Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 7:51

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye." — Acts 7:51 (ASV)

Stephen’s description of his accusers is loaded with pejorative theological nuances. The phrase “stiff-necked” was fixed in Israel’s memory as God’s own characterization of the nation when it rebelled against Moses and worshiped the golden calf (cf. Exodus 33:5). And the expression “with uncircumcised hearts and ears” recalls God’s judgment on the apostates among his people as being “uncircumcised in heart” (cf. Leviticus 26:41; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 9:26). And now, says Stephen, speaking like a prophet of old, God’s indictment rests upon you just as it did on your idolatrous and apostate ancestors.