Acts 7:31-60

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:34

I have seen, I have see the affliction of my people , &c.; The repetition of the phrase denotes the certainty of it, the exquisite and exact knowledge the Lord took of the affliction of his people, and how much his heart was affected with it: which is in Egypt ; from whence Moses had fled and had left them, he being now in the land of Midian, which was the place of his sojourning: and I have heard their groaning ; under their various oppressions and burdens, and by reason of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:35

This Moses, whom they refused ,.... That is, the Israelites; the Ethiopic version reads, "his kinsmen denied"; those of his own nation, and even of his family: "saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge?" as Dathan, or whoever said the words in Acts 7:27 . the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer ; or "a redeemer"; so the Jews often call Moses, saying F26 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 11. fol. 202. 2. Midrash Ruth, fol. 33. 2. & Midrash Kohelet, fol. 63. 2. . "as was the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:36

He brought them out ,.... Of Egypt, and delivered them from all their oppressions in it: after that he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt ; by turning his rod into a serpent, and by his rod swallowing up the rods of the Egyptians, and by the ten plagues, which were inflicted on Pharaoh, and his people, for not letting the children of Israel go: and in the Red sea ; by dividing the waters of it, so that the people of Israel went through it as on dry ground, which Pharaoh... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:37

This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel ,.... What is recorded in Deuteronomy 18:15 . a prophet , &c.; See Gill on Acts 3:22 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:38

This is he that was in the church in the wilderness ,.... Which must be understood of the children of Israel, who were the then church of God, whom he had chosen and separated from the rest of the world, to be a peculiar people to himself, to whom were given the word and ordinances, the service of God, and the promises; and God always had, and will have a church, though that is sometimes in the wilderness; which has been the case under the Gospel dispensation, as well as before; Revelation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:39

To whom our fathers would not obey ,.... But often murmured against him, and were disobedient to him, and to the oracles he delivered to them, and so to God, whose oracles they were: but thrust him from them ; as one of the two Hebrews did, when he interposed to make up the difference between them; and which was an emblem and presage of what that people would afterwards do; Acts 7:27 and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt ; they wished themselves there again, they lusted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:40

Saying unto Aaron, make us gods to go before us ,.... This is a proof of their disobedience to the law of Moses, and of their rejection of him, and of the inclination of their hearts to the idolatry of the Egyptians; which shows the gross stupidity, as well as ingratitude of this people, to think that gods could be made; and that those that are made could go before them, be guides unto them, and protectors of them; when they have eyes, but see not, and hands, but handle not, and feet, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:41

And they made a calf in those days ,.... Whilst Moses was in the mount; this was done in imitation of the Egyptian idol Apis or Serapis, which was an ox or a bullock; and it was made of the golden earnings of the people, which were melted down, and cast into the form of a calf, and graved by Aaron with a graving tool, Exodus 32:2 And so the Syriac version here reads in the singular number, "and he made them a calf"; this was a most shameful and scandalous piece of idolatry. The Jews... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:42

Then God turned ,.... Away from them, withdrew his presence, and his favours from them: and gave them up to worship the host of heaven ; not angels, but the sun, moon, and stars; for since they liked not to retain the knowledge and worship of the true God, who made the heavens, and the earth, God in righteous judgment, in a judicial way, gave them up to a reprobate mind, to commit all the idolatry of the Gentiles, as a punishment of their former sin in making and worshipping the calf: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 7:43

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Mo ,.... Sometimes called Molech, and sometimes Milcorn; it was the god of the Ammonites, and the same with Baal: the one signifies king, and the other lord; and was, no doubt, the same with the Apis or Serapis of the Egyptians, and the calf of the Israelites. Frequent mention is made of giving seed to Molech, and causing the children to pass through fire to him. The account the Jews give of this image, and of the barbarous worship of it, is this F6 R.... read more

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