John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:22

"And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works." — Acts 7:22 (ASV)

When Luke reports that he was taught in all wisdom of the Egyptians, he mentions that to commend him as a point of excellence. Nevertheless, it could have so happened, as it often does, that being puffed up with secular learning, he might have despised the common people. Yet because God had determined to redeem His people, He does, in the meantime, shape both the mind of Moses and all other things to finish His work.

Fleshly reasoning would murmur here: Why does God overlook the people's prolonged miseries? Why does He allow Pharaoh to rage more cruelly daily? Why does He not allow Moses to grow up among his own people? Why does He, in a way, cut him off from the kindred of Israel, being adopted by the king’s daughter? Why will He allow him to remain amidst courtly pleasures, and not rather pull him from there?

But the outcome itself is so wonderful that we are forced to confess that all these things were governed by remarkable counsel and order to display the glory of God.

When I said that Luke speaks in this place of the learning of the Egyptians for honor's sake, I would not want it to be understood as if there were no corruption in it. Since astrology considers the wonderful workmanship of God, not only in the placing of the stars and in such excellent variety, but also in their movement, force, and secret functions, it is a science both profitable and worthy of praise.

The Egyptians devoted great study to this, but not being content with the simple order of nature, they also wandered into many foolish speculations, as did the Chaldeans. It is uncertain whether Moses was infected with these superstitions or not. Yet, however it may be, we see how sincerely and plainly he sets that before us to be considered in the framework of the world, which pertains to godliness.

Surely this was excellent modesty, in that he who could reason with learned and intelligent men about the secrets of nature, not only omits higher subtleties, but also descends to the common capacity of even the simplest person, and, in a common style, sets forth to unlearned people those things which they perceive by experience.

When Justin babbles concerning Moses, he makes him a magician who, with trickery and enchantments, made passage for the people through the Red Sea; so that Satan not only sought to bury the power of God, but also to blaspheme it. But we know that Moses did not contend with the enchanters by magic, but only did what God had commanded him.

Furthermore, the Egyptians had mystical theology, with which they colored their foolish inventions and monstrous abominations, as if they wanted to prove that they did not go mad without reason. Just as the Papists, while they delude and mock people like stage-players in their mass and other foolish rites, yet they invent mysteries, so that they may persuade people that there is nothing there but what is divine.

The common sort of priests cannot aspire so high, but those among them who wish to be considered more clever do not omit any rite, however foolish and childish it may be, affirming that there is some spiritual mystery in every one of them.

There exists concerning this matter a most foolish mixture, which they call the Rationale of Divine Offices. But since sacrificing priests alone engaged in such foolishness among themselves, it is not to be thought that Moses spent any time in these matters, whose upbringing was princely, but that he was taught in liberal arts.

He was mighty. This phrase expresses among the Hebrews a double excellence, when he who excels in intelligence and learning is also capable of attempting and accomplishing great and important matters. Stephen’s meaning is, therefore, that Moses was endowed with rare gifts, so that they all confessed that he was an exceptional man. But since he was held in such high esteem, the Israelites had less hope that he would be the agent who would bring about their deliverance.