³⁵“This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. ³⁶This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. ³⁷This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.’ ³⁸This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.”

At fifty-two verses, this speech is the longest on record in the book of Acts, and notably is not spoken by an apostle. Scholars are quick to point out some apparent divergences with the actual OT accounts to which Stephen refers. On one level he does not carry the same authority as the apostles, so we might excuse the divergences as simply a record of what Stephen said, but not necessarily an inspired, authoritative interpretation of the OT story, or precisely accurate in its historical details. On another level, Luke was inspired as he recorded this message, in that he accurately portrays Stephen’s message or at least the sense of his message, regardless of its accuracy. We can say at the least, this is an inerrant recording of what Stephen said.

Resolving the accuracy of the contents of the message is beyond the scope of this meditation. But we can note that Stephen’s oratory is moving toward the exposure of the Jewish leaders and, in fact, Israel, in rejecting God’s provided rescuer, the Messiah, Savior. Stephen is lining up a series of OT figures to show the continual rejection by Israel of the ones God provides to save them. This is seen clearly in the summary of their rejection of Moses. To make sure his persecutors understood of whom he was speaking, Stephen highlights his miraculous works and his leadership out of Egypt and his travels through the desert for forty years. And Moses, the one and only, prophesied that another one like him would come, a prophet. As Stephen’s message unfolds, that coming one was none other than Jesus Christ! The OT clearly predicts this, and the time has now come for its fulfillment.

That coming one brought the “oracles” of God—that is, the proclamations of God’s truth, the message directly from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— to the people of Israel. OT history reveals the constant, consistent message of God. He sends His chosen ones to save His people, but they continually reject this work of God. And Stephen’s audience has rejected the ultimate Savior!

Lord, convict me when I reject any of Your messages, that I might live in truth.