Acts 7:51
Verse
Context
The Tabernacle of the Testimony
50Has not My hand made all these things?’51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
Sermons
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Don Basham
Art Katz
James A. Stewart
Bruce Wilkinson
Richard SipleySummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Ye stiff-necked - Σκληροτραχηλοι. A metaphor taken from untoward oxen, who cannot be broken into the yoke; and whose strong necks cannot be bended to the right or the left. Uncircumcised in heart and ears - This was a Jewish mode of speech, often used by the prophets. Circumcision was instituted, not only as a sign and seal of the covenant into which the Israelites entered with their Maker, but also as a type of that purity and holiness which the law of God requires; hence there was an excision of what was deemed not only superfluous but also injurious; and by this cutting off, the propensity to that crime which ruins the body, debases the mind, and was generally the forerunner of idolatry, was happily lessened. It would be easy to prove this, were not the subject too delicate. Where the spirit of disobedience was found, where the heart was prone to iniquity, and the ears impatient of reproof and counsel, the person is represented as uncircumcised in those parts, because devoted to iniquity, impatient of reproof, and refusing to obey. In Pirkey Eliezer, chap. 29, "Rabbi Seira said, There are five species of uncircumcision in the world; four in man, and one in trees. Those in man are the following: - "1. Uncircumcision of the Ear. Behold, their Ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken, Jer 6:10. "2. The uncircumcision of the Lips. How shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised Lips? Exo 6:12. "3. Uncircumcision of Heart. If then their uncircumcised Hearts be humbled, Lev 26:41. Circumcise therefore the Foreskin of Your Heart, Deu 10:16; Jer 4:4. For all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the Heart, Jer 9:26. "4. The uncircumcision of the Flesh. Ye shall circumcise the Flesh of your Foreskin, etc., Gen 17:11." Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost - 1. Because they were uncircumcised in heart, they always resisted the influences of the Holy Spirit, bringing light and conviction to their minds; in consequence of which they became hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and neither repented at the preaching of John, nor credited the glad tidings told them by Christ and the apostles. 2. Because they were uncircumcised in ears, they would neither hear nor obey Moses, the prophets, Christ, nor the apostles. As your fathers did, so do ye - They were disobedient children, of disobedient parents: in all their generations they had been disobedient and perverse. This whole people, as well as this text, are fearful proofs that the Holy Spirit, the almighty energy of the living God, may be resisted and rendered of none effect. This Spirit is not sent to stocks, stones, or machines, but to human beings endued with rational souls; therefore it is not to work on them with that irresistible energy which it must exert on inert matter, in order to conquer the vis inertiae or disposition to abide eternally in a motionless state, which is the state of all inanimate beings; but it works upon understanding, will, judgment, conscience, etc., in order to enlighten, convince, and persuade. If, after all, the understanding, the eye of the mind, refuses to behold the light; the will determines to remain obstinate; the judgment purposes to draw false inferences; and the conscience hardens itself against every check and remonstrance, (and all this is possible to a rational soul, which must be dealt with in a rational way), then the Spirit of God, being thus resisted, is grieved, and the sinner is left to reap the fruit of his doings. To force the man to see, feel, repent, believe, and be saved, would be to alter the essential principles of his creation and the nature of mind, and reduce him into the state of a machine, the vis inertiae of which was to be overcome and conducted by a certain quantum of physical force, superior to that resistance which would be the natural effect of the certain quantum of the vis inertiae possessed by the subject on and by which this agent was to operate. Now, man cannot be operated on in this way, because it is contrary to the laws of his creation and nature; nor can the Holy Ghost work on that as a machine which himself has made a free agent. Man therefore may, and generally does, resist the Holy Ghost; and the whole revelation of God bears unequivocal testimony to this most dreadful possibility, and most awful truth. It is trifling with the sacred text to say that resisting the Holy Ghost here means resisting the laws of Moses, the exhortations, threatenings, and promises of the prophets, etc. These, it is true, the uncircumcised ear may resist; but the uncircumcised heart is that alone to which the Spirit that gave the laws, exhortations, promises, etc;, speaks; and, as matter resists matter, so spirit resists spirit. These were not only uncircumcised in ear, but uncircumcised also in heart; and therefore they resisted the Holy Ghost, not only in his declarations and institutions, but also in his actual energetic operations upon their minds.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ye stiffnecked . . . ye do always resist the Holy Ghost, &c.--It has been thought that symptoms of impatience and irritation in the audience induced Stephen to cut short his historical sketch. But as little farther light could have been thrown upon Israel's obstinacy from subsequent periods of the national history on the testimony of their own Scriptures, we should view this as the summing up, the brief import of the whole Israelitish history--grossness of heart, spiritual deafness, continuous resistance of the Holy Ghost, down to the very council before whom Stephen was pleading.