Acts 7:28
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Original Language Analysis
μὴ
Wilt
G3361
μὴ
Wilt
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
1 of 11
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
ἀνεῖλες
kill
G337
ἀνεῖλες
kill
Strong's:
G337
Word #:
2 of 11
to take up, i.e., adopt; by implication, to take away (violently), i.e., abolish, murder
θέλεις
G2309
θέλεις
Strong's:
G2309
Word #:
5 of 11
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas g1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations),
ὃν
as
G3739
ὃν
as
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
6 of 11
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τρόπον
G5158
τρόπον
Strong's:
G5158
Word #:
7 of 11
a turn, i.e., (by implication) mode or style (especially with preposition or relative prefix as adverb, like); figuratively, deportment or character
ἀνεῖλες
kill
G337
ἀνεῖλες
kill
Strong's:
G337
Word #:
8 of 11
to take up, i.e., adopt; by implication, to take away (violently), i.e., abolish, murder
Historical Context
Pharaoh learned of Moses' action and sought to kill him (Exodus 2:15), forcing Moses into forty years of exile in Midian. This Egyptian Pharaoh was likely Thutmose III or Amenhotep II of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Questions for Reflection
- How do our 'secret' sins and self-directed actions ultimately hinder God's purposes?
- What is the difference between fleshly zeal for justice and Spirit-led obedience?
- Why must God's deliverers act under His authority rather than their own initiative?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The Hebrew's threatening question exposed Moses' hidden deed, forcing him to flee. Knowledge of Moses' killing the Egyptian had spread, revealing that secret sins eventually come to light. From a Reformed perspective, this demonstrates that human works, even acts of defense or justice, when done in the flesh apart from God's command, lead to fear and flight rather than deliverance. True deliverance would require God's sovereign intervention and call, not Moses' self-directed zeal.