Acts 7:21, "When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son," refers to the baby Moses being rescued and raised by Pharaoh's daughter. Let's break down the meaning:
"When he was thrown out": This refers to the edict by the Pharaoh of Egypt to kill all newborn Hebrew baby boys. To save her infant son, Moses' mother placed him in a basket and floated him down the Nile River.
"Pharaoh's daughter took him up": Pharaoh's daughter, while bathing in the Nile, found the baby in the basket. Recognizing he was a Hebrew child, she nonetheless felt compassion and decided to rescue him. "Took him up" implies she adopted him and took him into her care.
"and reared him as her own son": This means Pharaoh's daughter raised Moses as if he were her biological child. He was given a privileged upbringing in the Egyptian royal court, receiving the best education and likely exposed to positions of power.
In essence, the verse highlights:
Moses' miraculous survival: Despite being destined for death, he was saved in a dramatic and unexpected way.
God's providence: The verse foreshadows God's plan for Moses. Even in a hostile environment, God was at work, placing Moses in a position to later deliver the Israelites from slavery.
Contrast and irony: It's ironic that a Hebrew child, meant to be killed by the Egyptians, was raised in the highest Egyptian circles. This sets the stage for the conflict between Moses and the Pharaoh later in the story.
Stephen's retelling: The verse is part of Stephen's speech in Acts 7 before the Sanhedrin. He's summarizing Jewish history, emphasizing God's work throughout that history, and this pivotal event in Moses' life is crucial to Stephen's argument.
This verse is a condensed version of the story from Exodus 2:1-10, providing a quick recap of how Moses went from being a baby facing certain death to a prince in the Egyptian court, all part of God's plan.
Acts 7:21, "When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son," refers to the baby Moses being rescued and raised by Pharaoh's daughter. Let's break down the meaning:
"When he was thrown out": This refers to the edict by the Pharaoh of Egypt to kill all newborn Hebrew baby boys. To save her infant son, Moses' mother placed him in a basket and floated him down the Nile River.
"Pharaoh's daughter took him up": Pharaoh's daughter, while bathing in the Nile, found the baby in the basket. Recognizing he was a Hebrew child, she nonetheless felt compassion and decided to rescue him. "Took him up" implies she adopted him and took him into her care.
"and reared him as her own son": This means Pharaoh's daughter raised Moses as if he were her biological child. He was given a privileged upbringing in the Egyptian royal court, receiving the best education and likely exposed to positions of power.
In essence, the verse highlights:
Moses' miraculous survival: Despite being destined for death, he was saved in a dramatic and unexpected way.
God's providence: The verse foreshadows God's plan for Moses. Even in a hostile environment, God was at work, placing Moses in a position to later deliver the Israelites from slavery.
Contrast and irony: It's ironic that a Hebrew child, meant to be killed by the Egyptians, was raised in the highest Egyptian circles. This sets the stage for the conflict between Moses and the Pharaoh later in the story.
Stephen's retelling: The verse is part of Stephen's speech in Acts 7 before the Sanhedrin. He's summarizing Jewish history, emphasizing God's work throughout that history, and this pivotal event in Moses' life is crucial to Stephen's argument.
This verse is a condensed version of the story from Exodus 2:1-10, providing a quick recap of how Moses went from being a baby facing certain death to a prince in the Egyptian court, all part of God's plan.