Bible Strands
Acts 7:35
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Stephen addresses the Jewish council while recounting Israel’s history, specifically highlighting God’s prior commission to Moses in Egypt.
The words — ἠρνήσαντο (ērnēsanto) literally means “they rejected” or formally refused, marking the people’s initial dismissal of Moses’ authority. Τοῦτον (Touton) = “This” points directly to the rejected figure as the very one God appointed.
The thread — The pattern of rejected leadership and divine deliverance appears in Psalms 118:22, Luke 19:14, and Numbers 20:16. These passages trace a consistent biblical motif where human refusal precedes God’s intervention through an appointed mediator.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human rejection does not nullify divine appointment. It requires readers to acknowledge God’s sovereign choice to work through despised figures to accomplish redemption.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
This 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.
Cross-references
- Psalms 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- Luke 19:14 But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Numbers 20:16 and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.
- Psalms 75:7 but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.
- Psalms 113:7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump
- Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,
- Exodus 14:24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.
- Exodus 23:20 Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
- Exodus 32:34 Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”
- Exodus 33:2 And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.