Title Acts 07:51-53 Stephen's Sermon 6
Contents Stephen's Sermon⑹ (Acts 7:51-53)
I. Like their forefathers, they were stubborn and stubborn, unable to change through the many ways God sought to edify and transform them. Like their ancestors, they were very stubborn about the word of God and his providence.
1. They were “stiff neck” (v. 51). Therefore, his yoke, which was easy and light, which God reigned, did not hang around their necks and did not try to drag it, and he was like an "ox not accustomed to a yoke." Nor would they bow their heads to God, they did not pay homage to him, and they did not humble themselves before him. A straight neck is an attitude that does not falter with words like an arrogant and rebellious hardened heart. This was the general characteristic of the Jewish people (Ex. 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9; Deut. 9:6, 13; 31:27; Ezek. 2:4).
II. Not only were they unaffected by the ways God wanted to transform them, as their ancestors were, but they were enraged and resentful against these methods. "You always resist the Holy Spirit."
2. They resisted the Holy Spirit through the conflict of their conscience and did not obey the testimony and instructions of their conscience. As in the old world, the Spirit of God wrestled with them, but in vain. They rebelled against the Holy Spirit and challenged the Light, paired with the corruption of conscience against their convictions. There is always a desire against the Holy Spirit in our sinful hearts. But when the time is fulfilled, this rebellion will be conquered and its power will be lost in the hearts of God's elect. After the battle, the throne of Christ is established in the soul, and every thought that seeks to exalt oneself against the Holy Spirit is captured by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5). Therefore, the grace that makes this change possible should be called "leading to victory" rather than "irresistible".
3. They were, as Peter told them, “the rapist and murderer of the righteous” (3:14, 15; 5:30), they bribed Judas to betray Christ, and in the same way Pilate forced to condemn him. Therefore, they are his traitors and murderers. Therefore they were the true offspring of those who murdered the prophets who foretold his coming. By killing him, they showed that they would have done the same had they lived in those days. Therefore, as our Saviour has said, they themselves have to pay for the sins of the blood of all the prophets. How could they esteem the words of the prophets if they did not pay homage to the very Son of God himself?
Ⅲ. They, like their forefathers, despised the revelation of God, and were not guided and governed by it. This made their sin worse. As God gave the law to their fathers, so he gave them his gospel in vain.
1. Their ancestors received the law and did not keep it (v. 53). God showed them the greatness of his law. It was shortly after he first delivered the Law to them. But the law is still treated as strange and foreign to them, and there is no way to get them interested. In the text, it is written, "Even though you received the law that the angels preached." for the angels were active in the solemn ceremony of bestowing the law in thunder and lightning and the sound of trumpet. It is written that it was “given by angels” (Galatians 3:19). It was written that God would come from “ten thousand saints” to give the law (Deut. 33:2), and it was “a promise made by angels” (Hebrews 2:2). This fact honors the Law and its givers, and adds to our respect for these two objects. But those who received the law and did not keep it, made a golden calf, and at an important time it was immediately destroyed.
2. They received the gospel preached by the Holy Spirit, not by angels. It was not delivered with the sound of a trumpet, but was given with the more curious gift of tongues. However, the Rs did not accept the gospel. They would not succumb to even the most obvious demonstrations beyond those given to their forefathers before them. For they were determined not to follow God, whether through his law or through the gospel. We can infer that Stephen would have had much more to say. And if they had allowed it, they would have said it all. But they were wicked and ignorant humans. Needless to say, they refused to listen because the crowds Stephen dealt with were like this.