Acts 7:26-29 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The next day he showed himself unto them Of his own accord, unexpectedly; as they strove As they were quarrelling with each other; and would have set them at one That is, by interposing between them, he would have put an end to their quarrel, and have persuaded them to live in peace and friendship; saying, Sirs, ye are brethren Descended from Jacob, our common ancestor, and now also joined in affliction as well as in religion; which things ought doubly to cement your affections to each other; why then do you injure one another? But he that did his neighbour wrong Unable to bear with his plain and faithful reproof; insolently thrust him away As a person that had nothing to do in their controversy; saying, Who made thee a ruler, &c., over us? Thus, under the pretence of the want of a call by man, the instruments of God are often rejected. The speech of this single person is represented (Act 7:35) as expressing the sentiments of the whole body of the people, as their slowness afterward to believe the mission of Moses, when attested by miracle, (Exodus 5:20-21,) seems evidently to show that it was. Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian, &c. His blood may cost thee dear enough, without adding mine to it. Then fled Moses Finding the matter was discovered, and being apprehensive that, in consequence of it, the Egyptian power would soon be armed against him, while the Israelites were not inclined to use any efforts for his protection, nor to put themselves under his guidance. See the note on Exodus 2:15. And was a stranger in the land of Madian Where he became shepherd to Jethro, the prince of the country, and marrying Zipporah his daughter, he begat two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.