Atos 7:28

28 Quer matar-me como matou o egípcio ontem?’[a]

Atos 7:28 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:28

Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?
] That is, is it thy will? dost thou design to kill me? or, as in ( Exodus 2:14 ) "intendest" thou to kill me? In the Hebrew text it is, "wilt thou kill me, dost thou say?" that is, as Aben Ezra rightly interprets it, dost thou say so "in thine heart?" which is a much better observation than that of Jarchi's;

``from hence we learn, says he, that he slew him by the ineffable name:''

though this is the sense of some of their ancient doctors F3;

``"to kill me dost thou say?" it is not said, "dost thou seek?" but "dost thou say?" from whence you may learn, that the ineffable name was made mention of over the Egyptian, and he slew him.''

The word "yesterday" is added by Stephen, but with great truth and propriety, and is in the Septuagint version of ( Exodus 2:14 ) . The "as" here does not intend the manner of killing, whether by the fist or sword, or by pronouncing the word Jehovah, as Jarchi thinks, but killing itself, by whatsoever way; and the words were very spitefully said, on purpose to publish the thing, and to expose Moses to danger of life, as it did.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Shemot Rabba, ib.

Atos 7:28 In-Context

26 No dia seguinte, Moisés dirigiu-se a dois israelitas que estavam brigando, e tentou reconciliá-los, dizendo: ‘Homens, vocês são irmãos; por que ferem um ao outro?’
27 “Mas o homem que maltratava o outro empurrou Moisés e disse: ‘Quem o nomeou líder e juiz sobre nós?
28 Quer matar-me como matou o egípcio ontem?’
29 Ouvindo isso, Moisés fugiu para Midiã, onde ficou morando como estrangeiro e teve dois filhos.
30 “Passados quarenta anos, apareceu a Moisés um anjo nas labaredas de uma sarça em chamas no deserto, perto do monte Sinai.

Footnotes 1

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