Who was in the church in the wilderness with the angel at Mount Sinai according to Acts 7:38?
According to Acts 7:38, Stephen identifies Jesus of Nazareth as the one who was in the church in the wilderness with the angel at Mount Sinai. That church was the called-out assembly of Israel, and He received the living oracles, the Law.
Les explains that Stephen is making a case to Israel that Jesus was the Christ. Moses had predicted a prophet like himself, and in Acts 7:38 Stephen says 'this is he,' speaking of Jesus of Nazareth, who was in the church—the Ecclesia, or called-out assembly of the children of Israel—in the wilderness with the angel. That angel spoke with him at Mount Sinai with the fathers, and he received the living oracles, that is, the Law. Les notes that when God called Israel out of Egypt, He brought them through a Red Sea experience that was a baptism without a drop of water. They became a church without any church organization, because the church here is a called-out assembly.
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
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.
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.
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.
Who is the 'he' Stephen says was in the church in the wilderness?
Stephen identifies Jesus of Nazareth as the 'he' in Acts 7:38 who was in the church in the wilderness.