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Who have received the law, by the disposition of angels,.... Who attended the angel that spake to Moses on Mount Sinai, Act 7:38 who is the head of all principality and power, and whom he might make use of in giving the law to Moses: hence the law is said to be ordained by angels, in the hand of a Mediator, and is called the word spoken by angels, Gal 3:19 and certain it is, that there were great numbers of angels on Mount Sinai, when the law was given, Deu 33:2 And so the Jews say (m), that "when the holy blessed God descended on Mount Sinai, there came down with him many companies of angels, Michael and his company, and Gabriel and his company'' Indeed they often say (n), "the law was not given to the ministering angels:'' their meaning is, it was not given to them to observe and keep, because there are some things in it, which do not concern angels; but then it might be given to them to deliver to Moses, who gave it to the Israelites, and so may be said to receive it by the ministration of angels, through the hands of Moses. And now the law being given and received in so grand a manner, was an aggravation of the sin of the Jews in violating it, as it follows: and have not kept it; but broke it in innumerable instances, and scarce kept it in any; for no man can keep it perfectly. (m) Debarim Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 237. 3. (n) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 25. 2. Yoma. fol. 30. 1. Kiddushin, fol. 54. 1.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Stephen was going on in his discourse (as it should seem by the thread of it) to show that, as the temple, so the temple-service must come to an end, and it would be the glory of both to give way to that worship of the Father in spirit and in truth which was to be established in the kingdom of the Messiah, stripped of the pompous ceremonies of the old law, and so he was going to apply all this which he had said more closely to his present purpose; but he perceived they could not bear it. They could patiently hear the history of the Old Testament told (it was a piece of learning which they themselves dealt much in); but if Stephen go about to tell them that their power and tyranny must come down, and that the church must be governed by a spirit of holiness and love, and heavenly-mindedness, they will not so much as give him the hearing. It is probable that he perceived this, and that they were going to silence him; and therefore he breaks off abruptly in the midst of his discourse, and by that spirit of wisdom, courage, and power, wherewith he was filled, he sharply rebuked his persecutors, and exposed their true character; for, if they will not admit the testimony of the gospel to them, it shall become a testimony against them. I. They, like their fathers, were stubborn and wilful, and would not be wrought upon by the various methods God took to reclaim and reform them; they were like their fathers, inflexible both to the word of God and to his providences. 1. They, like their fathers, were stubborn and wilful, and would not be wrought upon by the various methods God took to reclaim and reform them; they were like their fathers, inflexible both to the word of God and to his providences. 1. They were stiff-necked (Act 7:51), and would not submit their necks to the sweet and easy yoke of God's government, nor draw in it, but were like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; or they would not bow their heads, no, not to God himself, would not do obeisance to him, would not humble themselves before him. The stiff neck is the same with the hard heart, obstinate and contumacious, and that will not yield - the general character of the Jewish nation, Exo 32:9; Exo 33:3, Exo 33:5; Exo 34:9; Deu 9:6, Deu 9:13; Deu 31:27; Eze 2:4. 2. They were uncircumcised in heart and ears their hearts and ears were not devoted and given up to God, as the body of the people were in profession by the sign of circumcision: "In name and show you are circumcised Jews, but in heart and ears you are still uncircumcised heathens, and pay no more deference to the authority of your God than they do, Jer 9:26. You are under the power of unmortified lusts and corruptions, which stop your ears to the voice of God, and harden your hearts to that which is both most commanding and most affecting." They had not that circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, Col 2:11. II. They, like their fathers, were not only not influenced by the methods God took to reform them, but they were enraged and incensed against them: You do always resist the Holy Ghost. 1. They resisted the Holy Ghost speaking to them by the prophets, whom they opposed and contradicted, hated and ridiculed; this seems especially meant here, by the following explication, Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? In persecuting and silencing those that spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost they resisted the Holy Ghost. Their fathers resisted the Holy Ghost in the prophets that God raised up to them, and so did they in Christ's apostles and ministers, who spoke by the same Spirit, and had greater measures of his gifts than the prophets of the Old Testament had, and yet were more resisted. 2. They resisted the Holy Ghost striving with them by their own consciences, and would not comply with the convictions and dictates of them. God's Spirit strove with them as with the old world, but in vain; they resisted him, took part with their corruptions against their convictions, and rebelled against the light. There is that in our sinful hearts that always resists the Holy Ghost, a flesh that lusts against the Spirit, and wars against his motions; but in the hearts of God's elect, when the fulness of time comes, this resistance is overcomer and overpowered, and after a struggle the throne of Christ is set up in the soul, and every thought that had exalted itself against it is brought into captivity to it, Co2 10:4, Co2 10:5. That grace therefore which effects this change might more fitly be called victorious grace than irresistible. III. They, like their fathers, persecuted and slew those whom God sent unto them to call them to duty, and make them offers of mercy. 1. Their fathers had been the cruel and constant persecutors of the Old Testament prophets (Act 7:51): Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? More or less, one time or other, they had a blow at them all. With regard even to those that lived in the best reigns, when the princes did not persecute them, there was a malignant party in the nation that mocked at them and abused them, and most of them were at last, either by colour of law or popular fury, put to death; and that which aggravated the sin of persecuting the prophets was, that the business of the prophets they were so spiteful at was to show before of the coming of the just One, to give notice of God's kind intentions towards that people, to send the Messiah among them in the fulness of time. Those that were the messengers of such glad tidings should have been courted and caressed, and have had the preferments of the best of benefactors; but, instead of this, they had the treatment of the worst of malefactors. 