Acts 7:29

KJV

Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161} fled {G5343} Moses {G3475} at {G1722} this {G5129} saying {G3056}, and {G2532} was {G1096} a stranger {G3941} in {G1722} the land {G1093} of Madian {G3099}, where {G3757} he begat {G1080} two {G1417} sons {G5207}.

Complete Jewish Bible

On hearing this, Moshe fled the country and became an exile in the land of Midyan, where he had two sons.

Berean Standard Bible

At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.

American Standard Version

And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 7:29 recounts a pivotal moment in Moses' life, detailing his flight from Egypt after his attempt to intervene in an Israelite dispute led to the exposure of his killing an Egyptian. This verse describes his subsequent exile as a "stranger" in the land of Midian, where he established a new life, marrying and begetting two sons. This period of forty years in obscurity was not merely a retreat but a divinely orchestrated season of preparation, transforming Moses from a prince of Egypt into a humble shepherd, ready for God's ultimate calling.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 7:29 is embedded within Stephen's extensive defense before the Sanhedrin, a masterful recounting of Israel's history from Abraham to Solomon. Stephen's sermon highlights God's continuous work through His chosen servants and, crucially, Israel's recurring pattern of rejecting these divine messengers. Immediately preceding this verse, Stephen describes Moses' initial attempt to deliver his people, which tragically resulted in him killing an Egyptian (Acts 7:24-25). When this act became known, and Moses was confronted by a fellow Hebrew who questioned his authority (Acts 7:26-28), Moses realized his life was in danger from Pharaoh. Thus, his flight in Acts 7:29 is a direct consequence of these events, marking the end of his first forty years in Egypt and the beginning of his period of exile. Stephen uses this narrative to draw parallels between Israel's rejection of Moses and their ultimate rejection of Jesus.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Moses' flight from Egypt was a necessity given the legal and political realities of the time. Killing an Egyptian, especially one in authority or a taskmaster, would have been a capital offense under Pharaoh's law. Pharaoh Rameses II (often considered the Pharaoh of the Exodus) held absolute power, and any perceived threat or crime against his kingdom would be met with severe punishment. Midian, located in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula, east of the Gulf of Aqaba, was a suitable place of refuge. It was a semi-nomadic region, distinct from Egypt, where Moses could live relatively anonymously as a sojourner. The act of becoming a "stranger" (πάροικος) reflects a common biblical theme of exile and displacement, often experienced by God's people. Moses, raised in the opulence of Pharaoh's court, now found himself stripped of all privilege, living among a different people, which would have profoundly shaped his character and reliance on God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Stephen's sermon and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Timing and Preparation**. What appears to be a setback or a period of obscurity (Moses' forty years in Midian, as further elaborated in [Acts 7:30](/acts/7-30 "Acts 7:30 - Moses' Forty Years in Midian")) is, in fact, God's sovereign plan for preparing His chosen leader. This period of solitude and shepherding transformed Moses from a hasty, self-reliant prince into a humble, patient, and God-dependent servant. Secondly, the theme of **Identity and Alienation** is prominent, as Moses becomes a "stranger" in a foreign land, mirroring the experience of Israel as sojourners and later as exiles. This status of being an outsider is a recurring motif for God's people, as seen in [Hebrews 11:13](/hebrews/11-13 "Hebrews 11:13 - Strangers and Pilgrims"). Thirdly, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **New Beginnings and Family**, as Moses establishes a family in Midian, which is a crucial step before his divine commissioning at [the burning bush in Exodus 3](/exodus/3 "Exodus 3 - The Burning Bush and Moses' Call").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **stranger (Greek, _pároikos_):** From παρά (para, "beside") and οἶκος (oikos, "house"), this term literally means "one who dwells beside" or "a by-dweller." It denotes a resident alien, a sojourner, or someone living in a foreign land without full citizenship rights. In Moses' context, it emphasizes his complete detachment from his former Egyptian identity and his new, humble status in Midian, highlighting his vulnerability and dependence.
* **was (Greek, _gínomai_):** This versatile verb means "to come into being," "to become," or "to happen." Here, it signifies a change of state or condition for Moses. He didn't just passively exist in Midian; he actively *became* a stranger, indicating a profound shift in his circumstances and identity from a prince to an exiled sojourner.
* **begat (Greek, _gennáō_):** This verb means "to procreate" or "to beget," primarily referring to the father's role in bringing forth offspring. In this context, it signifies the establishment of Moses' family in Midian, marking a new chapter in his personal life and indicating a period of domesticity and normalcy amidst his exile.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then fled Moses at this saying":** This phrase directly links Moses' flight to the preceding events in Stephen's narrative (Acts 7:27-28), specifically the Hebrew's challenge, "Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?" (Acts 7:27). This "saying" revealed that Moses' act of killing the Egyptian was known, putting his life in jeopardy from Pharaoh. Moses' flight was an act of self-preservation, a desperate escape from Pharaoh's wrath.
* **"and was a stranger in the land of Madian":** This clause describes Moses' new status and location. "Stranger" (πάροικος) emphasizes his exile and alien status, highlighting his complete break from his privileged life in Egypt. Midian, a region east of the Gulf of Aqaba, became his refuge, a place of anonymity and detachment from his past, where he would spend forty years in obscurity.
* **"where he begat two sons":** This final clause provides a crucial detail about Moses' life in Midian. During his time there, he married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, a Midianite priest, and they had two sons, Gershom (whose name means "a stranger there") and Eliezer. This signifies a new, domestic chapter in Moses' life, establishing a family and roots in his place of exile, which would eventually lead to his divine calling.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 7:29 effectively employs **Irony** and **Foreshadowing**. The **irony** lies in the fact that Moses, who attempted to deliver his people through his own strength and initiative, is forced to flee and become a "stranger," an outsider. The very one destined to lead Israel out of bondage first experiences his own form of exile and powerlessness. This humbling period is a necessary prelude to his true calling. Furthermore, the verse contains **foreshadowing**. Moses' status as a "stranger" in Midian subtly **foreshadows** Israel's own journey as sojourners in the wilderness and later as exiles in foreign lands. His personal experience of displacement mirrors the national experience of God's people, establishing a deep empathetic connection between leader and led.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Moses' flight and subsequent period in Midian are profoundly significant for understanding God's methods of preparation and the nature of leadership. It demonstrates that God often uses periods of apparent failure, obscurity, or exile to refine His servants, stripping away self-reliance and fostering a deeper dependence on Him. This "wilderness training" is not merely punitive but transformative, essential for developing the character, patience, and humility required for divine service. Moses' forty years as a shepherd in Midian were crucial for him to shed the identity of an Egyptian prince and embrace the role of a humble deliverer, guided by God alone.

