Acts 7:28

Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

Acts 7:28 (KJV)

Context

Stephen’s address to the council in Acts 7:28 is part of a longer speech recounting the history of Israel and emphasizing the recurring rebellion of the people against God. He quotes the exact confrontation recorded in Exodus 2:14, which took place the day after Moses defended a fellow Hebrew by killing an Egyptian taskmaster. When Moses attempted to mediate a dispute between two fighting Israelites, one of them aggressively rejected his intervention and confronted him with this question, revealing that his secret act of killing the Egyptian was publicly known.

Meaning

The question uttered by the Hebrew exposes the futility of attempting to hide actions; although Moses thought his deed was securely concealed in the sand, it was quickly brought to light. It also reveals a direct challenge to his authority and motives. This hostile response deeply frightened Moses and ultimately forced him to flee from Egypt to Midian, where he spent forty years before God formally called him to deliver the Israelites.

Biblical connections

Stephen draws a clear historical parallel between the rejection Moses experienced from his own people and the rejection of Jesus Christ by the religious leaders. Just as the ancient Israelites failed to recognize that God was using Moses to deliver them from physical slavery, the religious authorities of Stephen’s era were blind to the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Despite initial rejection, Moses became the deliverer of Israel, and Stephen argues that Jesus, whom the council crucified, is the ultimate deliverer sent by God.

Application

The Israelites’ initial hostility toward Moses establishes a historical pattern of rejecting God’s deliverance, serving as a solemn warning against spiritual stubbornness. God has been actively at work throughout Israel’s history, fulfilling His promises through unexpected means even when His chosen leaders were opposed. Believers must guard against the same hardness of heart that refuses to recognize God’s intervention when it arrives.

Reflection

This verse reminds believers that hidden actions eventually come to light and that God’s steadfast faithfulness can utilize imperfect individuals to accomplish His purposes. It challenges every believer to honestly examine how we respond to God’s messengers and His unfolding work in our lives. We must carefully consider whether we are willing to humbly follow God’s leading, even when it comes through circumstances that defy our preconceived expectations.