Acts 7 30

Acts 7:30 kjv

And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

Acts 7:30 nkjv

"And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.

Acts 7:30 niv

"After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

Acts 7:30 esv

"Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

Acts 7:30 nlt

"Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush.

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 30 Meaning

Acts 7:30 recounts the pivotal moment when Moses, after forty years in Midian, encountered God at Mount Sinai. An angel of the Lord, representing God's divine presence, manifested in an unconsumed burning bush. This encounter marked Moses' divine commissioning as the liberator of Israel from Egyptian bondage, highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. It signifies a profound shift from a period of waiting to the commencement of God's redemptive work through His chosen servant.

Acts 7 30 Context

Acts 7:30 is part of Stephen's long discourse before the Sanhedrin, where he defends himself against charges of blasphemy against the Law and the Temple. Stephen meticulously recounts the history of Israel, from Abraham to the construction of the tabernacle and temple, demonstrating how God's presence and activity extended beyond physical structures and often manifested outside Jerusalem. Within this historical narrative, the burning bush incident with Moses at Mount Sinai is crucial. It represents God's sovereign initiative in choosing Moses, commissioning him for deliverance, and revealing His covenant name, all in a desolate wilderness—not in the Land of Promise or within a temple. This served to undermine his accusers' rigid and narrow interpretation of God's dwelling and work, showing God's transcendent nature and the foundational role of revelation preceding the Law and Temple. The forty years signify a significant period of preparation and patience before God's decisive intervention.

Acts 7 30 Word analysis

• And when forty years: This phrase marks a significant passage of time (Tessarakonta etē – τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη). The number forty often symbolizes a period of testing, purification, or divine judgment and preparation in biblical narrative (e.g., the flood, Israel in the wilderness, Jesus' temptation). Here, it denotes Moses' time in exile and humility, becoming refined before his calling.

• were expired: From the Greek plēroō (πληρόω), meaning "to fulfill," "to complete," or "to accomplish." It signifies the culmination of a predestined period, not just a casual passing of time. This suggests divine timing and purpose behind Moses' long wait.

• there appeared: From the Greek optomai (ὀπτόμαι), often used for a divine vision or manifestation, particularly one that is striking and leaves a strong impression. It implies God's deliberate self-revelation.

• to him: Refers to Moses, emphasizing that this was a personal and direct encounter initiated by God.

• in the wilderness: From the Greek erēmos (ἔρημος), a desolate, uninhabited, or barren place. God chooses a remote, unassuming location for this profound revelation, reinforcing that His presence is not confined to sacred man-made spaces, a key point in Stephen's argument.

• of Mount Sinai: Known as "the mountain of God" (Exod 3:1, Exod 18:5). It is the sacred location where God later delivered the Law. This highlights the preparatory nature of this vision for the Law-giving event.

• an angel of the Lord: From the Greek angelos Kyriou (ἄγγελος Κυρίου). This specific phrase often refers to a divine messenger who carries the authority and presence of God Himself, sometimes interpreted as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God (a Christophany) due to the interchangeability of the "angel" speaking as God (Exod 3:2,4). This emphasizes the divine nature and authority of the revelation.

• in a flame of fire: From the Greek phlox pyros (φλὸξ πυρός). Fire symbolizes God's presence, holiness, power, purification, and judgment. It is both captivating and awe-inspiring, capable of both consuming and illuminating.

• in a bush: From the Greek batos (βάτος), referring to a common thorny shrub. The ordinary nature of the bush underscores the miraculous preservation within the unconsumed flame, a paradox signifying God's supernatural power and His ability to manifest holiness within an earthly, perishable vessel.

• "forty years were expired": This phrase highlights God's perfect timing and preparation. Moses was not called before his time in the wilderness shaped him, nor after God's patience ran out. It underlines divine sovereignty over human timelines.

• "appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai": This entire phrase sets the scene for a supernatural, divine encounter in an unholy, common place. It contrasts sharply with later localized worship (Tabernacle/Temple), a point crucial for Stephen's audience. God's accessibility and initiative are central.

• "an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush": This rich description paints a vivid picture of theophany. The "angel of the Lord" serves as the agent of revelation, confirming its divine origin. The "flame of fire" indicates God's glorious and consuming holiness, while its presence "in a bush" that is not consumed speaks of a miracle that defies natural law, demonstrating God's transcendence and power to indwell without destroying.

Acts 7 30 Bonus section

• The detail of "forty years" is a strong biblical motif for periods of significant testing, divine judgment, or transformation (e.g., Noah's flood, Israel's wilderness wanderings, Jesus' temptation). For Moses, it marked his humbling, equipping, and divine timing for a leadership role, preparing him spiritually for the immense task ahead.
• Stephen's mention of the "angel of the Lord" as the one who appeared, while the book of Exodus explicitly states "the Lord" (Exod 3:4), highlights a common Old Testament theological concept where the divine messenger is so closely identified with God that the titles are interchangeable. This subtly underscores the unity of divine action and often points to a pre-incarnate Christ or the Angel of God's Presence, a profound mystery of God's direct interaction with humanity.
• The fact that this significant revelation happened in a "wilderness" and in an ordinary "bush," rather than a constructed temple or an established religious site, inherently challenges the idea that God can only be encountered in specific, human-made sacred spaces. This serves as an indictment of the Sanhedrin's rigid adherence to external religious forms while missing the Spirit's broader work.

Acts 7 30 Commentary

Acts 7:30 distills a profound moment from Israel's history into a concise statement, underscoring several theological truths crucial to Stephen's defense. After forty years, not wasted but purposed for Moses' maturation and separation from Egyptian identity, God initiates contact. The location, "the wilderness of Mount Sinai," emphasizes that God's revelatory presence is not confined to civilized or "sacred" spaces, directly challenging the temple-centric mindset of Stephen's accusers. The "angel of the Lord" appearing "in a flame of fire in a bush" is the manifestation of Yahweh Himself, demonstrating His active intervention and self-revelation. The unconsumed bush points to God's holiness preserving that which is earthly for His purposes. This encounter at the bush is not merely an incident but a divinely orchestrated commission, where God calls Moses from obscurity to become His instrument of deliverance, initiating the unfolding of His redemptive plan for His people Israel. This divine encounter establishes God's faithfulness to His covenant, His power over nature, and His sovereign choice of a human instrument. It signifies the commencement of the Exodus, the precursor to the Law, and the revelation of God's character as a "consuming fire" yet one who graciously draws near.