Devine Scripture

Acts 7:24

What does Acts 7:24 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 7:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 7:24 means

Seeing an Israelite being wronged, Moses intervened and struck down the Egyptian oppressor. Stephen underscores Moses’ instinct to defend the oppressed, previewing his future role as deliverer. However, the act, done on Moses’ initiative, does not secure the people’s trust. Human strength and justice instincts, though aligned with God’s concern, require God’s timing and method. The critical issue is not that Moses cared, but that Israel was not ready to receive him. Stephen is shaping a pattern: God’s chosen leader acts for his people, yet is misunderstood. This foreshadows the gospel story, where the Righteous One acts for Israel’s salvation and is not received.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And seeing one of them being attacked, he went to his help and gave the Egyptian a death-blow:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having seen a certain one suffering injustice, he did defend, and did justice to the oppressed, having smitten the Egyptian;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him: and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and seeing a certain one wronged, he defended [him], and avenged him that was being oppressed, smiting the Egyptian.

Context

Verse 24 narrates Moses’ decisive action. Verse 25 will reflect on Moses’ assumption that his brothers would understand his role. The following verses (26–28) describe the confrontation between Israelites and their rejection of Moses’ authority. This leads to Moses’ flight (verse 29). The context maintains Stephen’s theme: initial deliverance efforts meet resistance, not because the deliverer is unfit, but because the people’s hearts are not yet prepared to recognize God’s chosen servant.

v.23But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

v.24This passage

v.25and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they understood not.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 7:28

    Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?

  • John 18:10

    Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.

  • John 18:25

    Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also one of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not.

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