Acts 7:24
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἰδών
seeing
G1492
ἰδών
seeing
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
2 of 13
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
ἀδικούμενον
of them suffer wrong
G91
ἀδικούμενον
of them suffer wrong
Strong's:
G91
Word #:
4 of 13
to be unjust, i.e., (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐποίησεν
G4160
ἐποίησεν
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
7 of 13
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καταπονουμένῳ
him that was oppressed
G2669
καταπονουμένῳ
him that was oppressed
Strong's:
G2669
Word #:
10 of 13
to labor down, i.e., wear with toil (figuratively, harass)
Historical Context
This event from Exodus 2:11-12 occurred when Moses was forty years old (Acts 7:23), during Egypt's New Kingdom period. Moses had been raised with full Egyptian education and privilege, creating internal tension between his Hebrew identity and Egyptian upbringing.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses' premature action warn against acting on God's behalf without His clear calling?
- What does forty years of waiting teach us about God's patient preparation of His servants?
- In what areas might you be running ahead of God's timing despite good intentions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses' defense of his Hebrew brother demonstrates early signs of his calling as deliverer, yet his fleshly zeal preceded God's timing. The Reformed understanding emphasizes that even our righteous acts apart from divine commission can miss God's purposes. Moses would spend forty years in the wilderness before God's proper call came (Acts 7:30), illustrating that human initiative, even with good intentions, must yield to divine sovereignty and timing.