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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/7-51.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/44_Act_07_51.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 7:51 - Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! 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Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! <a href="/nlt/acts/7.htm">New Living Translation</a> “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! <a href="/esv/acts/7.htm">English Standard Version</a> “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. <a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. <a href="/blb/acts/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, also do you. <a href="/kjv/acts/7.htm">King James Bible</a> Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/nkjv/acts/7.htm">New King James Version</a> “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. <a href="/nasb_/acts/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. <a href="/nasb/acts/7.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. <a href="/nasb77/acts/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. <a href="/lsb/acts/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “You men—stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears—are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. <a href="/amp/acts/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did. <a href="/csb/acts/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. <a href="/hcsb/acts/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your ancestors did, so do you. <a href="/asv/acts/7.htm">American Standard Version</a> Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/cev/acts/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. <a href="/erv/acts/7.htm">English Revised Version</a> Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/gwt/acts/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "How stubborn can you be? How can you be so heartless and disobedient? You're just like your ancestors. They always opposed the Holy Spirit, and so do you! <a href="/gnt/acts/7.htm">Good News Translation</a> "How stubborn you are!" Stephen went on to say. "How heathen your hearts, how deaf you are to God's message! You are just like your ancestors: you too have always resisted the Holy Spirit! <a href="/isv/acts/7.htm">International Standard Version</a> "You stubborn people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. <a href="/msb/acts/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. <a href="/net/acts/7.htm">NET Bible</a> "You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did! <a href="/nheb/acts/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do. <a href="/wbt/acts/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/wey/acts/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--just as your forefathers were. <a href="/web/acts/7.htm">World English Bible</a> “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers—also you; <a href="/blb/acts/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, also do you. <a href="/ylt/acts/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears! ye do always the Holy Spirit resist; as your fathers -- also ye; <a href="/slt/acts/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers, also you.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. <a href="/cpdv/acts/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do. <a href="/nabre/acts/7.htm">New American Bible</a> “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. <a href="/nrsvce/acts/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> O you stubborn and insincere in heart and hearing, you always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Oh, stiff necks, who are uncircumcised in their hearts and in their hearing, you always are opposing The Spirit of Holiness, as your fathers did, so do you!<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> You stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so also do you. <a href="/godbey/acts/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/haweis/acts/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. <a href="/mace/acts/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a> stubborn people, whose hearts and ears like the uncircumcised, are always averse to the holy spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/wey/acts/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--just as your forefathers were. <a href="/worrell/acts/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Ye stiffnecked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears! ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/worsley/acts/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. <a href="/parallel/acts/7-51.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=2246" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/7.htm">Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin</a> …50Has not My hand made all these things?’ 51<a href="/greek/4644.htm" title="4644: Sklērotrachēloi (Adj-VMP) -- Stiff-necked, stubborn, obstinate. From skleros and trachelos; hardnaped, i.e. obstinate.">You stiff-necked people</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">with</a> <a href="/greek/564.htm" title="564: aperitmētoi (Adj-VMP) -- Uncircumcised. Uncircumcised.">uncircumcised</a> <a href="/greek/2588.htm" title="2588: kardiais (N-DFP) -- Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.">hearts</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3775.htm" title="3775: ōsin (N-DNP) -- (a) the ear, (b) met: the faculty of perception. Apparently a primary word; the ear.">ears!