Reading for July 8th

 Read Acts 7.17-39. In 7.17-50: The story of Moses to Solomon, from Exodus to Kings, is told in sequence (not times in vv. 20, 23, 26, 30, 36, 42, 45) and from within Israel (our ancestors in vv. 19, 32, 38, 39, 44, 45), repeating the themes of the scriptural histories of God's fidelity and Israel's rejection. Like Moses' speech at the end of his life (Deut 32-34). Stephen is citing Israel's history "in witness against you" (Deut 32.46), as a call to repentance. Inverse 22; In the retelling of Ex 2 in many Jewish sources, Moses was famous for his mastery of the wisdom of the Egyptians. In verses 25-27: This interpretation of what they did not understand is consistent with Like's emphasis on the "ignorance": that can be forgiven (3.17;17.30). To push Moses aside is to reject him as ruler and liberator (v. 35). In verse 30: The appearance of the angel in the flame of a burning bush (Ex 3.2) was variously allegorized in many first century interpretations. Like the Pharisees who were know to believe in angelic messengers, Stephen receives these accounts literally (see vv. 38, 53). In verse 35: the phrase this Moses who they rejected (see also v. 37, this is the Moses who said ) parallels this Jesus whom you crucified (2.36; see also 2.23, 32): Stephen invokes  the crucial passage from Deut 18.15 that was used to identify Jesus as "the prophet like Moses" (3.22). In verse 39: Our ancestors were unwilling to obey ... pushed him aside (see comment on v. 27). Comments or Questions..