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Act 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the
prophet,

This word comes from 2 Chronicles 2:6. Stephen now turns the table on his accusers and
becomes their judge. They believe God lives in their temple, but they are as apostate as their
ancestors.

Act 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the
Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

This is a quote from Isaiah 66: 1-2. God is deity, therefore He is omnipresent. He can be in

heaven and, at the same time, make the earth His footstool.

Act 7:50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

Only apostate people try to put God in a temple built my man. God created everything in
heaven and earth. He cannot be contained.

STEPHEN ACCUSES THE COUNCIL (51-53)

Upon the conclusion of his sermon, Stephen accuses the council of being hardened against God

and His Word even as their fathers had been. He boldly charges them guilty of killing the
Messiah and not keeping the law because of their rejection of Him.

Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy
Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Stephen now concludes his sermon. He accuses them of being hardened against God and His
Word. They are uncircumcised in heart because they have not received Jesus, the Messiah, as

their Savior. They have purposely shut off their hearts by purposely shutting their ears to the
gospel. He is now accusing them of being sinful and rejecting God as their fathers had before
them. These religious leaders take pride in not being as bad as the Old Testament fathers had
been, yet they actually show themselves to be worse.

Act 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them
which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers
and murderers:

Stephen is telling them the same thing they heard from Jesus Himself (Matthew 21:28-46; 22:1-
13; 23:29-32). Just as the fathers persecuted the prophets who foretold of the coming of Jesus,
they have now killed the Holy One prophesied of. These Jewish leaders rid themselves of