Act 7:52 | KingComments | STEP | Reaching this point in his speech, it seems that Stephen notices that the Council understands that he is talking about them. In his speech he has reversed the arrows that were pointed at him and directed them at them. He has changed every ground for his conviction into a conviction of them. They have become the accused. Instead of moderating his tone under their threatening gaze, Stephen raises his voice and calls out to them what the status of their situation is. He calls them “stiff-necked” because they don’t want to bow their necks before God (cf. ). He further calls them “uncircumcised in heart and ears”. They may belong to the people of God through outward circumcision, but in their inner being they are like the uncircumcised Gentiles whose hearts are not turned toward God and who do not listen to God ( ; ). In their aversion to God, they resist the work of the Holy Spirit. They do not do this just once, but always ( ; ). Until now Stephen has always spoken about our fathers, but at this stage of his speech he distances himself from them and speaks about “your fathers”. Their fathers and they did and do the same in their resistance against the Holy Spirit. They do this even more clearly than their fathers, for the Spirit has come and is clearly active in a man like Stephen ( ). He asks them a rhetorical question: “Which of the prophets their fathers did not persecute?” They cannot mention an exception, because every prophet sent by God to remind His people of their sins and to call them to repentance was rejected by them ( ; ; ). All those prophets also pointed out the coming of the Righteous One, that is the Lord Jesus. And what have they, the Council, done with Him? They have betrayed and killed Him. This accusation was also made by Peter ( ). While Peter took “ignorance” into account as an extenuating circumstance, Stephen holds this company of religious leaders fully responsible for this greatest crime of all time. Whatever new revelation from God came, they rejected it, right up to and including the Son of God. The last words Stephen can speak relate to the way they received the law and the fact that they did not keep the law. They had accused him of speaking against the law ( ), but here he gives the law the highest honor and correct application. He acknowledges the exalted origin of the law ( ; ) as well as its full authority in its application to the members of the Council.

‏ Acts 7:52

Stephen’s Indictment

Reaching this point in his speech, it seems that Stephen notices that the Council understands that he is talking about them. In his speech he has reversed the arrows that were pointed at him and directed them at them. He has changed every ground for his conviction into a conviction of them. They have become the accused.

Instead of moderating his tone under their threatening gaze, Stephen raises his voice and calls out to them what the status of their situation is. He calls them “stiff-necked” because they don’t want to bow their necks before God (cf. Exo 33:5).

He further calls them “uncircumcised in heart and ears”. They may belong to the people of God through outward circumcision, but in their inner being they are like the uncircumcised Gentiles whose hearts are not turned toward God and who do not listen to God (Jer 9:26b; Rom 2:25). In their aversion to God, they resist the work of the Holy Spirit. They do not do this just once, but always (Isa 63:10; Psa 106:33).

Until now Stephen has always spoken about our fathers, but at this stage of his speech he distances himself from them and speaks about “your fathers”. Their fathers and they did and do the same in their resistance against the Holy Spirit. They do this even more clearly than their fathers, for the Spirit has come and is clearly active in a man like Stephen (Acts 6:5 ; 10).

He asks them a rhetorical question: “Which of the prophets their fathers did not persecute?” They cannot mention an exception, because every prophet sent by God to remind His people of their sins and to call them to repentance was rejected by them (2Chr 36:16; Jer 2:30; Mt 23:31). All those prophets also pointed out the coming of the Righteous One, that is the Lord Jesus. And what have they, the Council, done with Him? They have betrayed and killed Him.

This accusation was also made by Peter (Acts 3:14-15). While Peter took “ignorance” into account as an extenuating circumstance, Stephen holds this company of religious leaders fully responsible for this greatest crime of all time. Whatever new revelation from God came, they rejected it, right up to and including the Son of God.

The last words Stephen can speak relate to the way they received the law and the fact that they did not keep the law. They had accused him of speaking against the law (Acts 6:11 ; 13), but here he gives the law the highest honor and correct application. He acknowledges the exalted origin of the law (Gal 3:19; Heb 2:2) as well as its full authority in its application to the members of the Council.