Acts 7:40

Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(40) Make us gods.—The speech follows the LXX. and the English version of Exodus 32:4 in giving the plural, but it is probable that the Hebrew, Elohim, was used in its ordinary sense as singular in meaning, though plural in form, and that the sin of the Golden Calf was thus a transgression of the Second, and not of the First Commandment.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:30-41 Men deceive themselves, if they think God cannot do what he sees to be good any where; he can bring his people into a wilderness, and there speak comfortably to them. He appeared to Moses in a flame of fire, yet the bush was not consumed; which represented the state of Israel in Egypt, where, though they were in the fire of affliction, yet they were not consumed. It may also be looked upon as a type of Christ's taking upon him the nature of man, and the union between the Divine and human nature. The death of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, cannot break the covenant relation between God and them. Our Saviour by this proves the future state, Mt 22:31. Abraham is dead, yet God is still his God, therefore Abraham is still alive. Now, this is that life and immortality which are brought to light by the gospel. Stephen here shows that Moses was an eminent type of Christ, as he was Israel's deliverer. God has compassion for the troubles of his church, and the groans of his persecuted people; and their deliverance takes rise from his pity. And that deliverance was typical of what Christ did, when, for us men, and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. This Jesus, whom they now refused, as their fathers did Moses, even this same has God advanced to be a Prince and Saviour. It does not at all take from the just honour of Moses to say, that he was but an instrument, and that he is infinitely outshone by Jesus. In asserting that Jesus should change the customs of the ceremonial law. Stephen was so far from blaspheming Moses, that really he honoured him, by showing how the prophecy of Moses was come to pass, which was so clear. God who gave them those customs by his servant Moses, might, no doubt, change the custom by his Son Jesus. But Israel thrust Moses from them, and would have returned to their bondage; so men in general will not obey Jesus, because they love this present evil world, and rejoice in their own works and devices.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Saying unto Aaron - Exodus 32:1.

Make us gods - That is, idols.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

39. To whom our fathers would not obey, &c.—Here he shows that the deepest dishonor done to Moses came from the nation that now professed the greatest jealousy for his honor.

in their hearts turned back … into Egypt—"In this Stephen would have his hearers read the downward career on which they were themselves entering."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Make us gods; according to the Egyptians, who held that there were many gods, and divers degrees of gods; they therefore speak in the plural number.

This Moses: though they confess the great deliverance wrought by Moses’s means, yet how contemptibly do they speak of him!

We wot not what is become of him: they could not but know that Moses was gone up into the mount unto God, at his command, and had not forgotten them, but had left Aaron and Hur to govern them; yet they soon forgot both God and Moses, notwithstanding the large and late experience they had of his wonders: this is left upon record against them, Psalm 106:13,21.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Saying unto Aaron, make us gods to go before us,.... This is a proof of their disobedience to the law of Moses, and of their rejection of him, and of the inclination of their hearts to the idolatry of the Egyptians; which shows the gross stupidity, as well as ingratitude of this people, to think that gods could be made; and that those that are made could go before them, be guides unto them, and protectors of them; when they have eyes, but see not, and hands, but handle not, and feet, but walk not:

for as for this Moses; whom they speak of with great contempt, and in a very irreverent way:

which brought us out of the land of Egypt; which they mention not with gratitude, but as reflecting upon him for doing it:

we wot not what is become of him; they thought he was dead, according to the Targum of Jonathan on Exodus 32:1 they concluded he was consumed with fire on the mount which flamed with fire. (b) The following story is told by the Jews;

"when Moses went up on high, he said to the Israelites, at the end of forty days, at the beginning of the sixth hour I will come; at the end of forty days came Satan, and disturbed the world; he said to them, where is Moses your master? they answered him, he is gone up on high: he said to them, the sixth hour is come; they took no notice of him; he is dead (says he); they had no regard to him; he showed them the likeness of his bier; then they said to Aaron, "as for this man Moses", &c.''

(b) T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 89. 1. Vid. Jarchi & Baal Hatturim in Exodus 32.1.

Geneva Study Bible

Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 7:40. προπορεύσονται (Exodus 16:3, Numbers 11:4-5), only elsewhere in N.T., in Luke 1:76, with which cf. Deuteronomy 31:3. The words in Acts are taken from Exodus 32:1; Exodus 32:23; frequent in LXX, 1Ma 9:11 (but see H. and R.), and also in Xen. and Polyb.—οὗτος, iste, cf. Acts 6:14, the same anacoluthon as in LXX, Exodus 32:23, so in the Heb., “who brought us up”: no mention of God—they ascribed all to Moses (Chrysostom); see Viteau, Le Grec du N. T., p. 135 (1896).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

40. saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us] Lit. which shall go before us. The passage is almost word for word the report given in Exodus 32:1.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 7:40. Ποίησον—οὗτος, ὃς—αὐτῷ) Exodus 32:1, LXX., ἀνάστηθι καὶ ποίησον—οὗτος ὁ ἀνὴρ (Al. ἄνθρωπος), ὃς—αὐτῷ.—ποίησον θεοὺς, make gods) By the verb used the notion in the very noun was refuted: for made gods are not Gods.—οἱ προπορεύσονται, who shall go before) They thought it irksome, by reason of their longing regrets after Egypt, to sit inactive and wait so long.—τί γέγονεν αὐτῷ, what has become of him) whether he is about to return to us, or what he is about to bring with him, and at what time.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 40. - Which shall go for to go, A.V.; led us forth for brought us, A.V. Acts 7:40

Vincent's Word Studies

Shall go before us

As symbols to be borne before them on the march. Compare Nehemiah 9:18.