</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">You</a> <a href="/greek/104.htm" title="104: aei (Adv) -- From an obsolete primary noun; ever, by qualification regularly; by implication, earnestly.">always</a> <a href="/greek/496.htm" title="496: antipiptete (V-PIA-2P) -- To resist, oppose, fall against or upon. From anti and pipto; to oppose.">resist</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/40.htm" title="40: Hagiō (Adj-DNS) -- Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.">Holy</a> <a href="/greek/4151.htm" title="4151: Pneumati (N-DNS) -- Wind, breath, spirit. ">Spirit,</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou."></a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">just</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">as</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: pateres (N-NMP) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">fathers did.</a> 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—…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Matthew 23:33</a> You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell? <a href="/isaiah/63-10.htm">Isaiah 63:10</a> But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them. <a href="/jeremiah/6-10.htm">Jeremiah 6:10</a> To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Ezekiel 3:7</a> But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. <a href="/zechariah/7-11.htm">Zechariah 7:11-12</a> But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-32</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. ... <a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a> You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. <a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5</a> But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. <a href="/2_chronicles/36-13.htm">2 Chronicles 36:13-16</a> He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. / Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. / Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. ... <a href="/nehemiah/9-29.htm">Nehemiah 9:29-30</a> You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey. / You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. <a href="/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4</a> For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze. <a href="/jeremiah/7-25.htm">Jeremiah 7:25-26</a> From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again. / Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers. <a href="/jeremiah/17-23.htm">Jeremiah 17:23</a> Yet they would not listen or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and would not listen or receive My discipline. <a href="/ezekiel/2-4.htm">Ezekiel 2:4</a> They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ <a href="/hosea/4-16.htm">Hosea 4:16</a> For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.stiffnecked.<a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9</a> And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:<a href="/exodus/33-3.htm">Exodus 33:3,5</a> Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way… <a href="/exodus/34-9.htm">Exodus 34:9</a> And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.uncircumcised.<a href="/leviticus/26-41.htm">Leviticus 26:41</a> And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:<a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm">Deuteronomy 10:16</a> Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.<a href="/deuteronomy/30-6.htm">Deuteronomy 30:6</a> And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.resist.<a href="/acts/6-10.htm">Acts 6:10</a> And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.<a href="/nehemiah/9-30.htm">Nehemiah 9:30</a> Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.<a href="/isaiah/63-10.htm">Isaiah 63:10</a> But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.as.<a href="/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9,27,35,39</a> And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, … <a href="/matthew/23-31.htm">Matthew 23:31-33</a> Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/2-25.htm">Always</a> <a href="/acts/6-4.htm">Continually</a> <a href="/acts/7-34.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/acts/7-45.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/acts/7-45.htm">Forefathers</a> <a href="/acts/6-5.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/john/12-40.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/acts/7-23.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/acts/7-39.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/acts/7-46.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/acts/6-10.htm">Resist</a> <a href="/romans/13-2.htm">Resisting</a> <a href="/acts/5-23.htm">Shut</a> <a href="/acts/6-10.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/30-8.htm">Stiffnecked</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-23.htm">Stiff-Necked</a> <a href="/luke/22-24.htm">Strife</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-16.htm">Uncircumcised</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/9-36.htm">Always</a> <a href="/acts/10-2.htm">Continually</a> <a href="/acts/7-57.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/acts/7-52.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/acts/7-52.htm">Forefathers</a> <a href="/acts/7-55.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/acts/9-5.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/acts/7-54.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/acts/7-54.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/acts/7-55.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/romans/9-19.htm">Resist</a> <a href="/acts/18-6.htm">Resisting</a> <a href="/acts/21-30.htm">Shut</a> <a href="/acts/7-55.