John Gill Commentary Acts 7:28

"Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?" — Acts 7:28 (ASV)

Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday ? That is, is it your will? do you design to kill me? or, as in (Exodus 2:14) "intendest" you to kill me? In the Hebrew text it is, "will you kill me, do you say?" that is, as Aben Ezra rightly interprets it, do you say so "in your heart?" which is a much better observation than that of Jarchi's;

"from which we learn, says he, that he slew him by the ineffable name:'' though this is the sense of some of their ancient doctors ^F3 ; ``"to kill me do you say?" it is not said, "do you seek?" but "do you say?" from which you may learn, that the ineffable name was made mention of over the Egyptian, and he slew him.''

The word "yesterday" is added by Stephen, but with great truth and propriety, and is in the Septuagint version of (Exodus 2:14) . The "as" here does not intend the manner of killing, whether by the fist or sword, or by pronouncing the word Jehovah, as Jarchi thinks, but killing itself, by whatsoever way; and the words were very spitefully said, on purpose to publish the thing, and to expose Moses to danger of life, as it did.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F3: Shemot Rabba, ib.