The Meaning of Acts 7:24 Explained

Acts 7:24

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

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

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Acts 7:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 7:14-29 - Stephen's Defense: The Deliverer From Bondage
Moses, we are here told, was "mighty in words;" that is, in eloquence as well as in deeds. This confirms the statement of the Jewish historian, Josephus, that in the earlier part of his career, now lost in the oblivion of history, Moses led a very successful Egyptian expedition against Ethiopia. He complains to the Lord, in Exodus 4:10, of being slow of speech, but that probably refers to the habit of long disuse amid the silence and loneliness of the desert.
It is clear that, stung by the sense of wrong, Moses at first interfered with his own right arm to deliver his people. He smote the Egyptian, and essayed to judge between his brethren. God had to bring him into the dust by repeated failure and rejection that he might become an emptied and a broken vessel. God will not give glory to man. The treasure must be held in an earthen vessel, 2 Corinthians 4:7. It is when we come to the end of ourselves that we arrive at the beginning of God. The world has ever to learn what God can do by those who are wholly emptied of self-confidence but yielded to His hand. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 7

1  Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,
2  shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,
20  before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;
37  that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;
44  and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time;
51  reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold
54  Whereupon they stone Stephen to death,
59  who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them

Greek Commentary for Acts 7:24

Suffer wrong [αδικουμενον]
Present passive participle of αδικηο — adikēo By blows (Exodus 2:11). [source]
Avenged [εποιησεν εκδικησιν]
First aorist active indicative of ποιεω — poieō This idiom occurs in Luke 18:7 with εκδικησιν — ekdikēsin (this from εκδικεω — ekdikeō and that from εκδικος — ekdikos without right or law δικη — dikē and then exacting law of right out of εκ — ek one, exacting vengeance). Him that was oppressed (τωι καταπονουμενωι — tōi kataponoumenōi). Present passive articular participle in the dative case of καταπονεο — kataponeo to tire down with toil, to treat roughly, common in late Greek, in the N.T. only here and 2 Peter 2:7 (sore distressed). The man was on the point of being overcome. Smiting First aorist active participle of πατασσω — patassō in the old Greek the beat of the heart, only in the lxx and N.T. to smite a deadly blow as here like πλησσω — plēssō f0). [source]
Him that was oppressed [τωι καταπονουμενωι]
Present passive articular participle in the dative case of καταπονεο — kataponeo to tire down with toil, to treat roughly, common in late Greek, in the N.T. only here and 2 Peter 2:7 (sore distressed). The man was on the point of being overcome. [source]
Smiting [παταχας]
First aorist active participle of πατασσω — patassō in the old Greek the beat of the heart, only in the lxx and N.T. to smite a deadly blow as here like πλησσω — plēssō f0). [source]
Defended [ἠμύνατο]
Only here in New Testament. The word means originally to ward off from one's self, with a collateral notion of requital or revenge. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 7:24

Acts 2:5 Were dwelling [ησαν κατοικουντες]
Periphrastic imperfect active indicative. Usually κατοικεω — katoikeō means residence in a place (Acts 4:16; Acts 7:24; Acts 9:22, Acts 9:32) as in Acts 2:14 (Luke 13:4). Perhaps some had come to Jerusalem to live while others were here only temporarily, for the same word occurs in Acts 2:9 of those who dwell in Mesopotamia, etc. [source]
Acts 7:26 Appeared [οραω]
First aorist passive indicative of μαχομενοις — horaō not with idea that only a vision but rather that it was sudden or unexpected. As they strove (μαχομαι — machomenois). Present middle participle of συνηλλασσεν αυτους εις ειρηνεν — machomai actually fighting. Would have set them at one again Better, he tried to reconcile them (or change them into peace). It is the conative imperfect active as in Matthew 3:14 of καταλλασσω — sunallassō only here in the N.T. though common in the old Greek. Vulgate has reconciliabat. The usual word in the N.T. for reconcile is αδικειτε αλληλους — katallassō Do ye wrong one to another (adikeite allēlous). The same word used in Acts 7:24 of the wrong done one of the Hebrews by the Egyptian, but here both are “brethren.” [source]
Acts 7:26 Would have set them at one again [συναλλασσω]
Better, he tried to reconcile them (or change them into peace). It is the conative imperfect active as in Matthew 3:14 of καταλλασσω — sunallassō only here in the N.T. though common in the old Greek. Vulgate has reconciliabat. The usual word in the N.T. for reconcile is αδικειτε αλληλους — katallassō Do ye wrong one to another (adikeite allēlous). The same word used in Acts 7:24 of the wrong done one of the Hebrews by the Egyptian, but here both are “brethren.” [source]
Acts 7:26 Do ye wrong one to another [adikeite allēlous)]
The same word used in Acts 7:24 of the wrong done one of the Hebrews by the Egyptian, but here both are “brethren.” [source]
Acts 7:48 In houses made with hands [εν χειροποιητοις]
No word here for “houses” or “temples” in correct text Literally, “In things made with hands” It occurs in Mark 14:58 of the temple and of the sanctuary of Moab (Isaiah 16:12). It occurs also in Acts 7:24; Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:24; Ephesians 2:11. Common in the old Greek. The prophet (ο προπητης — ho prophētēs). Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah taught plainly that heaven is God‘s throne. [source]
2 Peter 2:7 Vexed [καταπονούμενον]
Only here and Acts 7:24. Κατά gives the force of worn down. So Rev., sore distressed. [source]
2 Peter 2:7 Sore distressed [καταπονουμενον]
Present passive participle of καταπονεω — kataponeō late and common verb, to work down, to exhaust with labor, to distress, in N.T. only here and Acts 7:24.By the lascivious life of the wicked (υπο της των ατεσμων εν ασελγειαι αναστροπης — hupo tēs tōn athesmōn en aselgeiāi anastrophēs). “By the life in lasciviousness of the lawless.” Ατεσμος — Athesmos (alpha privative and τεσμος — thesmos), late and common adjective (cf. ατεμιτος — athemitos 1 Peter 4:3) for rebels against law (of nature and conscience here). Αναστροπη — Anastrophē is frequent in 1 Peter. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 7:24 mean?

And having seen a certain one being wronged he defended [him] did vengeance for the [one] being oppressed having struck down the Egyptian
καὶ ἰδών τινα ἀδικούμενον ἠμύνατο ἐποίησεν ἐκδίκησιν τῷ καταπονουμένῳ πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον

ἰδών  having  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
τινα  a  certain  one 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἀδικούμενον  being  wronged 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀδικέω  
Sense: absolutely.
ἠμύνατο  he  defended  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀμύνομαι  
Sense: defend.
ἐκδίκησιν  vengeance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκδίκησις  
Sense: a revenging, vengeance, punishment.
τῷ  for  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
καταπονουμένῳ  being  oppressed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: καταπονέω  
Sense: to tire down with toil, exhaust with labour.
πατάξας  having  struck  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πατάσσω  
Sense: to strike gently: as a part or a member of the body.
Αἰγύπτιον  Egyptian 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Αἰγύπτιος  
Sense: an Egyptian.

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