This is he, that was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the living oracles to give unto us:
Read Chapter 7
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
This is he who was in the Church in the wilderness, after God had by him delivered their Fathers out of their slavery in Egypt.
An angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. By this St. Stephen owns that the law was given by an angel to Moses: and also shows how falsely he was accused to have spoken against Moses, or against the law.
Do you mark that thence comes the root, and that salvation is from the Jews? John 4:22 With the Angel, it says, which spoke unto him. Romans 11:16 Lo, again he affirms that it was He (Christ) that gave the Law, seeing Moses was with Him in the Church in the wilderness. And here he puts them in mind of a great marvel, of the things done in the Mount: Who received living oracles to give unto us. On all occasions Moses is wonderful, and (so) when need was to legislate. What means the expression, Living oracles (λόγια)? Those, whereof the end was shown by words (διὰ λόγων): in other words, he means the prophecies. Then follows the charge, in the first instance, against the patriarchs [after], the signs and wonders, after the receiving of the lively oracles: To whom, he says, our fathers would not obey. Acts 7:39 But concerning those, Ezekiel says that they are not living; as when he says, And I gave you statutes that are not good. Ezekiel 20:25 It is with reference to those that he says, L...
Again no mention of temple, none of sacrifice. With the Angel, it says, he received the lively oracles to give unto the fathers. It shows, that he not only wrought miracles, but also gave a law, as Christ did. Just as Christ first works miracles, and then legislates: so did Moses. But they did not hear him, keeping their disobedience, even after the miracles: To whom, he says, our fathers would not obey: Acts 7:39 after the wonders done in those forty years. And not only so, but just the contrary: but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt. Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the Prophets, O you house of Israel, have ye offered t...
Do you mark that thence comes the root, and that salvation is from the Jews? John 4:22 With the Angel, it says, which spoke unto him. Romans 11:16 Lo, again he affirms that it was He (Christ) that gave the Law, seeing Moses was with Him in the Church in the wilderness. And here he puts them in mind of a great marvel, of the things done in the Mount: Who received living oracles to give unto us. On all occasions Moses is wonderful, and (so) when need was to legislate. What means the expression, Living oracles (λόγια)? Those, whereof the end was shown by words (διὰ λόγων): in other words, he means the prophecies. Then follows the charge, in the first instance, against the patriarchs [after], the signs and wonders, after the receiving of the lively oracles: To whom, he says, our fathers would not obey.
Again no mention of temple, none of sacrifice. With the Angel, it says, he received the lively oracles to give unto the fathers. It shows, that he not only wrought miracles, but also gave a law, as Christ did. Just as Christ first works miracles, and then legislates: so did Moses. But they did not hear him, keeping their disobedience, even after the miracles: To whom, he says, our fathers would not obey:
And when the gold out of the necklaces of the women and the rings of the men had been wholly smelted by fire, and there had come forth a calf-like head, to this figment Israel with one consent (abandoning God) gave honour, saying, "These are the gods who brought us from the land of Egypt.".
This was, indeed, the Creator's customary region. It was proper that the Word
