Acts 7:40

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 1  – we do not know what has happened to him!’ 2 

Acts 13:17

13:17 The God of this people Israel 3  chose our ancestors 4  and made the people great 5  during their stay as foreigners 6  in the country 7  of Egypt, and with uplifted arm 8  he led them out of it.

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

2 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.

3 tn Or “people of Israel.”

4 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

sn Note how Paul identifies with his audience by referring to our ancestors. He speaks as a Jew. God’s design in history is the theme of the speech. The speech is like Stephen’s, only here the focus is on a promised Son of David.

5 tn That is, in both numbers and in power. The implication of greatness in both numbers and in power is found in BDAG 1046 s.v. ὑψόω 2.

6 tn Or “as resident aliens.”

7 tn Or “land.”

8 sn Here uplifted arm is a metaphor for God’s power by which he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. See Exod 6:1, 6; 32:11; Deut 3:24; 4:34; Ps 136:11-12.