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Biblical theology is the “attempt to understand and embrace the interpretive perspective of the biblical authors.”[1] In other words, it is an enterprise that seeks to convey and share the worldview of the biblical authors. We want to know–how did they interpret previous Scripture? How did they understand the symbolic and figural pictures of the Bible? How did they understand the circumstances of their own lives in light of previous biblical stories? Biblical theology is not an inaccessible and technical discipline. Instead, it is something that every Christian would benefit from in their own personal Bible study and in the way they see the world. 

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In this short article, I want to give you an example of how this might be. I want to show you how Luke, in Acts 12, is clearly reading the circumstances of the early church in light of the Exodus. If we understand previous Scripture with the New Testament authors, then we will understand two things about our own lives: (1) the God who delivered Israel from Egypt is the same God who works all things for our good; (2) though evil men rule the land, our God has not forgotten us, but we may flourish better under them. 

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What Is An Allusion?

When I use the term “allusion,” what I have in mind are the subtle uses that the biblical authors make of older parts of the Scriptures. The biblical authors often use the language, symbols, and terms from previous Scripture, and they do not do this by accident. Rather, they are purposefully attempting to recall to your imagination those previous stories to help you interpret their own words. These allusions can be identified primarily by noticing the repetition of key words or sometimes whole lines of text. Our job as interpreters is to do all that we can to share the imagination of the author and original audience, so that we can identify these allusions. The best way to do this is to read and reread our Bibles, so that we might see how various authors use previous Scriptures.

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The Use of Exodus 1:7 in Acts 12:24

In Acts chapter 12, Peter is arrested under Herod, and due to the prayers of the church, God sends His angel who comes and walks Peter out of the prison with no opposition. When Peter comes to the door of the house where the church is meeting, they believe that it is not really him, until they open the door and then they let him in and rejoice together. We are also told that King Herod  is a rather ruthless man, and the people call out that he speaks with “the voice of a god and not of a man” (12:22). Herod sits on his throne, but because he does not give glory to God, the angel of the Lord sends worms to eat Herod up and he dies (12:23). However, while such a harsh king was in charge, we are told that the word of God “increased and multiplied” (ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐπληθύνετο). 

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It is at this point in the narrative that we have our allusion. Now, throughout this whole story, there are nods back to the Exodus story. For instance, Acts 12:11 reads, “. . .the Lord sent His angel and he delivered me from the hand of Herod. . .” No doubt this is meant to recall what Moses told Jethro, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the hand of Pharaoh" (Ex. 18:4 LXX). Indeed, the fact that the deliverance is brought by the angel of the Lord recalls that the Angel of the Lord was a primary actor in the Exodus story (i.e. Ex. 3:2, 23:20). The very character of Herod also reminds us of the way which the Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, treated God’s people (see Ex. 1:8-33). 

We now come to consider the verse in question. The phrase I want to focus on is v. 24: “Now, the word of God increased and multiplied.” So, not only do we have a context which is dripping with references and imagery from the Exodus story, but this clause nearly quotes Exodus 1:7.

 

Here are the verses set across from one another (in my own translation, with the Greek of each given for those who can read it):

Exodus 1:7 - “But the sons of Israel increased and were multiplied (ηὐξήθησαν καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν) and were numerous and grew exceedingly strong. And the land was filled with them.”

Acts 12:24 - Now, the word of God increased and multiplied (ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐπληθύνετο).

 

When viewing these texts alongside each other, you can see that we have contextual similarities and clear repetition of key-words. But why would Luke choose to connect these two texts? The answer, if we understand the importance of the Exodus story in the imagination of the rest of Scripture, is clear: when the enemy, whether Pharaoh or Herod, sets himself against the mission of God, attempting to suppress His congregation, the Lord hears their cry, delivers them, and even strengthens them while they live under a harsh tyrant. Indeed, the same is true today, and we ought to view the world the way they did. Namely, through the lenses of Biblical history. God hears the cries of His people and will deliver them from all evil, sometimes in this life, but always in the eternal state. Not only this, but God will also cause His people to flourish, even under the oppressive hand of tyrants. 

 

[1] James Hamilton Jr., What Is Biblical Theology? (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014), 15; James Hamilton Jr., On The Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014), 21.

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About the Author:  Jared Ebert serves as pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Williamstown, KY.