Acts 7:27

27 But he that did the wrong to his neighbour, putted him away, and said, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman on us? [Forsooth he that did wrong to his neighbour, put him away, saying, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman upon 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 For he guessed that his brethren should understand, that God should give to them health by the hand of him [that God by the hand of him should give to them health]; but they understood not.

26 For in the day following he appeared to them chiding, and he accorded them in peace, and said, Men, ye be brethren; why harm ye each other? [+Forsooth in the day following he appeared to them chiding, and reconciled them in peace, saying, Men, ye be brethren; why harm ye each to other?]

27 But he that did the wrong to his neighbour, putted him away, and said, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman on us? [Forsooth he that did wrong to his neighbour, put him away, saying, Who ordained thee prince and doomsman upon us?]

28 Whether thou wilt slay me, as yesterday thou killedest the Egyptian?

29 And in this word Moses flew, and was made a comeling in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.