Keraia
Acts 7

Acts 7:51

The Tabernacle of the Testimony · Acts 7:44–53
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Translations

Modern
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Traditional
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Literal
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As did your fathers, also you do.
Latin
Dura cervice, et incircumcisis cordibus et auribus, vos semper Spiritui Sancto resistitis: sicut patres vestri, ita et vos.

Original

Greek
English
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Notes

Acts 7:51

Stephen accused the people of being stiff-necked with uncircumcised hearts and ears. This means they were strong-willed and ignored God's truth. This was exactly how God had accused them of behaving during the time of wilderness wandering. Here, Stephen links it to rejecting the gospel and resisting the Holy Spirit (see Exodus 32:9; 33:3; 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:6, 13; 31:27; see also Psalm 78:8; Zechariah 7:11–12).

Acts 7:1–53

  • Stephen answered the accusations by speaking about his Lord (see Luke 21:12–17). Instead of defending himself, he became a witness in God's legal case against them. This revealed how contrary they were and their lack of loyalty. Stephen gave a history of Israel's past and reminded them of their repeated rejections of those who announced God's messages.

  • Stephen's review of Israel's history has three main parts:

    1. The work of the patriarchs. This refers to Abraham and those descended from him who founded the nation of Israel (Acts 7:2–16).

    2. The ministry of Moses (7:17–43).

    3. The role of the tabernacle and the temple (7:44–50).

      Stephen ended his historical survey with a strong criticism of his people's lack of obedience. Like a prophet, he challenged them to stop resisting the Holy Spirit. He told them to turn to God with grief for their sins (repentance) and faith.

Events

Parallels

Exodus 40:1–33 Hebrews 9:1–10

Glossary

Apocalypse of James Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of the Acts of the Apostles Circumcision Courts and Trials Heart Hellenism Jerusalem Council Paul the Apostle Persecution Peter, the Apostle Stephen

Topics

Blasphemers Blaspheming the Holy Spirit Calvinism Character of the Unrenewed Heart: Uncircumcised Character of the Wicked: Stiff-Necked Character of the Wicked: Uncircumcised in Heart Court: Accused Spoke in his own Defense Government: Constitutes Holy Boldness: Stephen Holy Spirit: General Scriptures Concerning Holy Spirit: Sin Against Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Offenses Against the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Resisting Him Reproof: Faithfulness in Stephen, of the High Priest Reproof: Stephen Select Readings: Stephen's Defense Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Resisting the Holy Spirit Self-Will: Exhibited in Resisting the Holy Spirit The Ear of the Wicked: Uncircumcised The Holy Spirit: is God: As Jehovah, Most High The Jews: National Character of Stubborn and Stiffnecked the Personality of Holy Spirit: He Can be Resisted