John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:35

"This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent [to be] both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush." — Acts 7:35 (ASV)

Stephen passes over many things because he makes haste to this point: that the Jews may understand, first, that the fathers were not delivered because they had deserved it with their godliness, but that this benefit was bestowed on them, though they were completely unworthy; and secondly, that something more perfect is to be hoped for from these beginnings.

When Moses, ordained by God to be their avenger and deliverer, was now ready, they blocked his way; therefore God now delivers them, as it were, against their will. What is added concerning miracles and wonders serves as well to set forth the grace of God as to make known the calling of Moses. It is surely a strange thing that God deigns to declare His power by various wonders for such an ungrateful people’s sake. But meanwhile, He establishes His servant's credibility.

Therefore, while the Jews valued him less afterward, while they sometimes attempted to drive him away with reviling, while they sometimes scolded, sometimes murmured, sometimes attacked him outrageously, they revealed by this both their wickedness and also their contempt for the grace of God. Their ungratefulness and ungodliness always so increased that God must have striven with wonderful patience with such a perverse and stubborn people.

A ruler and a deliverer. We must understand the contrasts that increase the fault. They would have obeyed Moses if a tyrant had appointed him to be a judge, but they despise him proudly and reject him contemptuously, though he was appointed by God, and appointed to be a deliverer. Therefore, in despising him, they were wicked; and in rejecting grace, ungrateful.

And while Moses has such an honorable title given to him, God does not so give and relinquish to man the honor that is due to Himself that He loses any part of His authority by it. For doubtless Moses was not called a redeemer or deliverer for any other reason than that he was the minister of God.

And by this means the glory of the whole work remains entirely in the power of God. Therefore, let us learn that whenever men are given the titles that belong to God, God Himself is not stripped of His honor; but because the work is done by their hands, they are commended by this means.

To this end tends what Stephen says: that this charge was entrusted to Moses by the hand of the angel. For by this, Moses is made subject to Christ, so that under Christ's conduct and direction, Moses might obey God. For hand is taken in this place not for ministry, but for authority.

Therefore, God so used the service of Moses that the power of Christ surpassed him, as Christ is even to this day the chief governor in accomplishing the salvation of the Church. Indeed, He uses the ministry of men in such a way that the power and effect depend upon Him alone.