Acts 7 28

Acts 7:28 kjv

Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

Acts 7:28 nkjv

Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?'

Acts 7:28 niv

Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'

Acts 7:28 esv

Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'

Acts 7:28 nlt

'Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?'

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 28 meaning

Acts 7:28 captures the cutting accusation directed at Moses by one of the Israelites he sought to help: "Did you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?" This verse, quoted by Stephen in his defense, reveals an early and telling instance of Israel's rejection of their appointed deliverer. It signifies their resistance to God's chosen instrument, their misinterpretation of Moses' actions, and their refusal to acknowledge his divine calling, instead throwing his past mistake back at him. This incident illustrates a recurring theme of resistance and unbelief that Stephen highlights throughout Israel's history.

Acts 7 28 Context

Acts chapter 7 contains Stephen's impassioned defense before the Sanhedrin, which ultimately leads to his martyrdom. His speech is a masterful retelling of Israel's history, not merely as a historical recitation but as an indictment. Stephen methodically highlights the nation's consistent pattern of rejecting God's chosen messengers and turning away from Him, even in their covenant relationship.

Verse 28 falls within Stephen's narrative of Moses' early life, specifically after Moses killed an Egyptian who was brutalizing a Hebrew slave (Exod 2:11-12). The very next day, Moses attempted to mediate a dispute between two Hebrew men. Instead of gratitude or acceptance of his intervention, he was met with scorn and this sharp accusation from one of the combatants, reminding him of his recent violent act and questioning his authority to judge or intervene. This event took place before the Exodus and before Moses' official commissioning by God at the burning bush. For Stephen, this early rejection of Moses by his own people serves as a foundational example of their national predisposition to resist and deny the deliverers God sends them, culminating in their rejection and murder of Jesus Christ.

Acts 7 28 Word analysis

• Did you want to kill me:

  • "Did you want" (τί ... θέλεις, ti ... theleis): This phrasing conveys intention or desire, not merely a hypothetical question. It accuses Moses of harboring murderous intent, perhaps to usurp authority.
  • "to kill" (ἀνελεῖν, anelein): This Greek infinitive signifies to "take up" and "kill, abolish, destroy." It implies violent taking of life, the same word used in Exod 2:14 in the Septuagint. The use here connects Moses' past action directly to the present perceived threat.

• as you killed:

  • "as" (ὃν τρόπον, hon tropon): Meaning "in the way which," "just as," "according to the manner." It draws a direct and accusing parallel between Moses' past action and his perceived current intention.
  • "killed" (ἀνεῖλες, aneiles): The aorist indicative form of the same verb "ἀνελεῖν," referring to a completed action in the past, confirming the fact of the Egyptian's death by Moses' hand.

• the Egyptian:

  • (τὸν Αἰγύπτιον, ton Aigyption): Clearly identifies the victim of Moses' previous act, solidifying the specific accusation against him. This was not a general claim but a reference to a known incident.

• yesterday:

  • (ἐχθὲς, echthes): Literally "yesterday," but can also function idiomatically as "a short while ago," "recently," or "just now." This emphasizes the freshness and public knowledge of Moses' act, making the accusation particularly stinging and potent. It shows that Moses' act of identification with his people was not universally welcomed.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Did you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?": This entire question functions as a severe and ironic indictment. It encapsulates an attitude of hostile skepticism towards a perceived leader, challenging his legitimacy based on a prior morally questionable act (from the accuser's perspective). The accuser rejects Moses' implicit claim to authority, uses Moses' past to discredit him, and refuses to recognize divine providence at work. This group of words profoundly illustrates the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart that would characterize many in Israel, rejecting God's chosen instruments, and serving as a direct rhetorical link for Stephen to demonstrate their eventual rejection of Christ.

Acts 7 28 Bonus section

The Hebrew's accusation in Acts 7:28, though quoted by Stephen from Moses' life, reverberates with a deeper significance for Stephen's own situation before the Sanhedrin. Just as Moses was accused and his authority questioned by those he came to help, so Stephen, in declaring the truth about Jesus as Israel's true deliverer, was facing similar rejection and accusations from his own people. The Jewish leaders rejected Stephen's message, as they had rejected Jesus, and before that, the prophets, and even Moses himself in certain instances. This continuous cycle of resistance forms the core of Stephen's message and underpins his ultimate martyrdom, fulfilling the very pattern he highlights in his speech.

Acts 7 28 Commentary

Acts 7:28 is more than just a historical quotation; it's a profound rhetorical pivot in Stephen's sermon. Stephen highlights how Moses, already divinely intended as a deliverer (Acts 7:25), was not merely misunderstood but explicitly rejected and accused by the very people he sought to liberate. This incident reveals a critical and lamentable trait of Israel: a propensity to reject God's appointed messengers and, often, to misinterpret their intentions or actions, seeing a murderer rather than a savior.

The specific accusation about killing the Egyptian reveals several layers. Firstly, it points to the human inability or unwillingness to discern God's hand in an unsanctioned or unconventional act. Moses' zealous, though perhaps premature, intervention was an act of identification with his oppressed brethren, yet it was viewed by this man as a mere act of violence, discrediting his moral standing to resolve their conflict. Secondly, the use of "yesterday" signifies that the memory of Moses' deed was fresh and used as leverage to dismiss his authority, demonstrating how quickly human error can overshadow divine potential. Stephen uses this foundational moment to expose the persistent "stiff-necked" resistance to divine authority and to the Spirit throughout Israel's history, foreshadowing their ultimate rejection and murder of Jesus Christ, the true Prophet like Moses.