2. They had been the betrayers and murderers of the just One himself, as Peter had told them, Act 3:14, Act 3:15; Act 5:30. They had hired Judas to betray him, and had in a manner forced Pilate to condemn him; and therefore it is charged upon them that they were his betrayers and murders. Thus they were the genuine seed of those who slew the prophets that foretold his coming, which, by slaying him, they showed they would have done if they had lived then; and thus, as our Saviour had told them, they brought upon themselves the guilt of the blood of all the prophets. To which of the prophets would those have shown any respect who had no regard to the Son of God himself? IV. They, like their fathers, put contempt upon divine revelation, and would not be guided and governed by it; and this was the aggravation of their sin, that God had given, as to their fathers his law, so to them his gospel, in vain. 1. Their fathers received the law, and did not observe it, Act 7:53. God wrote to them the great things of his law, after he had first spoken them to them; and yet they were counted by them as a strange or foreign thing, which they were no way concerned in. The law is said to be received by the disposition of angels, because angels were employed in the solemnity of giving the law, in the thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of the trumpet. It is said to be ordained by angels (Gal 3:19), God is said to come with ten thousand of his saints to give the law (Deu 33:2), and it was a word spoken by angels, Heb 2:2. This put an honour both upon the law and the Lawgiver, and should increase our veneration for both. But those that thus received the law yet kept it not, but by making the golden calf broke it immediately in a capital instance. 2. They received the gospel now, by the disposition, not of angels, but of the Holy Ghost, - not with the sound of a trumpet, but, which was more strange, in the gift of tongues, and yet they did not embrace it. They would not yield to the plainest demonstrations, any more than their fathers before them did, for they were resolved not to comply with God either in his law or in his gospel. We have reason to think Stephen had a great deal more to say, and would have said it if they would have suffered him; but they were wicked and unreasonable men with whom he had to do, that could no more hear reason than they could speak it.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
7:51 Stephen raised the same charge that God had raised against his people in the wilderness: that they were heathen at heart and deaf to the truth, because they were rejecting the gospel and obstinately resisting the Holy Spirit (see Exod 32:9; 33:3; 34:9; Deut 9:6, 13; 31:27; see also Ps 78:8; Zech 7:11-12).
Acts 7:51
The Tabernacle of the Testimony
50Has not My hand made all these things?’51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Ten Virgins (Reading)
By Robert Murray M'Cheyne3.3K1:03:16GEN 6:3ISA 63:10HOS 7:16MAT 6:33MAT 7:24MAT 25:1ACT 7:51In this sermon, Reverend Robert Murray McChain focuses on the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:1-13. He addresses the congregation, dividing them into two classes: the wise and the foolish. The wise are those who have the gift of the Holy Spirit and show genuine sympathy and grace. They speak the language of Canaan and have a true relationship with God. On the other hand, the foolish are those who only profess their faith but lack the genuine presence of the Holy Spirit. Reverend McChain warns the unconverted members of the congregation about the consequences of their actions, urging them to repent and turn to God before it is too late.
A Plea for Kingdom Honesty - Part 1
By Don Basham2.2K35:28HonestyLUK 19:47LUK 20:6ACT 4:31ACT 7:51In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the power and miracles experienced by the early church as recorded in Acts 4. The disciples prayed and were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking the word of God boldly. The believers were united in heart and soul, sharing everything they had. The sermon also discusses the importance of humility, repentance, and honesty in our relationship with God, using examples from the stories of David, Jesus having lunch with people, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Arab-07 Martyrdom
By Art Katz1.5K57:29ArabicACT 7:51ACT 7:54In this sermon, the speaker discusses the challenges faced by the church in overcoming historic prejudices and moving Israel to receive the Gospel. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a modern church that fulfills God's eternal purpose and demonstrates His wisdom to the principalities and powers. The sermon also highlights the sacrifice of Stephen, whose death played a critical role in the conversion of Saul to Paul. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for a church that reveals the glory of God and surrenders to His will.
K-495 the Crucifixion of God (2 of 2)
By Art Katz1.5K1:14:27CrossACT 7:51In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a conference where he felt out of place among well-dressed and charismatic figures. He contrasts his plain appearance and monotone delivery with their splendor and captivating speeches. Despite feeling rejected and insignificant, the speaker emphasizes the importance of a different kind of teaching that goes beyond principles and becomes a transformative event. He draws inspiration from the suffering and gracious death of Stephen, who reenacted the cross and showed the ability to bear suffering without retaliating. The speaker encourages the audience to embrace opposition and understand the purpose behind it.
Powerful Sermon Compilation - the Trumpet Solo
By James A. Stewart1.4K12:13NUM 14:18PSA 51:10PRO 28:13ACT 7:51EPH 4:30HEB 10:22JAS 4:81JN 4:20REV 2:5
This sermon emphasizes the consequences of sin and the need for repentance, highlighting the judgment that follows sin and the importance of churches and congregations repenting. It also discusses the tragedy of the minority of overcomers among the seven churches in Asia, portraying God as hurt and withdrawing due to the grief caused by sin and lack of love.
