John Gill Commentary Acts 7:40

"saying unto Aaron, Make us gods that shall go before us: for as for this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him." — Acts 7:40 (ASV)

Saying to Aaron, make us gods to go before us
This is a proof of their disobedience to the law of Moses, and of their rejection of him, and of the inclination of their hearts to the idolatry of the Egyptians; which shows the gross stupidity, as well as ingratitude of this people, to think that gods could be made; and that those that are made could go before them, be guides to them, and protectors of them; when they have eyes, but see not, and hands, but handle not, and feet, but walk not:

for as for this Moses ;
whom they speak of with great contempt, and in a very irreverent way:

which brought us out of the land of Egypt ;
which they mention not with gratitude, but as reflecting upon him for doing it:

we do not know what is become of him ;
they thought he was dead, according to the Targum of Jonathan on (Exodus 32:1) they concluded he was consumed with fire on the mount which flamed with fire. ^F2 The following story is told by the Jews;``when Moses went up on high, he said to the Israelites, at the end of forty days, at the beginning of the sixth hour I will come; at the end of forty days came Satan, and disturbed the world; he said to them, where is Moses your master? they answered him, he is gone up on high: he said to them, the sixth hour is come; they took no notice of him; he is dead (says he); they had no regard to him; he showed them the likeness of his bier; then they said to Aaron, "as for this man Moses"''

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FOOTNOTES:

• F2: T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 89. 1. Vid. Jarchi & Baal Hatturim in Exod. xxxii. 1.