Bible Strands
Acts 7:27
But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The man mistreating his neighbor pushes Moses aside and addresses the fighting Israelite directly. This occurs the day after Moses attempted to mediate a dispute between two warring Israelites.
The words — ἀπώσατο (apōsato) literally means "pushed away" or "pushed aside," describing a physical rejection of Moses' intervention. εἰπὼν (eipōn) translates to "having said," introducing the man's defiant question about Moses' right to rule.
The thread — The same challenge to unauthorized authority appears in Luke 12:14, where Jesus rejects the role of judge or executor between disputing parties. Acts 7:35 later recalls this exact rejection as the moment the Israelites refused the ruler God actually sent.
Why it lands — The text records a direct refusal of mediation, demanding the reader recognize that rejecting human correction precedes divine intervention. It asks the reader to examine whether they accept rightful correction or dismiss it as overreach.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
Cross-references
- Luke 12:14 But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
- Proverbs 9:7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Acts 7:35 This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
- Genesis 19:19 Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die.
- 1 Samuel 25:14 Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them.
- Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
- John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
- John 19:12 From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”
- Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
- Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”