Stephen continues his defense before the Jewish council that he began in [Acts 7:1](./01.md).
## You people who are stiff-necked... ##
Stephen shifted from identifying with the Jewish leaders to rebuking them.
## uncircumcised in heart ##
"disobedient in heart." Stephen may have been comparing them to the Gentiles, which they would have understood as an insult.
## Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? ##
This is a rhetorical question where Stephen was rebuking them. Can be translated as, "Your forefathers persecuted every prophet!" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
## Righteous One ##
This refers to the Christ, the Messiah.
## murderers of him ##
"murderers of the Righteous One" or "murderers of the Christ."
See in Reader
