Acts 7:35 Meaning: Rejected by Men, Sent by God
“This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
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.
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
`This Moses, whom they did refuse, saying, Who did set thee a ruler and a judge? this one God a ruler and a redeemer did send, in the hand of a messenger who appeared to him in the bush;
This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee ruler and judge? him did God send [to be] a ruler and deliverer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Meaning in one sentence
Stephen shows that Moses was rejected by Israel, yet God sent him as ruler and deliverer, foreshadowing Jesus.
Context
Stephen stands before the Jewish council, accused of speaking against Moses and the temple. Instead of defending himself, he tells their history back to them, the story of how God kept working through people they kept rejecting. By the time he reaches Moses, Stephen does something pointed. He reminds them that when Moses first tried to help his people, they pushed him away: “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” Years later, God sent that same man back to them. The one they refused became the one who led them out of slavery. Stephen is not just telling old history. He is showing a pattern that is about to repeat itself in front of them.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this verse. The first is ἠρνήσαντο (ērnēsanto), “they refused” or “they denied.” It is the same word used later in Acts when Peter denies knowing Jesus. This is not a simple disagreement. It is a personal rejection, a refusal to acknowledge someone’s rightful place. The people did not just argue with Moses; they disowned him.
The second word is λυτρωτὴν (lutrōtēn), “redeemer” or “deliverer.” This word only appears here in the New Testament. It pictures someone who pays a price to set captives free. Stephen chooses it deliberately, Moses was not just a leader; he was the one God used to ransom a nation.
The third is ἀπέσταλκεν (apestalken), “has sent.” The tense matters: it is a perfect tense in Greek, meaning the sending is complete and still has effect. God’s commissioning did not expire with Moses’ generation. The same pattern of sending holds true for the One Moses would later point to.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators across traditions notice the same thing: Stephen is drawing a line from Moses to Jesus. Barnes (Protestant) says Stephen dwells on Israel’s refusal of Moses to prepare for his charge that they are stiff-necked and rebellious. Calvin (Reformed) highlights God’s patience with an unworthy people, He delivers them almost against their will. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) points out that the perfect tense “hath sent” shows Stephen is making an appeal from history: what God did with Moses, He would also do with the prophet like Moses. Many Christians see this verse as a clear type of Christ: the rejected one becomes the deliverer, first in Exodus and finally on the cross.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as just a historical fact about Moses, Israel rejected him but God used him anyway. In fact, Stephen is making a direct accusation. He is saying that just as Israel’s ancestors rejected their God-sent deliverer, his own hearers are now rejecting the One Moses foretold. The verse is a mirror, not a museum piece.
Living This Out
You might know what it feels like to be dismissed. Maybe you offered help and someone said, “Who do you think you are?” Or maybe you are the one doing the dismissing, looking at the person God placed in your life and deciding they do not qualify. This verse asks you to pause. The people God uses are not always the ones we would pick. And the ones we reject, God often sends back. This week, instead of writing someone off, ask yourself: could God be sending this person to me, even if I did not ask for them? The answer might surprise you.
Main takeaway: God’s choice of a deliverer cannot be undone by human rejection; He sends the rejected one as ruler and redeemer.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Moses’ own people said, “We don’t want you to be our boss!” But God sent him anyway to rescue them. God can use people even when others say no.
For ages 9, 12
In Acts 7, Stephen is telling a story about Moses. The Israelites rejected Moses when he first tried to help, but God didn’t change His plan. Years later, God sent Moses back as a leader and a rescuer. This shows us that when people say no to someone God has chosen, God still says yes. It also points ahead to Jesus, who was rejected by many but became the greatest deliverer of all.
Questions People Ask
Who refused Moses in Acts 7:35?
The verse refers to the Israelites, specifically the man who confronted Moses in Exodus 2:13-14 when Moses tried to stop a fight. He asked, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?' This same person or group represents the whole pattern of Israel rejecting God's chosen deliverer.
What does 'ruler and deliverer' mean in this verse?
The Greek word for ruler (archōn) means a chief or leader. Deliverer (lutrōtēs) is a rare word meaning one who ransoms or sets captives free. Together they show that Moses was given both authority and the power to rescue. Stephen is emphasizing that God's commission includes both leading and redeeming.
How does Acts 7:35 point to Jesus?
Many Christian commentators see Moses as a type of Christ here. Just as Moses was rejected by his people and then sent back as their deliverer, Jesus was rejected by many of His own people and exalted by God to be Lord and Savior. Stephen is building this parallel throughout his speech, culminating in the charge that his hearers are betraying and murdering the Righteous One.
Why does Stephen mention the angel from the burning bush?
Stephen emphasizes that Moses' commission came through the angel who appeared in the burning bush because that angel was understood to be a manifestation of God Himself, often identified as the pre-incarnate Son of God. This shows that Moses' authority was divine, and rejecting Moses was ultimately rejecting God. The same logic applies to Jesus.
What is special about the word 'redeemer' (lutrōtēs) in this verse?
The Greek word lutrōtēs appears only once in the entire New Testament. It is related to the word for ransom (lutron) that Jesus used of Himself. By using this rare word, Stephen connects Moses’ deliverance of Israel from Egypt to the ultimate redemption that Jesus would accomplish. Moses was a foreshadowing; Jesus is the fulfillment.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study