Acts 7:29 - Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Acts 7:29" mean?
Acts 7:29 recounts a specific moment in the life of Moses as narrated by Stephen in his defense speech before the Sanhedrin. Let's break down what the verse means:
"Moses fled at this saying..." This refers to the incident described in the preceding verses in Acts 7 and also in Exodus 2:11-15. Moses, seeing an Egyptian oppressing a Hebrew, intervened and killed the Egyptian. Later, he tried to mediate a dispute between two Hebrews, but one of them challenged him, saying, "Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" (Exodus 2:14). Hearing this, Moses realized that his act of killing the Egyptian was no longer a secret. He feared retribution from Pharaoh. "At this saying" means because he knew he was found out and in danger of being killed himself.
"...and became a stranger in the land of Midian..." Driven by fear and a desire to escape Pharaoh's wrath, Moses fled Egypt and sought refuge in Midian. Midian was a region east of the Gulf of Aqaba and south of Moab. He was a "stranger" because he was an outsider, an immigrant, not native to that land. He didn't know anyone there and had no support system.
"...where he became the father of two sons." While in Midian, Moses met and married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro (also called Reuel), a priest of Midian. They had two sons: Gershom (Exodus 2:22) and Eliezer (Exodus 18:4). This part of the verse highlights Moses's establishment of a new life in Midian, far removed from his earlier position of privilege and expectation in Egypt.
In essence, the verse describes a turning point in Moses's life:
Fleeing his past: He leaves behind his potential future as a leader or prince in Egypt due to his actions and the resulting fear.
Becoming an exile: He becomes a refugee, seeking shelter and a new beginning in a foreign land.
Building a family: He finds a wife and has children, starting a new chapter in his life as a family man, far from the political intrigues of Egypt.
Significance in Stephen's Speech:
Stephen is using the story of Moses to make a point about the history of Israel and their rejection of God's messengers. Moses, despite being destined for greatness, was initially rejected by his own people and forced to flee. This foreshadows the Jewish people's rejection of Jesus, whom Stephen sees as a prophet greater than Moses. Stephen is arguing that the Sanhedrin is repeating the mistake of their ancestors by rejecting God's chosen leader. He shows they rejected the one that could lead them out of the true oppression, which was spiritual oppression.
By highlighting Moses's time in Midian, Stephen is also emphasizing that God can work through unexpected circumstances and in seemingly remote places. Moses's exile was not the end of his story; it was a period of preparation for his eventual role as the leader of the Israelites.
Acts 7:29 - Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
What does "Acts 7:29" mean?
Acts 7:29 recounts a specific moment in the life of Moses as narrated by Stephen in his defense speech before the Sanhedrin. Let's break down what the verse means:
"Moses fled at this saying..." This refers to the incident described in the preceding verses in Acts 7 and also in Exodus 2:11-15. Moses, seeing an Egyptian oppressing a Hebrew, intervened and killed the Egyptian. Later, he tried to mediate a dispute between two Hebrews, but one of them challenged him, saying, "Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" (Exodus 2:14). Hearing this, Moses realized that his act of killing the Egyptian was no longer a secret. He feared retribution from Pharaoh. "At this saying" means because he knew he was found out and in danger of being killed himself.
"...and became a stranger in the land of Midian..." Driven by fear and a desire to escape Pharaoh's wrath, Moses fled Egypt and sought refuge in Midian. Midian was a region east of the Gulf of Aqaba and south of Moab. He was a "stranger" because he was an outsider, an immigrant, not native to that land. He didn't know anyone there and had no support system.
"...where he became the father of two sons." While in Midian, Moses met and married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro (also called Reuel), a priest of Midian. They had two sons: Gershom (Exodus 2:22) and Eliezer (Exodus 18:4). This part of the verse highlights Moses's establishment of a new life in Midian, far removed from his earlier position of privilege and expectation in Egypt.
In essence, the verse describes a turning point in Moses's life:
Fleeing his past: He leaves behind his potential future as a leader or prince in Egypt due to his actions and the resulting fear.
Becoming an exile: He becomes a refugee, seeking shelter and a new beginning in a foreign land.
Building a family: He finds a wife and has children, starting a new chapter in his life as a family man, far from the political intrigues of Egypt.
Significance in Stephen's Speech:
Stephen is using the story of Moses to make a point about the history of Israel and their rejection of God's messengers. Moses, despite being destined for greatness, was initially rejected by his own people and forced to flee. This foreshadows the Jewish people's rejection of Jesus, whom Stephen sees as a prophet greater than Moses. Stephen is arguing that the Sanhedrin is repeating the mistake of their ancestors by rejecting God's chosen leader. He shows they rejected the one that could lead them out of the true oppression, which was spiritual oppression.
By highlighting Moses's time in Midian, Stephen is also emphasizing that God can work through unexpected circumstances and in seemingly remote places. Moses's exile was not the end of his story; it was a period of preparation for his eventual role as the leader of the Israelites.