Acts 7:57

KJV

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161} they cried out {G2896} with a loud {G3173} voice {G5456}, and stopped {G4912} their {G846} ears {G3775}, and {G2532} ran {G3729} upon {G1909} him {G846} with one accord {G3661},

Complete Jewish Bible

At this, they began yelling at the top of their voices, so that they wouldn’t have to hear him; and with one accord, they rushed at him,

Berean Standard Bible

At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.

American Standard Version

But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 7:57 dramatically captures the Sanhedrin's visceral and violent reaction to Stephen's Spirit-filled sermon, particularly his declaration of seeing Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Overwhelmed by what they perceived as blasphemy, the Jewish leaders and the crowd collectively erupted in a furious outcry, deliberately shut out his words, and unified in a sudden, aggressive charge to silence and apprehend him, setting the stage for his imminent martyrdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the climactic turning point in Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, which began in [Acts 7:1](/acts/7-1 "Acts 7:1 - Stephen's Defense"). Stephen, one of the seven deacons appointed in [Acts 6:5](/acts/6-5 "Acts 6:5 - Appointment of the Seven"), was accused of blasphemy against Moses and God ([Acts 6:11](/acts/6-11 "Acts 6:11 - Accusations Against Stephen")). His sermon, far from a defense, became a powerful and convicting historical recounting of Israel's persistent rebellion against God and their rejection of His prophets, culminating in their murder of the Righteous One, Jesus ([Acts 7:52](/acts/7-52 "Acts 7:52 - Israel's Rejection of the Prophets and Christ")). The immediate catalyst for the enraged response in verse 57 is Stephen's bold declaration, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" ([Acts 7:56](/acts/7-56 "Acts 7:56 - Stephen's Vision of Jesus")). This statement, affirming Jesus' divine authority and messianic identity, was the ultimate affront to the Sanhedrin, directly leading to their violent outburst and Stephen's subsequent stoning ([Acts 7:58-60](/acts/7-58-60 "Acts 7:58-60 - Stephen's Martyrdom")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Stephen's trial occurred within the highly charged religious and political atmosphere of Jerusalem shortly after Jesus' ascension. The Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious council, held significant authority under Roman rule, particularly in matters of Jewish law and tradition. Their power, however, was limited in capital cases, often requiring Roman approval for executions. Stephen's declaration of seeing Jesus "standing at the right hand of God" was interpreted as profound blasphemy, an assertion of divine equality or superiority for a crucified man, which was anathema to their monotheistic beliefs and their rejection of Jesus as Messiah. The act of tearing clothes and crying out was a traditional Jewish expression of horror at perceived blasphemy. Furthermore, the "mob mentality" described here reflects the volatile nature of crowds in ancient cities, where public sentiment could quickly escalate into uncontrolled violence, often fueled by religious fervor or political agitation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes prevalent in the book of Acts and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **Rejection of God's Truth and Messengers**, a recurring motif seen throughout Israel's history, as Stephen himself meticulously detailed in his sermon. The act of stopping their ears symbolizes a deliberate and active refusal to hear or accept convicting divine revelation, echoing the spiritual blindness described by Jesus in [Matthew 13:15](/matthew/13-15 "Matthew 13:15 - Hardness of Heart"). Secondly, it underscores the **Cost of Discipleship and Persecution**, demonstrating the severe opposition and violence early Christians faced for proclaiming the Gospel, especially when it challenged established religious authority. Stephen's unwavering witness, even unto death, serves as a powerful example of faithfulness in the face of intense hostility, mirroring the suffering of Christ and foreshadowing the persecution the church would endure, as Jesus warned in [John 15:20](/john/15-20 "John 15:20 - Persecution of Disciples"). Finally, the "one accord" describes a chilling **United Hostility**, a stark contrast to the positive unity often described among believers in Acts, revealing the intense, unified opposition that truth can provoke.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried out (Greek, _krázō'_):** From G2896, this verb properly means "to 'croak' (as a raven) or scream." It denotes a loud, often harsh, and unrestrained vocalization, indicating extreme emotion such as distress, anger, or urgency. In this context, it conveys the Sanhedrin's furious, almost animalistic, outcry of indignation and rejection, a primal scream against what they deemed utterly blasphemous.
* **stopped (Greek, _synéchō'_):** From G4912, this word means "to hold together, i.e., to compress (the ears)." It implies a deliberate and forceful action to physically close off their ears, signifying an intentional refusal to listen or receive Stephen's words. This is not merely a passive turning away, but an active, aggressive suppression of the truth, preventing any further sound or conviction from reaching them.
* **with one accord (Greek, _homothymadón'_):** From G3661, this adverb means "unanimously" or "with one mind." While often used positively in Acts to describe the unity of the early Christian community (e.g., [Acts 2:46](/acts/2-46 "Acts 2:46 - Unity of the Early Church")), here it is chillingly employed to describe the unified, collective intent of the mob. It emphasizes the complete consensus and shared hostility among Stephen's accusers, highlighting the terrifying power of a unified group bent on violence and suppression.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then they cried out with a loud voice":** This clause describes the immediate and violent vocal reaction of the Sanhedrin and the surrounding crowd. Their outcry was not a reasoned argument but an uncontrolled, collective shriek of outrage, signifying their absolute rejection of Stephen's testimony and their perception of his words as intolerable blasphemy. The "loud voice" emphasizes the intensity and public nature of their fury.
* **"and stopped their ears":** This action is highly symbolic and deeply significant. By physically stopping their ears, the crowd deliberately and emphatically shut themselves off from Stephen's message. It represents a willful refusal to hear or acknowledge the truth he was proclaiming, a conscious act of spiritual deafness in the face of divine revelation. They desired to silence not just Stephen's voice, but the very truth he represented.
* **"and ran upon him with one accord":** This final clause depicts the physical manifestation of their collective rage. The phrase "ran upon him" indicates a sudden, aggressive, and violent charge, transforming from a verbal outburst to physical assault. The "one accord" is particularly chilling, as it underscores the complete unanimity of their hostile intent, demonstrating a unified mob mentality that overwhelmed individual reason and restraint, leading directly to Stephen's apprehension and subsequent stoning.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Dramatic Irony**, as Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit and seeing the glory of God, is met with an utterly unspiritual, violent, and deafened response from those who claim to be God's representatives. The act of "stopped their ears" is potent **Symbolism**, representing not just physical deafness but a profound spiritual blindness and a deliberate, active rejection of divine truth and conviction. This action is a stark visual metaphor for the hardness of heart that Stephen had just cataloged in his sermon. The phrase "with one accord" presents a powerful **Contrast** to its typical positive usage in Acts, where it describes the unity of believers. Here, it chillingly highlights the unified, collective, and destructive intent of the mob, underscoring the terrifying power of a shared hatred. The entire scene is a moment of intense **Climax**, the culmination of Stephen's sermon and the rising tension, leading directly to his martyrdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 7:57 vividly portrays the deep-seated human resistance to divine truth, especially when that truth exposes sin or challenges established religious paradigms. The Sanhedrin's reaction is not merely anger but a profound, almost primal, rejection of God's final revelation in Jesus Christ, mirroring Israel's historical pattern of rejecting God's messengers. This verse underscores the reality that faithfulness to the Gospel often incurs hostility and persecution, revealing the spiritual battle between the kingdom of God and the forces of darkness that seek to suppress and silence its message. It highlights the tragic extent to which the human heart can harden itself against God, leading to destructive actions and a refusal to repent, even in the face of undeniable spiritual power and truth.

