Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Acts 7:24

ἀδικούμενον, “wronged,” i.e., by blows, Exodus 2:11. ἠμύνατο : only here in N.T. (sc., τὸν ἀδικοῦντα); in active the verb means to defend, “debebat scribere ἤμυνε,” says Blass, but in the middle it means defence of oneself, or of a friend, with the collateral notion of requital or retaliation on an enemy (see Rendall). In the middle it has also the meaning of avenging, and therefore might mean here “he took vengeance on” or “he repulsed” (cf. Joshua 10:13 2Ma 10:17, Wis 11:3, and Jos., Ant., ix., 1, 2), although this is expressed in the next words. ἐποίησεν ἐκδίκησιν, cf. Luke 18:7-8; Luke 21:22; lit [205], “wrought an avenging,” Romans 12:19 (cf. Hebrews 10:30), 2Co 7:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 2:14. This and similar expressions are common in LXX, Judges 11:36; Psalms 149:7, Ezekiel 25:17, Malachi 3:15; Malachi 3:15; 1Ma 7:9; 1Ma 7:24; 1Ma 7:38; ἐκδ. in Polybius with ποιεῖσθαι, Acts 3:8; Acts 3:10. καταπονουμένῳ : only here and in 2 Peter 2:7; cf. 2Ma 8:2 (R has καταπ α τ ούμ., of the Jews oppressed, trodden down, in the days of Judas Maccabæus), Malachi 2:2; Malachi 2:2; Malachi 2:13; Malachi 2:13; used in Polyb. and Josephus, etc. The exact word is found in Didache 1, v., 2. πατάξας : lit [206], to strike, hence to kill, in Biblical language only, cf. Exodus 2:12; Exodus 2:14, and Acts 7:28 below: so also in Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27 (Zechariah 13:7, LXX). The verb is very frequent in LXX. “Smiting the Egyptian,” R.V. τὸν Αἰγ.: not previously mentioned, but implied in ἀδικ., which involves an oppressor; as in Acts 7:26 the facts are regarded by St. Stephen as known to his audience.

[205] literal, literally.

[206] literal, literally.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Acts 7:24

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