Acts 7:35
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Original Language Analysis
τῇ
which
G3588
τῇ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Μωϋσῆν
Moses
G3475
Μωϋσῆν
Moses
Strong's:
G3475
Word #:
3 of 28
moseus, moses, or mouses (i.e., mosheh), the hebrew lawgiver
ὃν
whom
G3739
ὃν
whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
4 of 28
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἠρνήσαντο
they refused
G720
ἠρνήσαντο
they refused
Strong's:
G720
Word #:
5 of 28
to contradict, i.e., disavow, reject, abnegate
Τίς
Who
G5101
Τίς
Who
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
7 of 28
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
κατέστησεν
made
G2525
κατέστησεν
made
Strong's:
G2525
Word #:
9 of 28
to place down (permanently), i.e., (figuratively) to designate, constitute, convoy
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῇ
which
G3588
τῇ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεὸς
did God
G2316
θεὸς
did God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
15 of 28
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀπέστειλεν
send
G649
ἀπέστειλεν
send
Strong's:
G649
Word #:
19 of 28
set apart, i.e., (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively
χειρὶ
the hand
G5495
χειρὶ
the hand
Strong's:
G5495
Word #:
21 of 28
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)
ἀγγέλου
of the angel
G32
ἀγγέλου
of the angel
Strong's:
G32
Word #:
22 of 28
compare g0034) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
τῇ
which
G3588
τῇ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὀφθέντος
appeared
G3700
ὀφθέντος
appeared
Strong's:
G3700
Word #:
24 of 28
to gaze (i.e., with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from g0991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from g1
αὐτῷ
to him
G846
αὐτῷ
to him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
25 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Luke 19:14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.Psalms 75:7But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.Numbers 20:16And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:Exodus 14:19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Historical Context
Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7) represents the longest sermon in Acts. Accused of blasphemy against Moses and the temple, Stephen turns the charge around, showing Israel's persistent rebellion against God's messengers.
The historical context recalls Exodus 2:14, when Moses fled Egypt after an Israelite questioned his authority. Stephen uses this to establish a pattern: God's deliverers are initially rejected by those they come to save. This speech, delivered around 34-35 CE, addresses a Jewish audience steeped in Moses-centered theology, making the comparison to Jesus particularly provocative.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the pattern of rejection followed by vindication encourage believers facing opposition?
- In what ways does Moses' dual rejection (by Israelites and later by the Sanhedrin's rejection of his true successor) reveal human resistance to God's grace?
- What does this teach about God's sovereignty in accomplishing redemption despite human unbelief?
- How should we respond when God's chosen leaders or messengers face skepticism?
- What parallels exist between Israel's rejection of Moses and the modern church's reception of Christ's lordship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. Stephen presents Moses as a typological figure foreshadowing Christ's rejection and ultimate vindication by God.
The verb refused carries weight—Israel's initial rejection of Moses parallels their rejection of Jesus. The question Who made thee a ruler and a judge? echoes the skepticism Christ faced from religious leaders. Yet God's sovereign purpose prevailed: the same Moses they rejected became their divinely appointed deliverer.
This pattern reveals a consistent biblical theme: God's chosen instruments face human rejection before divine vindication. The angel which appeared in the bush connects to theophanic appearances, likely the pre-incarnate Christ. Stephen subtly argues that rejecting Jesus repeats Israel's historical pattern of resisting God's appointed messengers.
The dual role of ruler and deliverer prefigures Christ's kingly and priestly offices. Moses delivered physically from Egypt; Christ delivers spiritually from sin. Reformed theology emphasizes God's irresistible grace—despite human rejection, God's redemptive purposes accomplish their intended end.