John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:37

"This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me." — Acts 7:37 (ASV)

A Prophet shall God raise up. Stephen undoubtedly endeavors by these words to prove that Christ is the end of the law, although he does not express this in plain words. And assuredly (as we have already said), Luke does not recite word for word all those things which Stephen spoke; but it is sufficient for him to note the principal points.

Furthermore, we have said before in the third chapter that this testimony is so applied to Christ that it nevertheless agrees with the other prophets also. For after Moses had forbidden the people to be carried to and fro by the wicked superstitions of the Gentiles, he shows what ought to follow.

“There is no cause,” he says, “why you should desire magicians and enchanters, for God will never allow you to lack prophets to teach you faithfully.” And it is now certain that the ministry of the prophets was temporary, as was also the ministry of the law, until Christ should bring the full perfection of wisdom into the world.

Therefore, Stephen’s speech tends to this end: that Moses does not keep the people bound only to himself when he sets before them and commends to them another teacher.

The prophets were indeed interpreters of the law, and all their doctrine was, as it were, an addition or supplement to what was spoken by Moses. But since it was also certain that Christ would bring a more perfect kind of doctrine, because he would make an end of all the prophecies, it follows that he is the chief. His is the principal authority (that I may so call it), lest the faith of the gospel be doubtful.

Now we know for what purpose Stephen interwove Moses’ testimony: namely, to prove that the Jews despised Moses (whom they openly boasted of as their only teacher) even now that he is dead, just as much as they had wickedly and stubbornly rejected him in times past while he lived.

For whoever believes Moses will not refuse to be the disciple of Christ, whose messenger and herald he was (John 5:46).

For the rest, refer to the third chapter.