Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 7:25
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
25. for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them ] Better, and he supposed that his brethren understood how that God by his hand was giving them deliverance. There is no condition in the sentence. The traditions, in the atmosphere of which Stephen moved, represent the death of the Egyptian as no mere ordinary killing by superior strength, but as brought about by mysterious Divine power, which Moses feeling within himself expected his kindred to recognize.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he supposed – This is not mentioned by Moses; but it is not at all improbable. When they saw him alone contending with the Egyptian; when it was understood that he had come and taken vengeance on one of their oppressors, it might have been presumed that he regarded himself as directed by God to interpose, and save the people.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. He supposed his brethren would have understood, c.] He probably imagined that, as he felt from the Divine influence he was appointed to be their deliverer, they would have his Divine appointment signified to them in a similar way and the act of justice which he now did in behalf of his oppressed countryman would be sufficient to show them that he was now ready to enter upon his office, if they were willing to concur.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This they might have inferred,
1. From his extraordinary deliverance out of the Egyptians hands, and out of the river, when young.
2. From his readiness to defend them: it was wonderful, that such a one as he was, and might have been, should mind them.
3. From the drawing near of the time of their deliverance, which they could not, without negligence, be wholly ignorant of.
By his hand; by his means and ministry.
But they understood not: stupidity is frequently charged upon this people: they then did not receive Moses, as these now would not receive Christ.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. For he supposed his brethrenwould have understood, c.and perhaps imagined this a suitableoccasion for rousing and rallying them under him as their leader thusanticipating his work, and so running unsent.
but they understoodnotReckoning on a spirit in them congenial with his own, hehad the mortification to find it far otherwise. This furnishes toStephen another example of Israel’s slowness to apprehend and fallin with the divine purposes of love.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he supposed his brethren would have understood him,…. From his being an Hebrew in such high life; from his wonderful birth, and miraculous preservation in his infancy, and education in Pharaoh’s court; and from the promise of God that he would visit them and save them:
how that God by his hand would deliver them: wherefore he was the more emboldened to kill the Egyptian, believing that his brethren would make no advantage of it against him; but look upon it as a beginning and pledge of their deliverance by him:
but they understood not; or “him not”, as the Ethiopic version reads; they did not understand that he was to be their deliverer, or that this action of his was a token of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He supposed (). Imperfect active of . He was supposing, Stephen explains, when he smote the Egyptian.
That his brethren understood ( ). Present active infinitive of , to send (put) together, to grasp, to comprehend, in indirect discourse with the accusative of general reference.
By his hand was giving them deliverance ( ). Picturesque use of “hand” as in 2:23, present active indicative of retained in indirect discourse after imperfect . But they understood not ( ). Page notes “the rhetorical power of these words” from Stephen. (first aorist indicative, aorist) refers to just before.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Understood [] See on understanding, Mr 12:33.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For he supposed,” (enomizen de) “Now he supposed,” or considered that.
2) “His brethren would have understood,” (sunienai tous adelphous) “That his racial brethren would understand,” perhaps from the curious history of his life which they should have heard and applauded for his patriotism, care for his actual racial family.
3) “How that God by his hand,” (hoti ho theos dis cheiros autou) “That God through his hand,” thru the instrument of his leadership, God who had so miraculously preserved them thru Joseph, would lead them to freedom, liberation or release from their oppressions, Gen 49:10.
4) “Would deliver them: (didosin soterian autois) “Would give over deliverance to them:- from the bondage of Egypt, by his hand one day, and he was willing to identify himself by physically standing up for and with them in shaking off the shackles of their bondage, Heb 11:25-26.
5) “But they understood not,” (hoi de ou sunekan) “But they had no understanding,” or did not comprehend, as reflected by their speech when he tried to settle a brawl between two of his own Hebrew brethren the following day, Exo 2:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(25) For he supposed his brethren would have understood . . .Better, and he supposed. The Greek conjunction never has the meaning of for, and the insertion of that word gives to the act of slaying the Egyptian a deliberate character which, in the narrative of Exo. 2:11-12, does not belong to it.