Walking in the Spirit - Part 3
By Bruce Wilkinson1.3K1:53:04Spirit FilledACT 7:51EPH 4:26In this sermon, the speaker begins by praying for guidance and asking for the joy of the Lord to be their strength. They then encourage the audience to take out their Bibles and sing a chorus together. The speaker shares a personal story about a financial commitment they made and how they were unable to fulfill it. They emphasize the importance of integrity and trusting in God's provision. The sermon also touches on the idea of focusing on one truth while not neglecting other truths in the Bible. The speaker concludes by leading the audience in singing a chorus and expressing their love for the Lord.
Grieve Not the Holy Spirit
By Richard Sipley1.3K45:08Grieving The Spirit1SA 10:6AMO 3:3MAT 10:28ACT 6:10ACT 7:51EPH 4:30In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing a book he read about an evangelist who preached to large crowds but allowed immorality and sin to destroy him. He then references the story of King Saul from the Bible, who started off as a great man of God but fell into disobedience. The preacher emphasizes the importance of not grieving or resisting the Holy Spirit, as it hinders our ability to walk with God. He concludes by warning against tempting the Spirit of the Lord and encourages the audience to surrender every aspect of their lives to God's ownership.
Book of Acts Series - Part 11 | the Upward Look
By Jim Cymbala1.2K48:06Book Of ActsACT 6:10ACT 7:51ACT 7:53In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the book of Acts and how ordinary people were able to spread the gospel and grow the church despite facing challenges. The speaker emphasizes that the early Christians did not have the resources or support that we have today, yet they were able to turn the world upside down. The sermon also highlights the story of Stephen, who was full of the Holy Spirit and saw the glory of God before being stoned to death. The speaker shares a personal story of leading someone to the Lord and emphasizes the power of God's grace and the importance of relying on Him.
The Witness of Stephen
By Les Wheeldon1.2K1:11:08StephenACT 7:51ACT 8:5ACT 8:30ACT 9:5GAL 5:16In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of giving away one's possessions and living a life free from sin. He tells the story of a man who was told by Jesus to give away his wealth but chose not to, and as a result, he never enjoyed his money again. The preacher highlights the idea that once the word of Jesus comes to a person, they are considered dead and must seek resurrection life. He also shares the story of a man who exemplified forgiveness and love by not confronting his neighbor when they encroached on his property, ultimately leading to the neighbor's repentance. The sermon concludes with a discussion of the apostle Paul's conversion and the transformative power of encountering Jesus.
Get Your Fingers Out of Your Ears
By Greg Locke1.1K48:18GEN 1:11SA 16:71KI 3:12ACT 7:51ACT 7:54In this sermon, the preacher discusses why people, both physically and spiritually, stick their fingers in their ears and refuse to listen to the message of God. He believes there are three reasons for this behavior, which can be seen in the context of Scripture. The first reason is that people cannot handle the truth of the Scriptures and choose to ignore it. The second reason is that they cannot resist the spirit by which the message is delivered, as it is not just a memorized or academic presentation, but a passionate and convicting proclamation. The preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching the Bible within its context and prays to be true to the Word of God.
K-484 Discipleship
By Art Katz9801:16:00DiscipleshipDAN 2:47MAT 6:33ACT 6:2ACT 6:8ACT 7:51In this sermon, the speaker expresses his deep concern for the state of the world and the future. He believes that the current cultural changes are just the beginning and that things will become even more bizarre and grotesque. He warns that there will be a breakdown of civilization and people will be desperate for basic necessities like water and air. The speaker emphasizes the need for a strong relationship with God and the ability to rely on Him in times of darkness and confusion.
Tophet - the Beating of Drums - Part 3 by Robert Wurtz
By Robert Wurtz II88728:17GEN 6:3ISA 14:12ACT 7:51ACT 9:5ROM 2:4
This sermon delves into the consequences for those who resist God's attempts at drawing them to repentance, using biblical references from Genesis, Acts, Romans, and Isaiah. It explores the pride and downfall of Lucifer, emphasizing the danger of resisting God's call to repentance and the ultimate destiny of those who persist in rebellion. The sermon challenges listeners to reflect on the distractions in their lives that prevent them from acknowledging their need for Christ and the urgency of making a decision before it's too late.
Growing in the Grace of God #19 - New Covenant Obedience Part 1
By Bob Hoekstra86052:17EXO 24:7ACT 7:51GAL 4:21In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of perfection and the desire to see growth in certain areas of our lives while diminishing others. He also highlights the issue of religious hype mentality, comparing it to the story of Israel and their inability to keep their pledge to obey God. The speaker emphasizes the importance of relying on God's ability to keep his promises, such as putting his spirit in us and writing his law in our hearts. The sermon concludes with a reference to Stephen's courageous sermon in Acts 7:51, where he addresses the leaders of Israel and criticizes their stubbornness and resistance to God's word.