* [Proverbs 28:27](/proverbs/28-27 "Proverbs 28:27 - Shutting Ears to the Poor")
* [Zechariah 7:11](/zechariah/7-11 "Zechariah 7:11 - Refusal to Listen")
* [Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 7:57 serves as a sobering reminder that proclaiming biblical truth can elicit strong, even violent, opposition, especially when it confronts deeply held beliefs, exposes sin, or challenges entrenched power structures. For believers today, this verse encourages a realistic expectation of resistance when sharing the Gospel. Not everyone will receive the message openly; some may actively shut their ears and hearts to it, demonstrating a profound spiritual rejection of truth. Like Stephen, we are called to steadfastness in faith, faithfully declaring God's word even when it is unpopular, challenging, or dangerous. This verse also prompts us to understand the tragic extent to which the human heart can be hardened against God's truth, leading to destructive actions and a refusal to repent. While the scene describes violent rejection, Stephen's subsequent actions of prayer for his persecutors ([Acts 7:60](/acts/7-60 "Acts 7:60 - Stephen's Prayer for Forgiveness")) remind us to respond to hostility not with matching anger, but with prayer, compassion, and a Christ-like spirit, seeking God's mercy even for those who oppose the Gospel.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, or my community, be tempted to "stop our ears" to uncomfortable truths from God's Word or from His messengers today?**
* **How does Stephen's unwavering testimony in the face of such intense opposition challenge my own willingness to speak truth, even when it is costly or unpopular?**
* **What are the modern equivalents of "running upon" someone with "one accord" in opposition to the Gospel, and how can believers respond with grace and courage?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Sanhedrin react so violently to Stephen's words?**

Answer: The Sanhedrin's extreme reaction was primarily due to Stephen's declaration in [Acts 7:56](/acts/7-56 "Acts 7:56 - Stephen's Vision of Jesus") that he saw "the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." For them, this was the ultimate blasphemy. They had already rejected Jesus as the Messiah and executed Him as a criminal. Stephen's vision not only affirmed Jesus' divine status and authority (standing at God's right hand) but also implied their guilt in rejecting and murdering the true Messiah. This direct challenge to their religious authority and their deeply held beliefs, coupled with the conviction of his sermon that exposed their historical pattern of rebellion ([Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen's Rebuke of the Sanhedrin")), pushed them to a point of uncontrolled rage and violent suppression.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 7:57, though a moment of intense human rejection, profoundly points to Christ in its fulfillment of prophetic patterns and its foreshadowing of the church's destiny. Stephen's experience mirrors that of Jesus Himself, who was also rejected, falsely accused, and ultimately put to death by the religious establishment of His day ([Matthew 26:59-66](/matthew/26-59-66 "Matthew 26:59-66 - Jesus Before the Sanhedrin")). Stephen's vision of the "Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" ([Acts 7:56](/acts/7-56 "Acts 7:56 - Stephen's Vision of Jesus")) directly echoes Jesus' own claim before the Sanhedrin in [Matthew 26:64](/matthew/26-64 "Matthew 26:64 - Jesus' Prophecy of the Son of Man"), which was also deemed blasphemous. Thus, Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr, dying in the very pattern of his Lord, bearing witness to the truth even unto death. His suffering and ultimate vindication (seeing Jesus) anticipate the ultimate triumph of Christ and His church, even amidst persecution. The "stopped ears" and unified assault of the mob represent the world's ongoing spiritual blindness and hostility towards the light of Christ, yet this opposition, as seen in Stephen's martyrdom, ultimately serves to advance the Gospel and glorify the resurrected Christ, just as the cross itself led to resurrection and salvation ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Zechariah 7:11

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

Acts 23:27

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Psalms 58:4

Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;

Acts 21:27

¶ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

Acts 21:31

And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Acts 7:54

¶ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth.

Proverbs 21:13

¶ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.