people had increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until another king rose in Egypt who didn’t know Joseph [the nation as friends]. 19 He dealt poorly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants [to the elements] so they would perish. 20 And it was at this time that Moses was born, and he was beautiful in God's sight.” {As all babies are.. Yet God was choosing/had chosen/predetermined Moses for his purpose.} “And he remained for three months in his father's house, 21 and when he was put out in the elements, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own. 22 And so Moses was instructed in all the schooling and knowledge of the Egyptians, and was also gifted in his words and in his deeds.

     23 When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And then seeing one of them being beaten, he defended and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was going to deliver them by his hand, but they didn’t. 26 And on the following day he returned and saw some were quarreling and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you’re brothers. Why do you fight each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor {fellow person} pushed him aside, and said, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?! 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?!’ 29 At this, Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

     30 Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.” {Must be a strong metaphor here. Parable, in the literal. Fire that doesn’t consume. Is in the heart?} 31 Now when Moses saw that, he was amazed. And as he drew near to get a better look, there came from the bush, the voice of the LORD saying, 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and no longer dared to look. 33 Then the LORD said to him, ‘Take the sandals from off your feet, for the place where you’re standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in slavery and bondage in Egypt. I have heard their groaning, and I’ve come down to deliver them. So now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

     35 This Moses” Stephen continued, “whom they at first rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a judge and ruler?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel [aggelos - a messenger, delegate] who was in the burning bush. 36 This Moses is the one who led them out, and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 And this is the one who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you the prophet like me, from among your brothers.’”

                     ~*~

 🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Next: 7:38-60

From my own studies. Paraphrased to post.