Acts 7:30

¶ And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

And {G2532} when forty {G5062} years {G2094} were expired {G4137}, there appeared {G3700} to him {G846} in {G1722} the wilderness {G2048} of mount {G3735} Sina {G4614} an angel {G32} of the Lord {G2962} in {G1722} a flame {G5395} of fire {G4442} in a bush {G942}.

“After forty more years, an angel appeared to him in the desert near Mount Sinai in the flames of a burning thorn bush.

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

Commentary

Context of Acts 7:30

Acts 7:30 is a pivotal verse within Stephen's lengthy speech before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts the history of Israel to demonstrate God's consistent work through various figures, including Moses. At this point in his sermon, Stephen details Moses' life, particularly his second forty-year period. After initially attempting to deliver Israel at the age of forty (Acts 7:23), Moses fled Egypt and spent another four decades as a shepherd in the wilderness of Midian. This verse describes the dramatic divine encounter that marked the beginning of his true calling as the deliverer God would send.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Calling and Timing: After forty years of obscurity and preparation in the wilderness, God's perfect timing for Moses' ministry is revealed. This highlights that God often prepares His servants for significant periods before their public work begins.
  • Theophany and Divine Presence: The appearance of "an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush" is a powerful manifestation of God's presence, known as a theophany. This miraculous event, first recorded in Exodus 3:2, signifies the holy and consuming nature of God.
  • God's Initiative: The verse emphasizes that God initiates the encounter. Moses did not seek this revelation; God sought him out in the wilderness, demonstrating His sovereign choice and purpose for individuals.
  • Preparation and Humility: The forty years in the wilderness likely served to humble Moses and strip him of his Egyptian princely identity, preparing him for the immense responsibility of leading Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "an angel of the Lord" (Greek: angelos Kyriou) is significant. In many Old Testament contexts, this title refers not merely to a created angelic being but to a pre-incarnate appearance of God Himself, particularly Yahweh. The context of Moses' encounter, where God identifies Himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6), reinforces that this was a direct divine revelation.

Practical Application

Acts 7:30 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • God's Timing is Perfect: Just as Moses waited 40 years, we are reminded that God's plans unfold according to His perfect timing, not ours. Periods of waiting, preparation, or obscurity can be divinely orchestrated.
  • Divine Encounters Transform: When God reveals Himself, it is a life-changing experience. We should remain open to recognizing and responding to God's presence in our lives, whether through direct revelation, His Word, or circumstances.
  • Humility Precedes Service: Moses' wilderness experience taught him humility. God often uses seasons of solitude or hardship to refine us and prepare us for the tasks He has for us, ensuring that the glory goes to Him alone.
  • God Seeks Us Out: Despite our imperfections or past failures, God actively pursues and calls individuals into His service, equipping them for His purposes.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 3:1

    ¶ Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb.

  • Exodus 3:2

    And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed.

  • Isaiah 43:2

    When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  • Acts 7:35

    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.

  • Acts 7:32

    [Saying], I [am] the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

  • Isaiah 63:9

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Exodus 3:6

    Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
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