What does Acts 7:29 mean?

Explanation

Acts 7:29 refers to an episode in the life of Moses, after he has killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew.

The verse recounts the immediate aftermath of Moses' action and its consequences. When Moses realizes that his deed has become known, he flees Egypt to avoid the wrath of Pharaoh and goes to the land of Midian. In Midian, he settles as a foreigner and starts a new family, fathering two sons.

This verse forms part of Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin as he recounts the history of the Israelites and holds Moses up as a key figure in their story, drawing parallels between Moses and Jesus.

Historical Context

This verse is situated within the speech of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who addresses the Jewish council known as the Sanhedrin.

The Book of Acts was likely written by Luke around AD 80-90 and recounts the early history of the Christian church.

The reference to Moses' flight to Midian echoes the account in the Book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible where Moses is forced to flee after an altercation with an Egyptian whom he kills for abusing one of his Hebrew kin.

Theological Insights

• Divine Providence: The episode shows God’s providence as He prepares Moses during his time in Midian for the leadership role he will later assume.
• Moses as a Type of Christ: Stephen's recounting draws Moses as a prototype of Christ - someone who was rejected by his own people but later becomes their savior.
• Identifying with the Oppressed: Moses' actions and subsequent flight show his identification with the Hebrews rather than with the Egyptian ruling class.
• Strangers in a Strange Land: It reflects a recurring biblical theme where significant biblical characters spend time as foreigners in foreign lands, which parallels the Christian experience in the world.

Practical Applications

• Dealing with Consequences: Moses’ situation speaks to the reality that actions have consequences that can lead to difficult life changes.
• God's Redemption During Exile: It shows that even during times of exile or when one feels like a stranger, God is present and can create opportunities for growth and new beginnings.
• Solidarity: The importance of standing in solidarity with the oppressed, even at personal cost.

Cross-References

• Exodus 2:15: "Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses.

But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well."

• Exodus 2:22: "And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land."
• Hebrews 11:24-27: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season"

Language Study

• Fled (ἔφυγεν, ephygen): from the Greek root "pheugo," meaning to escape or seek safety by flight.
• Stranger (ξένος, xenos): can refer to a foreigner or someone who is not a native of the country, suggesting not just physical displacement but also social and cultural alienation.
• Madian (Μαδιάμ, Madian): Known as Midian in English, an area east of the Gulf of Aqaba, where Moses fled from Pharaoh.
• Begat (ἐγέννησεν, egennēsen): from "gennao," which means to father, beget, or bring forth.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, flight and exile are common themes, often serving as periods of transformation for heroes and leaders.

For instance, in Greek mythology, figures like Oedipus and Jason undergo journeys that change their destinies.

Comparatively, Moses' time in Midian serves to prepare him for his role in delivering the Israelites from Egypt, similar to a period of exile and transformation.

Scientific Perspectives

Looking at the verse from a scientific point of view would likely consider the geographic and ethnological realities of the described events.

Modern archaeology could provide evidence of where the land of Midian may have been located and what life there might have involved during the time of Moses.

Commentaries

Commentators often focus on Moses' transition from life as an Egyptian prince to a Midianite shepherd as a pivotal point for his character development.

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes that God's hand was evident in Moses' life as he moved from a palace to the wilderness, underscoring the significant role that hardship and humility can play in God's plan for leaders.

John Calvin's commentary highlights Moses' courage to stand with the Hebrews and the humility he learned in Midian.

The verse is widely seen as part of Stephen's speech to highlight the repeated rejection of divinely appointed leaders by the Israelites, prefiguring their rejection of Christ as the Messiah.