Question 1

How do verses 17–19 connect God’s promise to Abraham with Israel’s situation in Egypt?

Accepted Answer

Stephen ties Israel’s growth in Egypt to the approaching “time of the promise” God swore to Abraham. The multiplication of the people is not presented as random demographic change but as part of the story moving toward a promised outcome. The new king’s rise and his oppression do not cancel the promise; they intensify the crisis as the promise draws near. The policy of forcing infants to be exposed highlights how severe the threat becomes right when fulfillment is said to be close.

Question 2

What does “a different king… didn’t know Joseph” most clearly signal in the narrative (vv. 18–19)?

Accepted Answer

At minimum it signals a political shift: the old memory of Joseph’s benefit to Egypt no longer protects Israel. Whether the king is literally unaware of Joseph or is choosing to disregard the past, the effect is the same in the story—Israel loses status and becomes a target of state fear and manipulation. Stephen’s point is not to give Egyptian history details but to show how quickly the social environment can turn, and how oppression can become policy.

Question 3

What details in verses 20–22 emphasize both danger and preservation in Moses’ early life?

Accepted Answer

The danger is clear: Moses is born during a time when infants are being exposed, and after three months he too is “thrown out.” Yet the preservation is equally clear: he is first hidden and cared for at home, then unexpectedly taken in by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her son. Stephen also highlights Moses’ preparation—he is educated in Egyptian wisdom and becomes notable for “words and works.” The story stresses that Moses’ survival and formation happen inside the oppressor’s world.

Question 4

How does Stephen describe Moses’ action in defending the Israelite, and what expectation does he attribute to Moses (vv. 23–25)?

Accepted Answer

Stephen says Moses sees an Israelite being wronged, defends him, and “avenges” the oppressed person by striking the Egyptian. Then Stephen adds Moses’ internal assumption: Moses thought his fellow Israelites would understand that God was giving deliverance “by his hand.” That last line is crucial for Stephen’s retelling. It frames Moses as already seeing his life in relation to God’s deliverance, but also shows a gap between Moses’ expectation and Israel’s perception at that moment.

Question 5

In verses 26–28, what is the significance of the words “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?”

Accepted Answer

The question functions as a rejection of Moses’ authority and a denial of his attempt to mediate peace between two Israelites. It shows that Moses is not only misunderstood regarding the earlier killing; he is also unwelcome as a leader. The language “ruler and judge” points to the core dispute: who has the right to intervene, correct, and lead. The speaker also exposes Moses’ earlier act (“as you killed the Egyptian yesterday”), making Moses’ position both socially and legally precarious.

Question 6

How do verses 29–29 (especially “became an alien”) conclude this episode, and what does it set up?

Accepted Answer

Moses’ flight shows that his attempt to help has backfired in the short term: his act is known, his authority is challenged, and he is forced out. Calling him an “alien” in Midian underlines dislocation—he is no longer at home in Pharaoh’s world or securely embraced among his own people. The note that he becomes father of two sons indicates a long-term settling, not a brief hiding. Narratively, it sets up a future return after years away, when deliverance will take a different shape.

Acts 7:17-29

Scripture