What does Acts 7:31 Mean?

Context Summary

The angel who appeared in the bush that burned with fire was the angel of God's presence, who saved the Israelites and bare them and carried them all the days of old. See Isaiah 63:9. Who could this be save our Lord Himself? Only He could speak of Himself as I am. Remember the use our Lord made of that present tense, as carrying with it evidence that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all of them living, though centuries had passed since their bodies had been deposited in Machpelah's cave. See Luke 20:38. It is very helpful to note that reference to the hand of the angel in Acts 7:35; Acts 7:38. It reminds us of Acts 11:21. Would that, in our service for God, we were always conscious of the co-operating hand of the Savior!

The prophet referred to in Acts 7:37 is, of course, our Lord, and the parallel between Him and Moses is very apparent during our Lord's human ministry-for meekness, for reference in all things to the sending of God, for the work they did, as negotiating the Law from Sinai and the Mount of Beatitudes. But the difference in their posthumous ministry is emphasized in Hebrews 3:1-6. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 7

¹  Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,
²  shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,
²⁰  before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;
³⁷  that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;
⁴⁴  and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time;
⁵¹  reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold
⁵⁴  Whereupon they stone Stephen to death,
⁵⁹  who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them