Acts 7:52 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:52

Did not … persecute for have not … persecuted, A.V. ; killed for have slain, A.V. ; righteous for just, A.V. ; have now become for have been now, A.V. ; betrayers for the betrayers, A.V. The close resemblance of Stephen's words to those of our Lord recorded in Luke 13:33 , Luke 13:34 ; Matthew 5:12 ; Matthew 23:30 , Matthew 23:31 , Matthew 23:34-37 , lend some support to the tradition that he was one of the seventy, and had heard the Lord speak them. But the resemblance... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets ... - The interrogative form here is a strong mode of saying that they had persecuted “all” the prophets. It was “the characteristic of the nation” to persecute the messengers of God. This is not to be taken as literally and universally true; but it was a general truth; it was the national characteristic. See the notes on Matthew 21:33-40; Matthew 23:29-35.And they have slain them ... - That is, they have slain the prophets, whose main message was that the Messiah was to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 7:51-53

Acts 7:51-53. Ye stiff-necked, &c. Stephen, finding by a confused murmur in the place that they understood whither his discourse tended, and perceiving by the eagerness of their countenances that they would soon interrupt him, applied himself more closely to his persecutors in these remarkable words, which he boldly addressed to them under the influence of the Holy Spirit, by whose direction he spoke; Ye stiff-necked Inflexible and obstinate sinners, not bowing your necks to God’s... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 7:1-60

Stephen before the Sanhedrin (7:1-60)The defence that Stephen made before the Sanhedrin was not designed to win its approval. He outlined Israel’s history to demonstrate two main points. First, God had never shown himself to be limited to one dwelling place, or even one locality (therefore the Jews were mistaken in attaching such importance to the temple in Jerusalem). Second, the people of Israel had always rejected the messengers of God (therefore their rejection of the Messiah Jesus was not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 7:52

have, &c. = did . . . persecute. have slain = slew. shewed before. Greek. prokatangello. See Acts 3:18 . coming. Greek. eleusis. Only here. the Just One. Greek. dikaios. App-191 . Compare Acts 3:14 ; Act 22:14 . 1 John 2:1 . have been = became. the. Omit. betrayers. Greek. prodot e s . Here, Luk 6:16 . 2 Timothy 3:4 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 7:51-53

Acts 7:51-53. Ye stiff-necked, &c.— "Thus have I given you a brief account of the various periods of revelation, or the several dispensations of God to man, from the time in which Abraham, our renowned ancestor, was called out of idolatry to the knowledge of the true God, unto this very day when the kingdom of the Messiah has begun to take place—that seed of Abraham, in whom all the nations of the earth are to be blessed. And what I would have you understand by all that has been said, is... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:52

52. Which of, c.—Deadly hostility to the messengers of God, whose high office it was to tell of "the Righteous One," that well-known prophetic title of Messiah (Isaiah 53:11 Jeremiah 23:6, &c.), and this consummated by the betrayal and murder of Messiah Himself, on the part of those now sitting in judgment on the speaker, are the still darker features of the national character depicted in these withering words. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:2-53

2. Stephen’s address 7:2-53As a Hellenistic Jew, Stephen possessed a clearer vision of the universal implications of the gospel than did most of the Hebraic Jews. It was this breadth of vision that drew attack from the more temple-bound Jews in Jerusalem and led to his arrest. His address was not a personal defense designed to secure his acquittal by the Sanhedrin. It was instead an apologetic for the new way of worship that Jesus taught and His followers embraced."On the surface it appears to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:51-53

Stephen’s accusation 7:51-53Stephen concluded his defense by indicting his accusers. They had brought charges against him, but now he brought more serious charges against them.In his first speech to the Sanhedrin, Peter had been quite brief and forthright (Acts 4:8-12). He had presented Jesus as the only name by which people must be saved (Acts 4:12). In his second speech to that body, Peter had again spoken briefly but more directly (Acts 5:29-32). He had charged the Sanhedrin with crucifying... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:52

The Sanhedrin members were behaving just as their forefathers had. Note that Stephen had previously associated himself with "our fathers" (Acts 7:2; Acts 7:11-12; Acts 7:15; Acts 7:19; Acts 7:39; Acts 7:44-45), but now he disassociated himself from the Sanhedrin by referring to "your fathers." "Our fathers" were the trusting and obeying patriarchs, but "your fathers" were the unresponsive apostates. The Jews’ ill treatment of their prophets was well known and self-admitted (cf. 2 Chronicles... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:52

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:52

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 7:51-53

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 7:1-60

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 7:52

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 7:51-53

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:52

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:2-53

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:51-53

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:52

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