Acts 7:39

7:39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts,

Acts 7:51

7:51 “You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!


tn Grk “whom our.” The continuation of the sentence as a relative clause is awkward in English, so a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.

tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

sn To obey. Again the theme of the speech is noted. The nation disobeyed the way of God and opted for Egypt over the promised land.

sn Pushed him aside. This is the second time Moses is “pushed aside” in Stephen’s account (see v. 27).

sn Traditionally, “stiff-necked people.” Now the critique begins in earnest.

tn The term ἀπερίτμητοι (aperitmhtoi, “uncircumcised”) is a NT hapax legomenon (occurs only once). See BDAG 101-2 s.v. ἀπερίτμητος and Isa 52:1.

tn Or “You stubborn and obstinate people!” (The phrase “uncircumcised hearts and ears” is another figure for stubbornness.)

tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”