But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.
—Zechariah 7:11
But [the high priest and Sanhedrin] cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at [Stephen].
—Acts 7:57
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
—Romans 11:7-8
There is a hair-raising connection when Luke writes that the high priest and Sanhedrin members “stopped their ears” and attacked Stephen.
A short search found two passages that referred to people who “stopped their ears” and consciously chose not to hear. One of these is Luke's record of the vicious reaction of those who refused to hear Stephen's words as he reminded them of their own history.
The other passage comes from the book of Zechariah, describing those who had rejected the Lord's commands regarding justice and kindness, which had specifically called out the most vulnerable in society: widows, orphans, sojourners, and the poor. The Lord commanded His people not to plot or imagine (think secretly about) evil against each other. But they refused to listen, deliberately deafening themselves.
The Lord has told humans what it means to live wisely and at peace. And then He showed us, face to face, in the person of the Son. And the ones who should have been most ready to recognize Him, to hear Him and to follow Him instead refused, turned away, and stopped their ears.
That is what Stephen was reminding them. When they did it again.
Stopped Ears
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
—Psalm 119:108
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion...
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
—Proverbs 18:1-2, 12
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.
—Zechariah 7:11
But [the high priest and Sanhedrin] cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at [Stephen].
—Acts 7:57
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
—Romans 11:7-8
There is a hair-raising connection when Luke writes that the high priest and Sanhedrin members “stopped their ears” and attacked Stephen.
A short search found two passages that referred to people who “stopped their ears” and consciously chose not to hear. One of these is Luke's record of the vicious reaction of those who refused to hear Stephen's words as he reminded them of their own history.
The other passage comes from the book of Zechariah, describing those who had rejected the Lord's commands regarding justice and kindness, which had specifically called out the most vulnerable in society: widows, orphans, sojourners, and the poor. The Lord commanded His people not to plot or imagine (think secretly about) evil against each other. But they refused to listen, deliberately deafening themselves.
The Lord has told humans what it means to live wisely and at peace. And then He showed us, face to face, in the person of the Son. And the ones who should have been most ready to recognize Him, to hear Him and to follow Him instead refused, turned away, and stopped their ears.
That is what Stephen was reminding them. When they did it again.