Acts 7:27

27 But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us:

Acts 7:27 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:27

But he that did his neighbour wrong
Who seems to be the same person whom Moses had defended the day before; and, according to the Jews, must be Dathan F1: the same

thrust him away;
from them, when he went to part them, and persuade them to be good friends:

saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
which was very ungrateful, if he was the man he had delivered the day before; and very impertinent, since he did not take upon him to rule and judge, but only to exhort and persuade to peace and brotherly love: the language suits with the spirit of Dathan or Abiram; ( Numbers 16:3 Numbers 16:12 Numbers 16:13 ) This is thought to be said to him by way of contempt of him, as being a very young man: the words are thus commented on in one of the ancient commentaries of the Jews F2,

``R. Judah says, Moses was twenty years of age at that time: wherefore it was said to him, thou art not yet fit to be a prince and a judge over us, seeing one of forty years of age is a man of understanding. And R. Nehemiah says, he was forty years of age; (See Gill on Acts 7:23) and it was said to him, truly thou art a man, but thou art not fit to be a prince and a judge over us: and the Rabbans say, he said to him, art thou not the son of Jochebed, though they call thee the son of Bithiah? and dost thou seek to be a prince and a judge over us? it is known concerning thee what thou didst to the Egyptian.''


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Targum Jon. in Exod. ii. 14. Debarim Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 237. 1.
F2 Shemot Rabba, ib.

Acts 7:27 In-Context

25 And he thought that his brethren understood that God by his hand would save them. But they understood it not.
26 And the day following, he shewed himself to them when they were at strife and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are brethren. Why hurt you one another?
27 But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us:
28 What! Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian?
29 And Moses fled upon this word: and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons.
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