Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
54. When they heard. The beginning of the action had in it some color of judgment; but at length the judges cannot bridle their fury. First, they interrupt him with murmuring and noise, now they break out into envious and deadly cryings, “Infestis clamoribus,” hostile clamor. lest they should hear any one word. Afterward they hale the holy man (out of the city,) that they may put him to death.
The Sanhedrin were cut to the heart with rage, not sorrow, hell itself broken loose in human form, malice in perfection. They could not answer Stephen's arguments, so fury consumed them. Their wonderful discomposure stands against his wonderful composure: here is corruption in its full strength.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 7:54-60
And said, behold, I see the heavens opened,.... As they were at the baptism of Christ; see Gill on Mat 3:16, and the son of man standing at the right hand of God; he calls Jesus "the son of man"; a name by which he often called himself in his state of humiliation; and that though he was now glorified, it being the name of...