Acts 7:38
What does Acts 7:38 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:38 means
This is the Moses who was with the church in the wilderness alongside the angel who spoke to him at Sinai and with the fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Stephen describes Israel as the assembly in the wilderness, gathered under God’s word. The oracles are living because they come from the living God and give life. Moses is the mediator through whom God’s commands and promises flow. By saying to us, Stephen includes himself with Israel, claiming continuity. He is not discarding Moses or the Law; he is honoring their divine origin. The tragedy to follow is that the people would not obey these living words.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:
KJV
King James Version · 1611This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This is the man who was in the church in the waste land with the angel who was talking to him in Sinai, and with our fathers; and to him were given the living words of God, so that he might give them to you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the messenger who is speaking to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers who did receive the living oracles to give to us;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This is he that was in the church in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sina and with our fathers. Who received the words of life to give unto us.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received living oracles to give to us;
Context
After pointing to the future prophet (verse 37), Stephen reaffirms Moses’ authority as recipient of living oracles at Sinai. The next verses (39–41) will recount Israel’s disobedience, turning back in their hearts to Egypt and making the golden calf. This sets a sobering contrast: the grandeur of Sinai’s revelation met by the people’s idolatry. Stephen prepares to argue that the pattern of resisting God’s word and messenger has deep roots in Israel’s history.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- Exodus 19:3
And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
- Deuteronomy 5:27
Go thou near, and hear all that Jehovah our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that Jehovah our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
- Romans 3:2
Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.
- Numbers 16:41
But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of Jehovah.
- Hebrews 5:12
For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.
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