Growing in the Grace of God #14 - Characters of New Covenant Life & Service Part 2
By Bob Hoekstra78847:17MAT 6:33LUK 23:46ACT 7:51ROM 15:172CO 2:162CO 3:22CO 3:6In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power of the New Covenant ministry in transforming people into living messages of Christ. He uses the example of Stephen in Acts 7, who boldly preached to the religious leaders and ultimately gave his life for his faith. Despite facing persecution and death, Stephen's message had a profound impact on the early church and continues to inspire believers today. The speaker also challenges the idea of needing commendation letters or credentials to validate one's ministry, highlighting the importance of being a faithful follower of Christ.
Ruin of a Christian
By Glenn Meldrum7871:00:04RuinACT 6:5ACT 7:51In this sermon, the speaker discusses the decline in passion and intimacy with God that often occurs over time in the lives of Christians. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with God and not allowing compromise to creep in. The speaker uses the example of Lot, who gradually lowered his standards and allowed worldly influences into his life. The sermon also highlights the need for Christians to bear good fruit in their lives and to be a genuine representation of Christianity to the world.
Send the Fire!
By Ian Brown72532:07LUK 24:32ACT 4:13ACT 7:51ACT 7:55ROM 8:14GAL 5:181PE 1:13In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a man who came to their house in a state of agitation and concern. The man sought counseling from an evangelist and, after being counseled about a sin, he threw his packet of cigarettes into the fire, symbolizing his desire to get rid of his sinful habits. The speaker then discusses the importance of applying the Word of God to our lives and how it can lead to a burning of the heart and a transformation. The sermon also mentions the significance of prayerfulness and reading the Bible on one's knees, as exemplified by the great evangelist George Whitefield.
Bearing the Family Likeness
By Raymond Brown51441:34SanctificationMAT 6:33JHN 16:13ACT 1:8ACT 7:51ACT 7:54In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Stephen from the Acts of the Apostles. The speaker highlights Luke's skillful use of contrast in his storytelling. He emphasizes the importance of making an open confession of Christ and being a witness to others. The speaker also emphasizes the significance of being filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer, even in difficult times.
Ministry in the Spirit - 4. Be Continuously Filled With the Holy Spirit
By Michael Flowers16227:51Holy SpiritMAT 6:33ACT 7:511CO 12:12EPH 5:15In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of mutual ministry and community in the body of Christ. He quotes Irenaeus, a second-century theologian, who said that the glory of God is a human being fully alive. The preacher then explores the keys to being fully alive, using Ephesians 5:15 as a guide. He highlights the need to live wisely and understand the will of the Lord. The sermon also delves into 1 Corinthians 12, focusing on the analogy of the body and the church. The preacher emphasizes the interconnectedness of the church and Christ, and the importance of mutual submission and ministry within the community. The sermon concludes with a reminder to continually ask, seek, and knock in our relationship with God, as He is the source of all life.
Is Irresistible Grace Resistible?
By Shane Idleman1544:46Irresistible GraceFree WillISA 1:18JER 26:3MRK 10:15JHN 3:16JHN 16:8ACT 7:51ROM 1:201CO 2:14EPH 1:132PE 3:9Shane Idleman addresses the complex theological debate surrounding irresistible grace, exploring whether God's grace can be resisted. He carefully navigates the perspectives of both Calvinism and Arminianism, emphasizing the importance of free will in responding to God's call for salvation. Shane highlights the tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, arguing that while God draws people to Himself, individuals still have the choice to accept or reject that grace. He passionately calls for a deeper understanding of God's love and justice, urging believers to share the message of hope and redemption with those who feel worthless or lost. Ultimately, Shane encourages the congregation to recognize their value in God's eyes and to actively participate in evangelism.
The Presence of Christ and Spiritual Intelligence
By John Nelson Darby0The Presence of ChristSpiritual IntelligenceACT 7:51John Nelson Darby emphasizes the significance of Christ's presence in guiding our paths and shaping our testimonies, while also highlighting that true spiritual intelligence stems from a personal attachment to Jesus. He illustrates the failures of humanity throughout the Old Testament, culminating in the rejection of Christ, and stresses that understanding our lost state is crucial for recognizing God's grace. Darby uses examples from Scripture, such as Moses and Mary Magdalene, to show that closeness to Christ leads to deeper knowledge and communion with God. He concludes by urging believers to make Christ central in their lives to experience His love and wisdom fully.
The Notion of a Clergyman a Sin Against the Holy Ghost
By John Nelson Darby0Clericalism and ApostasyThe Role of the Holy SpiritMAT 12:31JHN 14:16ACT 7:51ROM 8:91CO 12:7EPH 4:111TH 5:192TI 3:16HEB 3:61PE 5:2John Nelson Darby addresses the concept of a clergyman as a significant sin against the Holy Ghost, arguing that this notion substitutes human authority for the divine power of the Holy Spirit, leading to the church's destruction. He emphasizes that true ministry should be based on the Spirit's guidance rather than human appointment, and warns against the dangers of clericalism, which he believes hinders the work of God. Darby reflects on his own journey of faith, recognizing the importance of being united with Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers. He calls for a return to scriptural principles and a rejection of worldly influences that corrupt the church's mission. Ultimately, he urges Christians to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and to discern the true nature of the church as God's dwelling place.