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Stiffnecked</a> <a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Stiff-Necked</a> <a href="/romans/1-29.htm">Strife</a> <a href="/acts/11-3.htm">Uncircumcised</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 7</div>1. <a href="/acts/7-1.htm">Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,</a> 2. <a href="/acts/7-2.htm">shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,</a> 20. <a href="/acts/7-20.htm">before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;</a> 37. <a href="/acts/7-37.htm">that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;</a> 44. <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time;</a> 51. <a href="/acts/7-51.htm">reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold.</a> 54. <a href="/acts/7-54.htm">Whereupon they stone Stephen to death, </a> 59. <a href="/acts/7-59.htm">who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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It originates from the imagery of an ox that refuses to be guided by the yoke. In the Old Testament, God frequently used this term to describe the Israelites when they were rebellious (<a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9</a>, <a href="/deuteronomy/9-6.htm">Deuteronomy 9:6</a>). It highlights a spiritual condition of pride and resistance to divine guidance.with uncircumcised hearts and ears! Circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants (<a href="/genesis/17-10.htm">Genesis 17:10-14</a>). However, Stephen uses "uncircumcised hearts and ears" to indicate a lack of spiritual sensitivity and receptivity to God's message. This echoes the prophetic call for inner transformation rather than mere outward compliance (<a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Jeremiah 4:4</a>, <a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm">Ezekiel 44:7</a>). It emphasizes the need for a heart that is open to God's truth and a willingness to listen and obey.You always resist the Holy Spirit, The resistance to the Holy Spirit is a recurring theme in the history of Israel, as seen in their rejection of the prophets and ultimately, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit's role is to convict, guide, and empower believers (<a href="/john/16-8.htm">John 16:8-13</a>). By resisting the Holy Spirit, the people were rejecting God's direct influence and guidance in their lives. This resistance is a continuation of the pattern of disobedience and rebellion against God's messengers.just as your fathers did. Stephen draws a parallel between the current generation and their ancestors, who repeatedly rejected God's messengers, including Moses and the prophets (<a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Nehemiah 9:26</a>, <a href="/matthew/23-31.htm">Matthew 23:31-32</a>). This historical context underscores the continuity of rebellion and highlights the tragic pattern of ignoring God's call to repentance and faithfulness. It serves as a warning and a call to break the cycle of disobedience by embracing the message of the Gospel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/stephen.htm">Stephen</a> A deacon in the early church, known for his wisdom and filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the speaker in this passage, delivering a powerful sermon before the Sanhedrin. 2. <a href="/topical/s/sanhedrin.htm">Sanhedrin</a> The Jewish ruling council, consisting of religious leaders who were responsible for maintaining Jewish law and order. They were the audience of Stephen's speech. 3. <a href="/topical/h/holy_spirit.htm">Holy Spirit</a> The third person of the Trinity, who empowers believers and convicts the world of sin. Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of resisting the Holy Spirit. 4. <a href="/topical/i/israelite_ancestors.htm">Israelite Ancestors</a> Referred to as "your fathers" by Stephen, these are the generations of Israelites who repeatedly disobeyed God throughout their history. 5. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The location where this event takes place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the site of the temple.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_stubbornness.htm">Spiritual Stubbornness</a> Just as the Israelites were described as "stiff-necked," we must examine our own hearts for areas where we resist God's leading. <a href="/topical/h/heart_and_ear_circumcision.htm">Heart and Ear Circumcision</a> True faith involves a transformation of the heart and a willingness to listen to God's voice, beyond mere external compliance. <a href="/topical/r/resistance_to_the_holy_spirit.htm">Resistance to the Holy Spirit</a> We should be vigilant against resisting the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, being open to His guidance and conviction. <a href="/topical/h/historical_patterns_of_disobedience.htm">Historical Patterns of Disobedience</a> Recognizing the patterns of disobedience in biblical history can help us avoid similar pitfalls in our spiritual journey. <a href="/topical/c/courage_in_witnessing.htm">Courage in Witnessing</a> Stephen's boldness in speaking truth to power is an example for us to stand firm in our faith, even in the face of opposition.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised . . .