Acts 7:38 - Barnes' Notes

Acts 7:38

36 ^aHe brought them out, after he had ^bshown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, ^cand in the Red Sea, ^dand in the wilderness forty years.

Israel Rebels Against God

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ^a‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. ^bHim you shall hear.’

38 ^a“This is he who was in the¹ congregation in the wilderness with ^bthe Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, ^cthe one who received the living ^doracles to give to us,

39 whom our fathers ^awould not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,

40 ^asaying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

41 ^aAnd they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and ^brejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 Then ^aGod turned and gave them up to worship ^bthe host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:
^c‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,
O house of Israel?

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Acts 7:38

In the church - The word "church" means literally "the people called out," and is applied with great propriety to the assembly or multitude called out of Egypt, and separated from the world. It has not, however, of necessity our idea of a church, but means the "assembly," or people called out of Egypt and placed under the conduct of Moses.

With the angel - In this place there is undoubted reference to the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. Yet that was done by God himself, Exodus 20: It is clear, therefore, that by "the angel" here, Stephen intends to designate him who was God. It may be observed, however, that "the Law" is represented as having been given by the ministry of an angel (in this place) and by the ministry of "angels," Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:2. The essential idea is, that God did it by a messenger, or by mediators. The "character" and "rank" of the messengers, or of the "principal" messenger, must be learned by looking at all the circumstances of the case.

The lively oracles - See Romans 3:2. The word "oracles" here means "commands" or "laws" of God. The word "lively," or "living" ͂ zōnta , stands in opposition to what is dead, or useless, and means what is vigorous, efficacious; and in this place it means that the commands were of such a nature, and given in such circumstances, as to secure attention; to produce obedience; to excite them to act for God - in opposition to laws which would fall powerless, and produce no effect.

Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Acts 7:38:

Matthew 16:13-20
Acts 2:47
Acts 7:53
Romans 3:2
Hebrews 2:2
Revelation 1:1

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Israel Rebels Against God

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