Have You Been Circumcised?
By Anton Bosch0GEN 17:23DEU 10:16JER 6:10ACT 7:51ROM 2:28PHP 3:3COL 2:11Anton Bosch delves into the significance of circumcision in the Old Testament as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, emphasizing that while it was not a condition for entering the covenant, it was essential for remaining a beneficiary of God's blessings. He draws parallels between physical circumcision in the Old Testament and spiritual circumcision in the New Testament, highlighting the importance of having a circumcised heart and ears to hear and understand God's Word, and to submit humbly to Him. Circumcision symbolizes not only the laying aside of negative traits but also embracing positive attributes like worshiping God in Spirit, rejoicing in Christ, and having no confidence in the flesh.
Power Hindered
By D.L. Moody0Limiting God's PowerThe Holy SpiritPSA 78:41ISA 63:10MAT 12:22ACT 7:51EPH 4:30D.L. Moody discusses how the people of Israel limited the power of God by vexing and grieving the Holy Spirit through their rebellion and disobedience. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the special sin against the Holy Spirit, which hinders God's work in our lives. Moody calls for self-examination and repentance to avoid such limitations and to fully embrace the power of the Holy Spirit.
Trust Not in Man
By George Fox0DEU 10:16JER 4:4ACT 7:51ROM 2:28COL 2:11The preacher delves into the significance of circumcision in the Bible, emphasizing the transition from physical circumcision to spiritual circumcision, symbolizing a removal of sin and a new birth in Christ. The sermon explores the historical, cultural, and theological aspects of circumcision, highlighting its importance in the Old Testament and its spiritual implications in the New Testament. The preacher addresses the misconceptions and legalistic views surrounding circumcision, emphasizing the true meaning of circumcision of the heart and the need for internal transformation rather than external rituals.
Government by the Holy Spirit
By T. Austin-Sparks0NUM 23:9ACT 7:51ROM 8:6ROM 8:141CO 2:14GAL 5:16GAL 5:25PHP 2:2T. Austin-Sparks preaches about the significance of the Day of Pentecost, emphasizing the introduction of a new spiritual order by the Holy Spirit, which requires believers to prioritize the voice of the Spirit over the religious norms of the world. He highlights the distinction between a religious system and a life governed by the Spirit, as seen in Stephen's defense and Paul's teachings in Romans and Galatians. The sermon underscores the call for believers to become a spiritual seed of Abraham, marked by a distinctiveness that sets them apart from the world, and the importance of being led by the Spirit to maintain spiritual power and influence.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Ye stiff-necked - Σκληροτραχηλοι. A metaphor taken from untoward oxen, who cannot be broken into the yoke; and whose strong necks cannot be bended to the right or the left. Uncircumcised in heart and ears - This was a Jewish mode of speech, often used by the prophets. Circumcision was instituted, not only as a sign and seal of the covenant into which the Israelites entered with their Maker, but also as a type of that purity and holiness which the law of God requires; hence there was an excision of what was deemed not only superfluous but also injurious; and by this cutting off, the propensity to that crime which ruins the body, debases the mind, and was generally the forerunner of idolatry, was happily lessened. It would be easy to prove this, were not the subject too delicate. Where the spirit of disobedience was found, where the heart was prone to iniquity, and the ears impatient of reproof and counsel, the person is represented as uncircumcised in those parts, because devoted to iniquity, impatient of reproof, and refusing to obey. In Pirkey Eliezer, chap. 29, "Rabbi Seira said, There are five species of uncircumcision in the world; four in man, and one in trees. Those in man are the following: - "1. Uncircumcision of the Ear. Behold, their Ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken, Jer 6:10. "2. The uncircumcision of the Lips. How shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised Lips? Exo 6:12. "3. Uncircumcision of Heart. If then their uncircumcised Hearts be humbled, Lev 26:41. Circumcise therefore the Foreskin of Your Heart, Deu 10:16; Jer 4:4. For all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the Heart, Jer 9:26. "4. The uncircumcision of the Flesh. Ye shall circumcise the Flesh of your Foreskin, etc., Gen 17:11." Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost - 1. Because they were uncircumcised in heart, they always resisted the influences of the Holy Spirit, bringing light and conviction to their minds; in consequence of which they became hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and neither repented at the preaching of John, nor credited the glad tidings told them by Christ and the apostles. 2. Because they were uncircumcised in ears, they would neither hear nor obey Moses, the prophets, Christ, nor the apostles. As your fathers did, so do ye - They were disobedient children, of disobedient parents: in all their generations they had been disobedient and perverse. This whole people, as well as this text, are fearful proofs that the Holy Spirit, the almighty energy of the living God, may be resisted and rendered of none effect. This Spirit is not sent to stocks, stones, or machines, but to human beings endued with rational souls; therefore it is not to work on them with that irresistible energy which it must exert on inert matter, in order to conquer the vis inertiae or disposition to abide eternally in a motionless state, which is the state of all inanimate beings; but it works upon understanding, will, judgment, conscience, etc., in order to enlighten, convince, and persuade. If, after all, the understanding, the eye of the mind, refuses to behold the light; the will determines to remain obstinate; the judgment purposes to draw false inferences; and the conscience hardens itself against every check and remonstrance, (and