--The sudden change of tone from calm argument to vehement indignation cannot be thought of as spontaneous. The excitement of the Sanhedrin, perhaps of the listening crowd also, at this point, would seem to have become uncontrollable. The accused seemed to them to be repeating his offence with defiant boldness, and loud clamours took the place of whispered murmurs. Both the adjectives had been applied to the sins of the older Israel; "stiffnecked" in <a href="/exodus/33-3.htm" title="To a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the middle of you; for you are a stiff necked people: lest I consume you in the way.">Exodus 33:3</a>; <a href="/exodus/33-5.htm" title="For the LORD had said to Moses, Say to the children of Israel, You are a stiff necked people: I will come up into the middle of you in a moment, and consume you: therefore now put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what to do to you.">Exodus 33:5</a>; <a href="/exodus/34-9.htm" title="And he said, If now I have found grace in your sight, O LORD, let my LORD, I pray you, go among us; for it is a stiff necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.">Exodus 34:9</a>; "uncircumcised" in <a href="/jeremiah/6-10.htm" title="To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot listen: behold, the word of the LORD is to them a reproach; they have no delight in it.">Jeremiah 6:10</a>. The actual phrase "uncircumcised in heart" had been used by Ezekiel (<a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm" title="In that you have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.">Ezekiel 44:7</a>) of "strangers." It was now applied to those who boasted of their exclusive privileges as Israelites, and it is scarcely possible for us to estimate the sharp incisiveness with which it, or its Aramaic equivalent, must have fallen on the ears of the Sanhedrin. It was to them all, and more than all, that "heretic" and "infidel" have been in the controversies of Christians. Here again, in St. Paul's "circumcision of the heart" (<a href="/romans/2-29.htm" title="But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.">Romans 2:29</a>), we have another echo from St. Stephen's speech. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 51. - Stiff-necked; hard of neck, inflexible. The word σκληροτράχηλος only occurs here in the New Testament. But it answers in the LXX. to the Hebrew קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף (hard of neck); see <a href="/exodus/33-3.htm">Exodus 33:3, 5</a>, and elsewhere. In applying this expression to his hearers, Stephen was using the identical language of Moses when he conveyed God's rebuke to them. Considering that they professed to be standing on Moses' side against Stephen, this must have made his words doubly cutting to them. Uncircumcised in heart; ἀπερίτμητος only occurs here in the New Testament, but it is found in 2 Macc. 1:51 2Macc. 2:46; and in the LXX. of <a href="/exodus/12-48.htm">Exodus 12:48</a>; <a href="/judges/14-3.htm">Judges 14:3</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/17-26.htm">1 Samuel 17:26</a>, and elsewhere for the Hebrew עֹרֵל. The word, in its application to his Jewish audience, contains a whole volume of rebuke. They prided themselves on their circumcision, they trusted in it as a sure ground of favor in the sight of God; but all the while they were on a level with the heathen whom they despised, and were to be reckoned among the uncircumcised whom they loathed. For they were without the true circumcision, that of the heart. Here again Stephen was teaching in the exact spirit and even words of Moses and the prophets. See <a href="/leviticus/26-41.htm">Leviticus 26:41</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm">Deuteronomy 10:16</a> (where Stephen's two reproaches occur together); <a href="/jeremiah/9-26.htm">Jeremiah 9:26</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm">Ezekiel 44:7</a>; and many other passages. Compare the teaching of St. Paul (<a href="/romans/2-28.htm">Romans 2:28, 29</a>; <a href="/philippians/3-2.htm">Philippians 3:2, 3</a>; <a href="/colossians/2-11.htm">Colossians 2:11</a>; and elsewhere). <a href="/commentaries/acts/7-51.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[You] stiff-necked [people] Σκληροτράχηλοι (Sklērotrachēloi) Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4644.htm">Strong's 4644: </a> Stiff-necked, stubborn, obstinate. From skleros and trachelos; hardnaped, i.e. obstinate. [with] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. uncircumcised ἀπερίτμητοι (aperitmētoi) Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_564.htm">Strong's 564: </a> Uncircumcised. Uncircumcised. hearts καρδίαις (kardiais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2588.htm">Strong's 2588: </a> Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. ears! ὠσίν (ōsin) Noun - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3775.htm">Strong's 3775: </a> (a) the ear, (b) met: the faculty of perception. Apparently a primary word; the ear. You ὑμεῖς (hymeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. always ἀεὶ (aei) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_104.htm">Strong's 104: </a> From an obsolete primary noun; 'ever, 'by qualification regularly; by implication, earnestly. resist ἀντιπίπτετε (antipiptete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_496.htm">Strong's 496: </a> To resist, oppose, fall against or upon. From anti and pipto; to oppose. the τῷ (tō) Article - Dative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Holy Ἁγίῳ (Hagiō) Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred. Spirit, Πνεύματι (Pneumati) Noun - Dative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4151.htm">Strong's 4151: </a> Wind, breath, spirit. just καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. as ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. fathers [did]. πατέρες (pateres) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/7-51.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/7-50.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 7:50"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 7:50" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/7-52.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 7:52"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 7:52" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>