Acts 7:39

“To whom our fathers would not obey, etc.] But often murmured against him, and were disobedient to him, and to the oracles he delivered to them, and so to God, whose oracles they were: but thrust him from them; as one of the two Hebrews did, when he interposed to make up the difference between them; and which was an emblem and presage of what that people would afterwards do; (<440727>Acts 7:27) and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt; they wished themselves there again, they lusted after the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, leeks, onions, and garlic there; and went so far as to move for a captain, and even to appoint one to lead them back thither again.”

“To whom our fathers would not obey, &c.--Here he shows that the deepest dishonor done to Moses came from the nation that now professed the greatest jealousy for his honor. in their hearts turned back . . . into Egypt--"In this Stephen would have his hearers read the downward career on which they were themselves entering."”

“Would not obey ... - This refers to what they said of him when he was in the mount, Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:23. In their hearts turned ... - They wished to return to Egypt. They regretted that they had come out of Egypt, and desired again the things which they had there, as preferable to what they had in the desert, Numbers 11:5. Perhaps, however, the expression means, not that they desired literally to “return” to Egypt, but that “their hearts inclined to the habits and morals of the Egyptians.” They forsook God, and imitated the idolatries of the Egyptians. return to 'Top of Page'”

“7:39-40 Just as the ancient Jews had rejected what Moses was saying, now Stephen was speaking to descendants who were still rejecting God’s deliverers—in this case, Jesus, the ultimate deliverer.”

“whom: Act 7:51, Act 7:52; Neh 9:16; Psa 106:16, Psa 106:32, Psa 106:33; Eze 20:6-14 but: Act 7:27; Jdg 11:2; Kg1 2:27 and in: Exo 14:11, Exo 14:12, Exo 16:3, Exo 17:3; Num 11:5, Num 14:3, Num 14:4, Num 21:5; Neh 9:17 Acts 7:40”