all this is possible to a rational soul, which must be dealt with in a rational way), then the Spirit of God, being thus resisted, is grieved, and the sinner is left to reap the fruit of his doings. To force the man to see, feel, repent, believe, and be saved, would be to alter the essential principles of his creation and the nature of mind, and reduce him into the state of a machine, the vis inertiae of which was to be overcome and conducted by a certain quantum of physical force, superior to that resistance which would be the natural effect of the certain quantum of the vis inertiae possessed by the subject on and by which this agent was to operate. Now, man cannot be operated on in this way, because it is contrary to the laws of his creation and nature; nor can the Holy Ghost work on that as a machine which himself has made a free agent. Man therefore may, and generally does, resist the Holy Ghost; and the whole revelation of God bears unequivocal testimony to this most dreadful possibility, and most awful truth. It is trifling with the sacred text to say that resisting the Holy Ghost here means resisting the laws of Moses, the exhortations, threatenings, and promises of the prophets, etc. These, it is true, the uncircumcised ear may resist; but the uncircumcised heart is that alone to which the Spirit that gave the laws, exhortations, promises, etc;, speaks; and, as matter resists matter, so spirit resists spirit. These were not only uncircumcised in ear, but uncircumcised also in heart; and therefore they resisted the Holy Ghost, not only in his declarations and institutions, but also in his actual energetic operations upon their minds.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ye stiffnecked . . . ye do always resist the Holy Ghost, &c.--It has been thought that symptoms of impatience and irritation in the audience induced Stephen to cut short his historical sketch. But as little farther light could have been thrown upon Israel's obstinacy from subsequent periods of the national history on the testimony of their own Scriptures, we should view this as the summing up, the brief import of the whole Israelitish history--grossness of heart, spiritual deafness, continuous resistance of the Holy Ghost, down to the very council before whom Stephen was pleading.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Who have received the law, by the disposition of angels,.... Who attended the angel that spake to Moses on Mount Sinai, Act 7:38 who is the head of all principality and power, and whom he might make use of in giving the law to Moses: hence the law is said to be ordained by angels, in the hand of a Mediator, and is called the word spoken by angels, Gal 3:19 and certain it is, that there were great numbers of angels on Mount Sinai, when the law was given, Deu 33:2 And so the Jews say (m), that "when the holy blessed God descended on Mount Sinai, there came down with him many companies of angels, Michael and his company, and Gabriel and his company'' Indeed they often say (n), "the law was not given to the ministering angels:'' their meaning is, it was not given to them to observe and keep, because there are some things in it, which do not concern angels; but then it might be given to them to deliver to Moses, who gave it to the Israelites, and so may be said to receive it by the ministration of angels, through the hands of Moses. And now the law being given and received in so grand a manner, was an aggravation of the sin of the Jews in violating it, as it follows: and have not kept it; but broke it in innumerable instances, and scarce kept it in any; for no man can keep it perfectly. (m) Debarim Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 237. 3. (n) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 25. 2. Yoma. fol. 30. 1. Kiddushin, fol. 54. 1.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Stephen was going on in his discourse (as it should seem by the thread of it) to show that, as the temple, so the temple-service must come to an end, and it would be the glory of both to give way to that worship of the Father in spirit and in truth which was to be established in the kingdom of the Messiah, stripped of the pompous ceremonies of the old law, and so he was going to apply all this which he had said more closely to his present purpose; but he perceived they could not bear it. They could patiently hear the history of the Old Testament told (it was a piece of learning which they themselves dealt much in); but if Stephen go about to tell them that their power and tyranny must come down, and that the church must be governed by a spirit of holiness and love, and heavenly-mindedness, they will not so much as give him the hearing. It is probable that he perceived this, and that they were going to silence him; and therefore he breaks off abruptly in the midst of his discourse, and by that spirit of wisdom, courage, and power, wherewith he was filled, he sharply rebuked his persecutors, and exposed their true character; for, if they will not admit the testimony of the gospel to them, it shall become a testimony against them. I. They, like their fathers, were stubborn and wilful, and would not be wrought upon by the various methods God took to reclaim and reform them; they were like their fathers, inflexible both to the word of God and to his providences. 1. They, like their fathers, were stubborn and wilful, and would not be wrought upon by the various methods God took to reclaim and reform them; they were like their fathers, inflexible both to the word of God and to his providences. 1. They were stiff-necked (Act 7:51), and would not submit their necks to the sweet and easy yoke of God's government, nor draw in it, but were like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; or they would not bow their heads, no, not to God himself, would not do obeisance to him, would not humble themselves before him. The stiff neck is the same with the hard heart, obstinate and contumacious, and that will not yield - the general character of the Jewish nation, Exo 32:9; Exo 33:3, Exo 33:5; Exo 34:9; Deu 9:6, Deu 9:13; Deu 31:27; Eze 2:4. 