Acts 7:39-40

7:39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 7:40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go in front of us, for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt – we do not know what has happened to him!

tn Grk “whom our.” The continuation of the sentence as a relative clause is awkward in English, so a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.

tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

sn To obey. Again the theme of the speech is noted. The nation disobeyed the way of God and opted for Egypt over the promised land.

sn Pushed him aside. This is the second time Moses is “pushed aside” in Stephen’s account (see v. 27).

tn Or simply “of Egypt.” The phrase “the land of” could be omitted as unnecessary or redundant.

sn A quotation from Exod 32:1, 23. Doubt (we do not know what has happened to him) expresses itself in unfaithful action. The act is in contrast to God’s promise in Exod 23:20.