Acts 7:38

"This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’"

Key Reflection

In Acts 7:38, Stephen cites Moses' words to the Israelites, reminding them that God promised a prophet like Moses who would arise from among their own kin. For the original audience of Acts, this reference would evoke the memory of Moses leading the people and his role as both mediator and lawgiver, setting up a powerful parallel between Moses and Jesus, whom Stephen is defending as the fulfillment of this ancient prophecy.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 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, Ex 20. It is clear, therefore, that by the angel here Stephen intends to designate him who was God.

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