2. They were uncircumcised in heart and ears their hearts and ears were not devoted and given up to God, as the body of the people were in profession by the sign of circumcision: "In name and show you are circumcised Jews, but in heart and ears you are still uncircumcised heathens, and pay no more deference to the authority of your God than they do, Jer 9:26. You are under the power of unmortified lusts and corruptions, which stop your ears to the voice of God, and harden your hearts to that which is both most commanding and most affecting." They had not that circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, Col 2:11. II. They, like their fathers, were not only not influenced by the methods God took to reform them, but they were enraged and incensed against them: You do always resist the Holy Ghost. 1. They resisted the Holy Ghost speaking to them by the prophets, whom they opposed and contradicted, hated and ridiculed; this seems especially meant here, by the following explication, Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? In persecuting and silencing those that spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost they resisted the Holy Ghost. Their fathers resisted the Holy Ghost in the prophets that God raised up to them, and so did they in Christ's apostles and ministers, who spoke by the same Spirit, and had greater measures of his gifts than the prophets of the Old Testament had, and yet were more resisted. 2. They resisted the Holy Ghost striving with them by their own consciences, and would not comply with the convictions and dictates of them. God's Spirit strove with them as with the old world, but in vain; they resisted him, took part with their corruptions against their convictions, and rebelled against the light. There is that in our sinful hearts that always resists the Holy Ghost, a flesh that lusts against the Spirit, and wars against his motions; but in the hearts of God's elect, when the fulness of time comes, this resistance is overcomer and overpowered, and after a struggle the throne of Christ is set up in the soul, and every thought that had exalted itself against it is brought into captivity to it, Co2 10:4, Co2 10:5. That grace therefore which effects this change might more fitly be called victorious grace than irresistible. III. They, like their fathers, persecuted and slew those whom God sent unto them to call them to duty, and make them offers of mercy. 1. Their fathers had been the cruel and constant persecutors of the Old Testament prophets (Act 7:51): Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? More or less, one time or other, they had a blow at them all. With regard even to those that lived in the best reigns, when the princes did not persecute them, there was a malignant party in the nation that mocked at them and abused them, and most of them were at last, either by colour of law or popular fury, put to death; and that which aggravated the sin of persecuting the prophets was, that the business of the prophets they were so spiteful at was to show before of the coming of the just One, to give notice of God's kind intentions towards that people, to send the Messiah among them in the fulness of time. Those that were the messengers of such glad tidings should have been courted and caressed, and have had the preferments of the best of benefactors; but, instead of this, they had the treatment of the worst of malefactors. 2. They had been the betrayers and murderers of the just One himself, as Peter had told them, Act 3:14, Act 3:15; Act 5:30. They had hired Judas to betray him, and had in a manner forced Pilate to condemn him; and therefore it is charged upon them that they were his betrayers and murders. Thus they were the genuine seed of those who slew the prophets that foretold his coming, which, by slaying him, they showed they would have done if they had lived then; and thus, as our Saviour had told them, they brought upon themselves the guilt of the blood of all the prophets. To which of the prophets would those have shown any respect who had no regard to the Son of God himself? IV. They, like their fathers, put contempt upon divine revelation, and would not be guided and governed by it; and this was the aggravation of their sin, that God had given, as to their fathers his law, so to them his gospel, in vain. 1. Their fathers received the law, and did not observe it, Act 7:53. God wrote to them the great things of his law, after he had first spoken them to them; and yet they were counted by them as a strange or foreign thing, which they were no way concerned in. The law is said to be received by the disposition of angels, because angels were employed in the solemnity of giving the law, in the thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of the trumpet. It is said to be ordained by angels (Gal 3:19), God is said to come with ten thousand of his saints to give the law (Deu 33:2), and it was a word spoken by angels, Heb 2:2. This put an honour both upon the law and the Lawgiver, and should increase our veneration for both. But those that thus received the law yet kept it not, but by making the golden calf broke it immediately in a capital instance. 2. They received the gospel now, by the disposition, not of angels, but of the Holy Ghost, - not with the sound of a trumpet, but, which was more strange, in the gift of tongues, and yet they did not embrace it. They would not yield to the plainest demonstrations, any more than their fathers before them did, for they were resolved not to comply with God either in his law or in his gospel. We have reason to think Stephen had a great deal more to say, and would have said it if they would have suffered him; but they were wicked and unreasonable men with whom he had to do, that could no more hear reason than they could speak it.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
7:51 Stephen raised the same charge that God had raised against his people in the wilderness: that they were heathen at heart and deaf to the truth, because they were rejecting the gospel and obstinately resisting the Holy Spirit (see Exod 32:9; 33:3; 34:9; Deut 9:6, 13; 31:27; see also Ps 78:8; Zech 7:11-12).