Acts 7 24

Acts 7:24 kjv

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

Acts 7:24 nkjv

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian.

Acts 7:24 niv

He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian.

Acts 7:24 esv

And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.

Acts 7:24 nlt

He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man's defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian.

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 24 Meaning

Acts 7:24 describes Moses' initial response to the plight of his enslaved Israelite kinsmen in Egypt. Upon witnessing an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, Moses, driven by a deep sense of justice and identification with his people, intervened forcefully. He came to the aid of the oppressed Israelite, taking punitive action against the Egyptian to secure justice for the wronged. This pivotal act marked Moses' first bold, albeit humanly initiated and premature, attempt to address the suffering of his people, foreshadowing his later divine calling as their deliverer.

Acts 7 24 Context

Verse Context: Acts 7:24 is part of Stephen's extensive defense before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts Israel's history from Abraham through the time of Moses and the prophets. In this section (Acts 7:20-43), Stephen highlights Moses' early life, divine calling, and most importantly, the persistent rejection of Moses by his own people. This particular verse describes Moses' immediate, unprompted act of intervening to help an Israelite slave. Stephen presents this event as Moses' first indication of understanding his call to deliver his kinsmen (Acts 7:25), even though it was not yet God's precise timing or method for Israel's liberation.

Chapter Context: Stephen's sermon (Acts 7:2-53) serves as his defense against accusations of blasphemy against the Law, Moses, and the Temple. He argues that Israel has a long history of rejecting God's chosen deliverers and prophets, from Abraham to Moses to Christ, and of resisting the Holy Spirit. By detailing Moses' initial act of identification and justice, Stephen sets the stage for portraying Moses as divinely chosen yet initially misunderstood and rejected by his people, drawing a clear parallel to how the current generation had rejected Jesus, the true Prophet like Moses.

Historical Context: Moses was raised in the Pharaoh's court as an Egyptian prince, yet he was aware of his Israelite heritage (Acts 7:21-23; Heb 11:24). This incident occurs when he is "about forty years old" (Acts 7:23). At this time, the Israelites had endured centuries of harsh slavery under Egyptian rule, subjected to forced labor and brutal treatment by taskmasters. The act of smiting the Egyptian highlights the severe oppression and injustice that defined their lives. Moses' action signifies his pivotal decision to align himself with his suffering people rather than maintain his privileged life in the oppressor's court.

Acts 7 24 Word analysis

• And seeing: Moses' act was triggered by a direct observation, indicating his attentiveness to his surroundings and the suffering within it.
• one of them: Refers to an Israelite, one of Moses' ethnic kinsmen, emphasizing his personal connection and empathy for his own people.
• suffer wrong (Greek: adikoúmenon - ἀδικούμενον): Implies being treated unjustly, wronged, or subjected to lawless and unrighteous behavior. This highlights the inherent sinfulness and illegitimacy of the Egyptian's action against the Israelite.
• he defended him (Greek: synēmynen - συνήμυνεν): This word signifies coming to the rescue, offering assistance, or helping one who is in danger. It implies an active, protective intervention rather than mere observation. Moses positioned himself as an ally and protector of the oppressed.
• and avenged him that was oppressed (Greek: ekdikēsas ton kataponúmenon - ἐκδικήσας τὸν καταπονούμενον):
  • avenged (ekdikēsas): While sometimes implying retribution, here it denotes administering justice, righting a wrong, or bringing about vindication. It suggests Moses sought to enforce righteous judgment against the oppressor, rather than merely personal revenge.
  • oppressed (kataponúmenon - καταπονούμενον): This term carries a stronger nuance than merely "suffer wrong." It describes someone worn down, wearied, or heavily burdened by continuous and severe mistreatment. It conveys the relentless and crushing nature of the Egyptian's oppression on the Israelite slave. Moses acted on behalf of someone thoroughly abused and exhausted.
• and smote the Egyptian (Greek: patáxas ton Aigyption - πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον):
  • smote (patáxas): Indicates a forceful, decisive blow, resulting in death in this context (as confirmed by Exod 2:12). This was a direct, lethal action that concluded Moses' intervention.

Words-group analysis:

• "And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed": This sequence of phrases demonstrates Moses' deep empathy, quick identification with the victim, and an immediate response driven by a strong sense of justice. It's not just a casual glance; it's a recognition of profound injustice followed by active advocacy for the victim. The use of "suffer wrong" and then "oppressed" (a stronger term) intensifies the depiction of the victim's plight and justifies Moses' intervention in his own mind.
• "he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian": This progression shows the escalation of Moses' intervention. He first came to aid, then sought justice for the ongoing abuse, and finally executed the ultimate, decisive blow. This chain of action highlights Moses' forceful attempt to correct the injustice, even to the point of lethal force. It underscores his nascent, though unrefined, role as a deliverer, acting on his own initiative before God's specific call and plan.

Acts 7 24 Bonus section

This act of Moses reveals his significant shift in identity, rejecting his privileged status as "son of Pharaoh's daughter" to align with his enslaved Hebrew kin. While courageous, it also highlights the difference between humanly initiated attempts at deliverance and God's ordained timing and method. Moses thought his kinsmen would understand his intention to deliver them through this violent act (Acts 7:25), but they did not, demonstrating that God's plan for Israel's liberation was not meant to come through a single act of violence by one man, but through a miraculous, sovereign display of divine power at the Red Sea, led by a humble and called servant. This immediate rejection by the very people he sought to help led to Moses' forty years in Midian, a period of purification and preparation by God for his true calling as leader and prophet.

Acts 7 24 Commentary

Acts 7:24 is a crucial moment in Stephen's narrative, presenting Moses' premature but passionate attempt at delivering his people. Moses, identifying with the deeply wronged Israelite, felt a profound internal impulse for justice. His actions—defending, avenging, and striking the Egyptian—reveal a man with a burgeoning sense of destiny and a compassionate heart for his kinsmen. This act, though born of righteous indignation, was a human effort lacking divine instruction, ultimately forcing Moses to flee. It demonstrates his willingness to sacrifice personal privilege for the sake of his people, reflecting a faith commitment later detailed in Hebrews. Stephen uses this event to highlight Moses as God's chosen deliverer who was misunderstood and initially rejected by his own people, drawing a parallel to Israel's rejection of Christ, the greater Deliverer. This sets the stage for understanding Israel's consistent pattern of resisting God's anointed ones.