Mosaic justice

Stephen’s brief summary of Moses killing the Egyptian returns again and again to the dik – root, “justice.” Moses acts when he sees that one of his brothers is suffering adikia , injustice (the verb is adikeo , Acts 7:24). Moses intervenes by doing ekdikesis , by avenging justly; if we may etymologize, he brings justice out of ( ek ) an unjust situation by punishing the offender (v. 24).

This is the just visitation Moses wants to bring to all Israel. The next day he finds an Israelite doing injustice to another Israelite (vv. 26-27; the verb is again adikeo ). The unjust Jew will have none of the justice of Moses, and asks, Who made you dikastes ?

Though rejected by the Jews, Moses returns and does justice for them b becoming their “ruler and deliverer” (v. 35). The plagues and exodus finally fulfill Moses’ original plan to do ekdikesis on behalf of those who had suffered the adikia of Egyptian slavery.

Stephen’s summary of the story of Moses anticipates the denunciation of the Jews who are trying him. What they did to Moses they have done to every prophet who brings the justice of God, and finally they did it to the Dikaios , the Righteous, Jesus (v. 52).

Now: What import does all this have for our understanding of justification ( dikaiosis )? Discuss.