Acts 7:38

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:

Cross-references

Acts 7:53 Contrast

Acts 7:53 accuses the people of receiving the law through angels but not keeping it — contrasting with Moses' faithful reception of the oracles.

Acts 7:37 Parallel

Acts 7:37 records Moses' prophecy of a prophet like him — the cross-reference shows Moses both gave the law (7:38) and foretold Christ, linking the two.

Acts 7:35 Parallel

Acts 7:35 describes Moses being rejected before God sent him as ruler and deliverer with the angel — background to his role as mediator.

Acts 7:30 Parallel

Acts 7:30 recounts the earlier angelic appearance at the burning bush — the same angel who later spoke at Sinai.

Exodus 19:3–17 Historical context

Exodus 19:3-17 is the Sinai theophany where God spoke — Stephen refers to this as the angel speaking to Moses in the mount.

1 Peter 4:11 uses 'oracles of God' for Christian speech — drawing on the same concept of divine utterances first given through Moses.

Hebrews 5:12 uses the same phrase 'oracles of God' to refer to elementary teachings — linking back to the law given to Israel.

Galatians 3:19 states the law was ordained through angels with a mediator — confirming the same giving of the law Stephen describes.

Romans 3:2 Parallel

In Romans 3:2, the same 'oracles of God' are entrusted to Israel — highlighting the privilege of receiving living words from God.

John 1:17 Contrast

John 1:17 acknowledges the law through Moses but contrasts it with grace and truth through Christ, setting up a law-grace antithesis.

Nehemiah 9:14 adds the giving of the Sabbath and commandments by Moses' hand, a specific element of the law given at Sinai.

Nehemiah 9:13 recounts God giving just ordinances from heaven on Sinai, reinforcing the same giving of the law through Moses.

Deuteronomy 33:4 echoes the same tradition: Moses commanded the law as a possession for the assembly, paralleling the 'living oracles' given to the congregation.

Deuteronomy 32:47 declares the law is 'your very life,' matching the 'living' nature of the oracles in Acts 7:38.

Deuteronomy 32:46 commands taking to heart all words of this law, directly echoing the receiving of living oracles by the congregation.

Deuteronomy 5:27-31 records the people asking Moses to mediate — directly linking to his role as receiver of the oracles.

John 7:19 Parallel

In John 7:19, Jesus says Moses gave the law but none keep it — directly paralleling Stephen's point that Moses gave living oracles yet the fathers rejected him.

Exodus 19:2 Historical context

Exodus 19:2 records Israel camping at Sinai — the exact setting where Moses received the living oracles Stephen describes.

Psalm 78:5-9 recounts God establishing the law in Israel but their subsequent unfaithfulness, setting the stage for the rebellion Stephen later describes.

Isaiah 63:9 Allusion

Isaiah 63:9 speaks of the angel of God's presence saving Israel in the wilderness — the same angelic presence that gave the law at Sinai.

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 shows Moses teaching the commandments he received — fulfilling his role as the giver of the living oracles.

Numbers 16:3–35 Historical context

Numbers 16:3-35 describes Korah's rebellion against Moses — Stephen later alludes to this rejection in his speech.

Hebrews 2:2 Parallel

Hebrews 2:2 affirms the word spoken by angels was steadfast — echoing the authority of the law given through angels.

Exodus 20:19 Historical context

Exodus 20:19 shows the people asking Moses to mediate — Stephen notes Moses received the oracles as that mediator.

Romans 9:4 Parallel

Romans 9:4 lists the giving of the law as a key privilege of Israel — connecting to the law given through Moses at Sinai.