Would deliver them.Literally, was giving them salvation, or deliverance; the act being itself one of championship and the first step to deliverance.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. And they returned Like victors from the field, the apostles return to the capital. They probably pass by the same route which they once travelled with the Lord from Samaria, (Luk 9:51-55. See note on Joh 4:4.) Then John would have called fire from heaven upon the people. Now they testified the historic fact of the Lord’s history, and preached salvation through his name. For the route they took and the villages they evangelized (reversing our Lord’s course) see our note on Joh 4:4.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 7:25. He supposed his brethren would have understood It appears from this passage, that Moses had received some immediate revelation from God, that he was the person who should deliver Israel: besides, knowing that there was a divine promise of deliverance made to, and retained in the house of Israel; that he himself had been extraordinarily preserved and educated, and that the time of their deliverance was approaching, he shewed himself willing to run all hazards and dangers with the people of God, rather than continue in the splendor of the Egyptian court; and that when the time should be fully come, he would cheerfully join and head them in order to rescue them from their bondage and cruel slavery.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
Ver. 25. But they understood not ] For by this time they through long and hard oppression (which makes even a wise man mad, Ecc 7:7 ) had well nigh forgotten the promise of deliverance out of Egypt; and having been born in hell (as the proverb is) they knew no other heaven.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
25. ] The present, , sets forth the work of liberation as already begun by the act just related, see reff.
Here we have again the resistance to the Holy Spirit hinted: see Act 7:51 , and note on Act 7:2 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 7:25 . : a comment by St. Stephen, but we are not told upon what grounds Moses based his expectation (see however Lumby’s note, in loco ). The verb is found in Luk 2:44 ; Luk 3:23 , and seven times in Acts, but elsewhere in the Gospels only three times in St. Matthew; it is used three times by St. Paul. It is frequently found in ii. and iv. Macc., twice in Wisdom and once in Ecclesiasticus. , Act 2:23 . , “was giving them,” R.V. (not “would give,” A.V.), as if the first step in their deliverance was already taken by this act, so , “understood,” R.V. (not “would understand,” A.V.). In Jos., Ant. , ii., 9, 2, 3, reference is made to the intimation which was said to have been vouchsafed by God to Amram the father of Moses that his son should be the divine agent who was expected to arise for the deliverance of the Hebrews, and whose glory should be remembered through all ages. It has been sometimes thought that St. Stephen had this tradition in mind. : Mr. Page notes the rhetorical power in these words, cf. Act 7:53 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
would have. Omit.
deliver them = give them salvation.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
25.] The present, , sets forth the work of liberation as already begun by the act just related, see reff.
Here we have again the resistance to the Holy Spirit hinted: see Act 7:51, and note on Act 7:2.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 7:25. , he supposed) Therefore Moses knew the reason why he had done it.-, would understand) Often from one proof a judgment may be formed as to many cases [instances. Here, as to the general character of Moses].- , they understood not) By sloth and forgetfulness often great matters are neglected. It was this resistance (perverse opposition) of the people that seems afterwards to have induced Moses to refuse the undertaking.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
For: or, Now
God: Act 14:27, Act 15:4, Act 15:7, Act 21:19, 1Sa 14:45, 1Sa 19:5, 2Ki 5:1, Rom 15:18, 1Co 3:9, 1Co 15:10, 2Co 6:1, Col 1:29
but: Psa 106:7, Mar 9:32, Luk 9:45, Luk 18:34
Reciprocal: Exo 4:1 – General Num 16:13 – thou make Jdg 15:12 – to bind thee Heb 11:25 – Choosing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Act 7:25. He supposed his brethren would have understood, etc. This proves the point made in the two preceding paragraphs; Moses acted on his own supposition. The question will be raised as to why Moses formed this notion. The information is given in Josephus, Antiquities, Book 2, Chapter 9, Section a. That paragraph is too long to be quoted in full, but I shalt give the gist of it and the reader may verify it by consulting the history of Josephus. The father of Moses had gone to God in prayer concerning the danger his people were in and had received assurances that deliverance would be provided. That, as Abraham had been blessed with a son who meant so much to him, so, through the child soon to be born to him and his wife, great deliverance would be experienced by their people. It is reasonable to conclude that Moses’ father had told him about that prayer and the promise, and hence Moses “supposed” all of his brethren had heard about it also.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 7:25. He supposed his brethren would have understood. Some communication had probably taken place between him and his kinsmen since the time when it had first come into Moses heart to visit his brethren; and now such an act on the part of a kinsman holding so exalted a rank in Egypt ought to have given the oppressed people confidence in him. Moses vainly thought that this people, remembering their early history and the glorious promises of God, would at once have recognised in the doer of so bold an action on their behalf, a deliverer sent by that God.
But they understood not. Then as ever in the history of the chosen people, wilful misunderstanding on their part, of the ways and works of the Eternal, their Protector.
We seem to hear in these words, telling the old, often-repeated story of the Egyptian deliverance, the voice of Stephen changing for a moment into a voice of bitter, sorrowful reproach. No, they misunderstood their God then as now,
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 17