Acts 7:24

For the Savior, seeing that those from Israel endured covetousness terribly (for Satan leapt upon them as though crushing them), had mercy and intended to free them. Having somehow killed the one destined to do wrong, he hid him in the earth, that is, he shut him up among the underworld into Hades. Therefore, having pre-locked Satan as it were into Hades, the Savior appeared as the champion of justice to those from Israel. But those on whom they were about to give thanks said, "This man does not cast out demons unless by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons." (Matt. 12:24) For this reason he also transferred from Judea into Galilee, just as Moses was transferred into the land of Midian, and he called together a contest from among the nations.

Moses killed the Egyptian, not moved by anger or wrath, but by zeal. For whatever is done for the sake of God's word is devoutness; and though it be murder when done for God, it is not murder. Now Phinehas, having slain two with one hand (Num. 15:7), was heard: "Phinehas has stood up and has made atonement, and the plague was stayed; and it was reckoned to him for righteousness." (Ps. 106:30) For the intention of a murderer and of a holy man is different, though the act be the same. Therefore the event through Moses was a sign that God was about to slay Egyptians through Moses and to save those called Israelites. Therefore much concerning Moses. This true discourse will again compose for us the supreme arrangement of contemplation that was in Christ.

"And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not." See how up to this point he is not yet offensive to them; how they listened to him while he said all this. And "his face," we read, "was as the face of an angel." "For he supposed," etc. And yet it was by deeds that his championship was shown; what intelligence was there need of here? but still for all this "they understood not." For what though they killed him not actually? In intention they did kill, as did the others in the former case. There, they sold out of their own into a strange land: here, they drive from one strange land into another strange land: in the former case, one in the act of bringing them food; in this, one in the act of giving them good counsel; one to whom, under God, the man was indebted for his life! Mark how it shows the truth of that saying of Gamaliel's, "If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it." See the plotted-against eventually becoming the authors of salvation to those plotting against them: the people, plotting against itself, and itself plotted against by others; and for all this, saved! A famine, and it did not consume them: nor was this all: but they were saved by means of the very person, whom they had expected to be destroyed by their means. A royal edict, and it did not consume them: nay then most did their number increase, when he was dead "who knew" them. Their own Saviour they wished to kill, but for all that, they had not power to do it. Do you observe, that by the means whereby the devil tried to bring to naught the promise of God, by those very means it was advanced?