17 “But as the (A)time of the promise which God had assured to Abraham was approaching, (B)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until (C)another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 19 It was he who (D)shrewdly took advantage of our nation and mistreated our fathers in order that they would (E)abandon their infants in the Nile, so that they would not survive. 20 At this time (F)Moses was born; and he was beautiful to God. He was nurtured for three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been put outside, (G)Pharaoh’s daughter [a]took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all (H)the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in [b]speaking and action. 23 But when he was approaching the age of forty, (I)it entered his [c]mind to visit his countrymen, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended and took vengeance for the oppressed man by fatally striking the Egyptian. 25 And he thought that his brothers understood that God was granting them [d]deliverance [e]through him; but they did not understand. 26 (J)And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting each other, and he tried to reconcile them to peace, by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why are you injuring each other?’ 27 But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘(K)Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 28 (L)You do not intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ 29 At this remark, (M)Moses fled and became a stranger in the land of [f]Midian, where he (N)fathered two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed, (O)an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came: 32 (P)I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and did not dare to look closely. 33 (Q)But the Lord said to him, ‘[g](R)Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 34 (S)I have certainly seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them; and (T)now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they (U)disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God [h]sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the [i]help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 (V)This man led them out, performing (W)wonders and [j]signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the (X)wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘(Y)God will raise up for you a prophet [k]like me from your countrymen.’ 38 This is the one who was in (Z)the [l]assembly in the wilderness together with (AA)the angel who spoke to him at length on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received (AB)living (AC)words to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him; on the contrary they (AD)rejected him and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 40 (AE)saying to Aaron, ‘Make us [m]a god who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egyptwe do not know what happened to him.’ 41 [n]At that time (AF)they made a [o]calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in (AG)the works of their hands. 42 But God (AH)turned away and gave them over to [p]serve the heavenly [q]lights; as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘(AI)You did not offer Me victims and sacrifices (AJ)for forty years in the wilderness, did you, house of Israel? 43 (AK)You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god [r]Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will deport you beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had (AL)the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it (AM)according to the pattern which he had seen.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:21 Or adopted him
  2. Acts 7:22 Lit his words and actions
  3. Acts 7:23 Lit heart
  4. Acts 7:25 Or salvation
  5. Acts 7:25 Lit through his hand
  6. Acts 7:29 Gr Madiam
  7. Acts 7:33 Lit Untie the sandal of your
  8. Acts 7:35 Lit has sent
  9. Acts 7:35 Lit hand
  10. Acts 7:36 I.e., confirming miracles
  11. Acts 7:37 Or as He raised up me
  12. Acts 7:38 Gr ekklesia
  13. Acts 7:40 Lit gods, plural, but prob. refers to a singular deity
  14. Acts 7:41 Lit in those days
  15. Acts 7:41 Or young bull
  16. Acts 7:42 Or worship
  17. Acts 7:42 Lit host
  18. Acts 7:43 Other mss spell it: Romphan, Rempham, Raiphan; or Rephan

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