Acts 7:52
New International Version
Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—

New Living Translation
Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.

English Standard Version
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,

Berean Standard Bible
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Berean Literal Bible
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those having foretold about the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers,

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,

New American Standard Bible
Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, and you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him;

NASB 1995
“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;

NASB 1977
“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;

Legacy Standard Bible
And which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;

Amplified Bible
Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;

Christian Standard Bible
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

American Standard Version
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers;

Contemporary English Version
Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn't mistreat? They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the One Who Obeys God. And now you have turned against him and killed him.

English Revised Version
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them which shewed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Was there ever a prophet your ancestors didn't persecute? They killed those who predicted that a man with God's approval would come. You have now become the people who betrayed and murdered that man.

Good News Translation
Was there any prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God's messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous Servant. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.

International Standard Version
Which of the prophets did your ancestors fail to persecute? They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers.

Majority Standard Bible
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers?

NET Bible
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become!

New Heart English Bible
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.

Webster's Bible Translation
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them who showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers;

Weymouth New Testament
Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--

World English Bible
Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who declared before about the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers,

Berean Literal Bible
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those having foretold about the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers,

Young's Literal Translation
which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed those who declared before about the coming of the Righteous One, of whom now ye betrayers and murderers have become,

Smith's Literal Translation
Which of the prophets did not your fathers drive out and they slew them announcing beforehand of the coming of the Just; of whom ye have now been traitors and murderers:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him.

New American Bible
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

New Revised Standard Version
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted and murdered? Especially have they slain those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One whom you betrayed and murdered.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Which of The Prophets have not your fathers persecuted and murdered, who before had searched out concerning the coming of The Righteous One, him whom you have betrayed and killed?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They slew also those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers;

Godbey New Testament
Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? and they slew those proclaiming concerning the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you became:

Haweis New Testament
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers:

Mace New Testament
was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? have they not slain those who predicted the coming of that just person whom you have so lately betrayed and murder'd?

Weymouth New Testament
Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--

Worrell New Testament
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who declared beforehand concerning the coming of the Righteous One?of Whom just now ye became the betrayers and murderers;

Worsley New Testament
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and slew those who prophesied concerning the coming of that righteous One, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin
51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. 52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— 53you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”…

Cross References
Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Luke 11:47-51
Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. / So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. / Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ...

Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

John 5:39-40
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, / yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

1 Thessalonians 2:15
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,

Hebrews 11:32-38
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. ...

Matthew 21:33-39
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 Kings 19:10
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Jeremiah 2:30
“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”

Jeremiah 26:20-23
Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did. / King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. / Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. ...

Nehemiah 9:26
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

Isaiah 30:10-11
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”


Treasury of Scripture

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Which of.

1 Samuel 8:7,8
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them…

1 Kings 19:10,14
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away…

2 Chronicles 24:19-22
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear…

which shewed.

Acts 3:18,24
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled…

1 Peter 1:11
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

the Just One.

Acts 3:14
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

Acts 22:14
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

of whom.

Acts 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 3:15
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Jump to Previous
Announced Attacked Beforehand Betrayed Cruelly Death Fathers Forefathers Foretold Killed Murdered Murderers News Persecute Persecuted Predicted Previously Prophet Prophets Righteous Shewed Showed Slain Upright
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Announced Attacked Beforehand Betrayed Cruelly Death Fathers Forefathers Foretold Killed Murdered Murderers News Persecute Persecuted Predicted Previously Prophet Prophets Righteous Shewed Showed Slain Upright
Acts 7
1. Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,
2. shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,
20. before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;
37. that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;
44. and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time;
51. reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold.
54. Whereupon they stone Stephen to death,
59. who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them.














Which of the prophets
This phrase calls attention to the long history of Israel's relationship with God's messengers. The Greek word for "prophets" is "προφήτης" (prophētēs), meaning one who speaks forth by divine inspiration. Historically, prophets were often met with resistance and hostility, as they called the people back to covenant faithfulness. This rhetorical question implies that the rejection of prophets was a consistent pattern, highlighting the people's stubbornness and resistance to God's message.

did your fathers not persecute?
The term "persecute" comes from the Greek "διώκω" (diōkō), meaning to pursue or harass. This phrase underscores the historical pattern of hostility towards God's messengers. The use of "your fathers" connects the current audience with their ancestors, suggesting a continuity of rebellion against divine authority. It serves as a sobering reminder of the generational sin and the need for repentance.