* [Exodus 2:15](/exodus/2-15 "Exodus 2:15 - Moses Flees to Midian"): This verse in the Old Testament directly narrates Moses' flight from Pharaoh and his arrival in Midian, providing the foundational account for Stephen's summary.
* [Hebrews 11:13](/hebrews/11-13 "Hebrews 11:13 - Believers as Strangers and Pilgrims"): This passage describes the patriarchs as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth," directly connecting Moses' experience as a "stranger" to the broader biblical theme of God's people living as temporary residents in this world, longing for a heavenly homeland.
* [Psalm 39:12](/psalms/39-12 "Psalm 39:12 - Sojourners with God"): The psalmist expresses a similar sentiment of being a "sojourner" and "guest" with God, highlighting the transient nature of human life and the spiritual identity of believers as temporary residents on earth.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' forty years in Midian, initiated by his flight in Acts 7:29, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It teaches us that God's timing is often different from our own, and His preparation process may involve seasons of waiting, obscurity, and even perceived setbacks. What seems like a detour or a period of unproductivity can, in God's hands, be a crucial training ground for future assignments. Just as Moses needed to be stripped of his Egyptian identity and princely arrogance to become the humble shepherd leader, we too may need seasons of solitude or humbling experiences to grow in character, patience, and dependence on God. This verse encourages us to trust God's sovereign hand even when our circumstances are challenging or unclear, recognizing that He is always at work, preparing us for His purposes. Our "wilderness" experiences are not wasted time but opportunities for profound spiritual formation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Have there been times in your life when a perceived setback or period of waiting turned out to be God's preparation for something greater?**
* **How does Moses' transformation from a prince to a shepherd in Midian challenge your understanding of what true leadership or readiness for service looks like?**
* **In what ways might you be resisting a "wilderness" period in your own life that God intends for your spiritual growth and preparation?**

### FAQ
**Why did Moses flee to Midian, and what was the significance of this place?**

Answer: Moses fled to Midian because his act of killing an Egyptian, which he committed in an attempt to defend a Hebrew, became known (as described in [Acts 7:27-28](/acts/7-27-28 "Acts 7:27-28 - Moses' Intervention and Flight")). This put his life in danger from Pharaoh. Midian was a land outside of Egyptian control, offering him refuge and anonymity. Its significance lies in it being a place of profound transformation for Moses. He spent forty years there (as mentioned in [Acts 7:30](/acts/7-30 "Acts 7:30 - Moses' Forty Years in Midian")) as a shepherd, a period that humbled him, taught him patience, and prepared him for his ultimate calling to lead Israel out of Egypt. It was in Midian, at Mount Horeb, that God appeared to him in the burning bush.

**How long was Moses a "stranger" in Midian, and what did he do during that time?**

Answer: Moses was a "stranger" in Midian for forty years, as Stephen explicitly states in [Acts 7:30](/acts/7-30 "Acts 7:30 - Moses' Forty Years in Midian"). During this extensive period, he lived a humble life as a shepherd, caring for the flocks of Jethro, the priest of Midian, whose daughter Zipporah he married. As Acts 7:29 notes, he also "begat two sons" during this time, Gershom and Eliezer. This long period of quiet, pastoral life was crucial for his spiritual and character development, preparing him for the immense responsibilities of leading the Israelites.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 7:29, depicting Moses' flight and exile, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. Moses, attempting to deliver his people in his own strength, is rejected by them and forced into exile, becoming a "stranger" in a foreign land. This foreshadows the ultimate rejection and suffering of Jesus, the greater Prophet and Deliverer. Just as Moses was misunderstood and cast out by his own people, so too did Jesus come to [His own, and His own people did not receive Him](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - Jesus Rejected by His Own"). Jesus, though divine, took on the form of a servant and experienced profound alienation, having [no place to lay His head](/luke/9-58 "Luke 9:58 - The Son of Man Has No Place to Lay His Head") and ultimately being rejected and crucified outside the city gates (as described in [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Hebrews 13:12 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")). Moses' forty years in the wilderness, a period of preparation and humility, also echoes Christ's own forty days of temptation in the wilderness (as found in [Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Matthew 4:1-11 - The Temptation of Jesus")), a time of testing and preparation before His public ministry. Ultimately, Moses' journey from a rejected prince to a divinely appointed deliverer points to Jesus, the true Lamb of God, who, though rejected and slain, became the source of eternal salvation for all who believe, fulfilling the prophetic role of a prophet like Moses (as promised in [Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 18:2

Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

Exodus 18:4

And the name of the other [was] Eliezer; for the God of my father, [said he, was] mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

Exodus 2:14

And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

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.

Exodus 4:19

And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

Exodus 4:20

And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.