Acts 7:57
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Original Language Analysis
κράξαντες
they cried out
G2896
κράξαντες
they cried out
Strong's:
G2896
Word #:
1 of 13
properly, to "croak" (as a raven) or scream, i.e., (genitive case) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat)
φωνῇ
voice
G5456
φωνῇ
voice
Strong's:
G5456
Word #:
3 of 13
a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language
μεγάλῃ
with a loud
G3173
μεγάλῃ
with a loud
Strong's:
G3173
Word #:
4 of 13
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
συνέσχον
and stopped
G4912
συνέσχον
and stopped
Strong's:
G4912
Word #:
5 of 13
to hold together, i.e., to compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὥρμησαν
ran
G3729
ὥρμησαν
ran
Strong's:
G3729
Word #:
10 of 13
to start, spur or urge on, i.e., (reflexively) to dash or plunge
Cross References
Zechariah 7:11But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.Acts 23:27This 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 58:4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Historical Context
Jewish law required careful deliberation in capital cases. The council's spontaneous violence violated their own standards, exposing their rejection as irrational rather than principled.
Questions for Reflection
- What does 'stopping their ears' reveal about willful spiritual blindness?
- How can religious leaders abandon their own principles when confronting threatening truth?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
They 'cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears' - refusing to hear what they considered blasphemy. 'Ran upon him with one accord' shows mob violence replacing judicial process. The Sanhedrin abandoned legal procedure in murderous rage.