Acts 7:35
What does Acts 7:35 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:35 means
Stephen stresses the irony: the very Moses whom Israel rejected—Who made thee a ruler and a judge?—is the one God sent as both ruler and deliverer, through the angel at the bush. Human refusal cannot overturn divine appointment. God vindicates His chosen servant, elevating him in the very roles once scorned. Stephen’s audience, accusing him of slighting Moses, must reckon with their fathers’ rejection of Moses at first. The pattern is clear: God’s deliverers are often refused before they are recognized. This prepares the way for Stephen’s later charge that they have treated the Righteous One as their fathers treated Moses and the prophets.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
KJV
King James Version · 1611This 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This Moses, whom they would not have, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? him God sent to be a ruler and a saviour, by the hand of the angel whom he saw in the thorn-tree.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`This Moses, whom they did refuse, saying, Who did set thee a ruler and a judge? this one God a ruler and a redeemer did send, in the hand of a messenger who appeared to him in the bush;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This Moses, whom they refused, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge? Him God sent to be prince and redeemer, by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee ruler and judge? him didGod send [to be] a ruler and deliverer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Context
Verse 35 draws explicit contrast between Israel’s words of rejection (verse 27) and God’s commissioning at the bush (verses 30–34). It sets up verse 36’s summary of Moses’ ministry—signs and wonders in Egypt, the Red Sea, and the wilderness. Verses 37–38 will highlight Moses’ prophetic word about a coming prophet like him and his role in receiving living oracles. The trajectory points from initial rejection to divinely authenticated ministry, a structure Stephen will apply to Israel’s response to Jesus.
v.34I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
v.35This passage
v.36This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Colossians 1:15
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
- Psalms 75:7
But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.
- Acts 7:9
And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him,
- Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
- Acts 7:51
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
- John 19:15
They therefore cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar.
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