Was Jesus the one present in the church in the wilderness in Acts 7:38?
Yes, the text presents Stephen speaking of Jesus of Nazareth as the one who was in the church, the called-out assembly of Israel, in the wilderness with the angel at Mount Sinai with the fathers, and who received the living oracles, that is, the Law.
Les explains that Stephen is trying to prove to Israel that Jesus was the Christ. In Acts 7:38, Stephen says 'this is he' of Jesus of Nazareth, identifying Him as the one in the church—the Ecclesia, the called-out assembly of the children of Israel—in the wilderness with the angel at Sinai and with the fathers, who received the living oracles, the Law. Les notes that when God called Israel out of Egypt, He brought them through a Red Sea experience, a baptism without a drop of water, and they became a church without any church organization.
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
More Questions
Is the 'church in the wilderness' in Acts 7:38 the New Testament church?
The 'church in the wilderness' in Acts 7:38 is not the New Testament church; it is a reference to the congregation of Israel in Moses' day, so the church did not begin with Moses.
What did Stephen mean by 'the church in the wilderness' in Acts 7:38?
The 'church in the wilderness' in Acts 7:38 is the Old Testament assembly of Israel at Mount Sinai, not the New Testament church.
Where was Israel when Moses was in the church in the wilderness in Acts 7:38?
The setting Stephen refers to in Acts 7:38 is Israel after coming out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, when they were encamped around Mount Sinai under Moses' leadership.
Why did one man think the church began with Moses from Acts 7:38?
One viewer took the phrase 'the church in the wilderness' in Acts 7:38 as proof that the church began with Moses, but Les says that mistake comes from not knowing Greek.