They even killed
The phrase "even killed" emphasizes the extreme measures taken against the prophets. The Greek word "ἀποκτείνω" (apokteinō) means to kill or put to death. This highlights the severity of the rejection and the lengths to which the people went to silence God's voice. It serves as a stark reminder of the cost of speaking truth to power and the ultimate sacrifice made by many prophets.

those who foretold the coming
This phrase refers to the prophetic tradition of announcing the coming of the Messiah. The Greek word "προκαταγγέλλω" (prokataggellō) means to announce beforehand. The prophets were given divine insight into God's redemptive plan, pointing to the future hope of Israel. This highlights the continuity of God's plan throughout history and the faithfulness of His promises.

of the Righteous One
The "Righteous One" is a Messianic title, referring to Jesus Christ. The Greek word "δίκαιος" (dikaios) means just or righteous, emphasizing the sinless nature of Christ. This title underscores Jesus' fulfillment of the law and the prophets, embodying the perfect standard of righteousness. It also highlights the tragic irony of His rejection and crucifixion by those He came to save.

And now you have become
This phrase marks a transition from historical reflection to present accusation. The Greek word "νυνί" (nyni) means now, indicating the immediacy and relevance of the charge. It serves as a call to self-examination and repentance, urging the audience to recognize their complicity in the rejection of God's chosen one.

His betrayers and murderers—
The terms "betrayers" and "murderers" are strong accusations, directly implicating the audience in the death of Jesus. The Greek word for "betrayers" is "προδότης" (prodotēs), meaning traitor, while "murderers" is "φονεύς" (phoneus), meaning killer. This highlights the gravity of their actions and the fulfillment of the pattern of rejecting God's messengers. It serves as a powerful call to repentance and faith in the Righteous One they have rejected.

(52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?--St. Stephen echoes, as it were, our Lord's own words (Matthew 5:12; Luke 13:34). Every witness for the truth had in his day had to suffer. The prophet was not only "without honour," but was exposed to shame, treated as an enemy, condemned to death. 1Thessalonians 2:15, perhaps, reproduces the same fact, but more probably refers to the sufferings of the prophets of the Christian Church who were treated as their predecessors had been.

The coming of the Just One.--The name does not appear to have been one of the received titles of the expected Messiah, but may have been suggested by Isaiah 11:4-5. It seems to have been accepted by the Church of Jerusalem, and in 1John 2:1, and, perhaps, in James 5:6, we find examples of its application. The recent use of it by Pilate's wife (Matthew 27:19) may have helped to give prominence to it. He who had been condemned as a malefactor was emphatically, above all the sons of men, the "righteous," the "Just One." . . .

Verse 52. - Did not... persecute for have not... persecuted, A.V.; killed for have slain, A.V. ; righteous for just, A.V.; have now become for have been now, A.V.; betrayers for the betrayers, A.V. The close resemblance of Stephen's words to those of our Lord recorded in Luke 13:33, 34; Matthew 5:12; Matthew 23:30, 31, 34-37, lend some support to the tradition that he was one of the seventy, and had heard the Lord speak them. But the resemblance may have arisen from the Spirit by which he spake, "the Spirit of Christ which was in" him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Which
τίνα (tina)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prophets
προφητῶν (prophētōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.

{did} your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

fathers
πατέρες (pateres)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

fail
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

to persecute?
ἐδίωξαν (ediōxan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

They even killed
ἀπέκτειναν (apekteinan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy.

those who
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

foretold
προκαταγγείλαντας (prokatangeilantas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4293: To announce beforehand, promise, predict. From pro and kataggello; to anounce beforehand, i.e. Predict, promise.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

coming
ἐλεύσεως (eleuseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1660: A coming, arrival, advent. From the alternate of erchomai; an advent.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Righteous One.
Δικαίου (Dikaiou)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1342: From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.

And now
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
ἐγένεσθε (egenesthe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

[His]
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

betrayers
προδόται (prodotai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4273: A betrayer, traitor. From prodidomi (the enemy's) hands); a surrender.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

murderers?
φονεῖς (phoneis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5406: A murderer.


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