Acts 7:36
What does Acts 7:36 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:36 means
This Moses led Israel out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness. Stephen underscores that God endorsed Moses’ leadership with miraculous power. The deliverer rejected at first became the agent of liberation and preservation. The triple setting—Egypt, sea, wilderness—covers the whole Exodus arc, displaying God’s might and faithfulness. These signs also confirm Moses’ authority to speak God’s word. Stephen’s point is that resistance to such a God-sent leader is culpable. He is not belittling Moses; he is elevating him to show the gravity of Israel’s recurring resistance to God’s chosen envoys and their message.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This man took them out, having done wonders and signs in Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the waste land, for forty years.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862this one did bring them forth, having done wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He brought them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the desert, forty years.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He led them out, having wrought wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Context
After noting Moses’ divine commission (verse 35), Stephen summarizes his mighty ministry. The next verse (37) will recall Moses’ prophecy about God raising up a prophet like him, and verse 38 will describe Moses’ role at Sinai with the angel and the fathers, receiving living oracles. This flow reinforces Moses’ centrality while preparing Stephen’s audience to consider the prophet Moses predicted—a forward look that the apostles identify with Jesus.
v.35This 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.
v.36This passage
v.37This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 19:1
In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
- Exodus 14:27
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
- Exodus 14:21
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
- Psalms 136:9
The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
- Numbers 20:1
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
- Exodus 16:1
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
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