And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, х epaideuthee (G3811) en (G1722) pasee (G3956) sofia (G4678) - the preposition being better attested than the want of it in the Received Text]. The statement contained in this verse is nowhere to he found in the Old Testament-another proof of the rashness of concluding that because Stephen's statements cannot be all verified from the Old Testament, their accuracy is to be suspected. "The wisdom of the Egyptians," - proverbial five centuries after this, in Solomon's time, and apparently famed even in Moses' time-was all communicated to this apt pupil. Philo (the Jewish commentator on Moses) represents him as having had tutors from the most celebrated foreign schools, and accomplished in geometry, music, and philosophy; and though we need not take this too literally, there can be no doubt that he took intelligently in whatever he was taught.
And was (as the fruit of this training) mighty in [his] words and in deeds. (The word 'his' х autou (G846)] is certainly part of the genuine text.) Compare with this what is said of the "Prophet like unto Moses" in Luke 24:19. It may seem strange that one who by his own account, was "slow of speech and of a slow tongue" - probably defective in utterance (Exodus 4:10) - should be held forth as "mighty in his words." But his recorded speeches-not to speak of his wonderful writings-are in a high degree worthy of the epithet "mighty." In what "deeds" he was mighty we read not, unless it refer to the skill with which he led Israel out of Egypt, and through the wilderness to the borders of the promised land. But the reference, perhaps, is to some unrecorded circumstances in his early life. What Josephus says of his military exploits is hardly to be depended on; but when he tells us that his ability was acknowledged before he left Egypt, there is no reason depended on; but when he tells us that his ability was acknowledged before he left Egypt, there is no reason to question his accuracy.