Acts 7:52

“Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? etc.] Either by reviling and speaking all manner of evil of them, (<400511>Matthew 5:11,12) or by killing them, (<402331>Matthew 23:31,37) and they have slain them; as Isaiah, Zachariah, and others: which showed before of the coming of the just one; of Jesus the Messiah, whose character in the prophecies of the Old Testament is righteous servant, righteous branch, just, and having salvation; and whom Stephen styles so partly on account of the holiness of his nature, and the innocence and harmlessness of his life; and partly because he is the author of righteousness, and the end of the law for it to all that believe; of whose coming in…”

“Which of, &c.--Deadly hostility to the messengers of God, whose high office it was to tell of "the Righteous One," that well-known prophetic title of Messiah (Isa 53:11; Jer 23:6, &c.), and this consummated by the betrayal and murder of Messiah Himself, on the part of those now sitting in judgment on the speaker, are the still darker features of the national character depicted in these withering words.”

“Which of the prophets ... - The interrogative form here is a strong mode of saying that they had persecuted “all” the prophets. It was “the characteristic of the nation” to persecute the messengers of God. This is not to be taken as literally and universally true; but it was a general truth; it was the national characteristic. See the notes on Matthew 21:33-40; Matthew 23:29-35. And they have slain them ... - That is, they have slain the prophets, whose main message was that the Messiah was to come. It was a great aggravation of their offence that they put to death the messengers which foretold the greatest blessing that the nation could receive. The Just One - The Messiah. See the notes on…”

“Which of: Sa1 8:7, Sa1 8:8; Kg1 19:10, Kg1 19:14; Ch2 24:19-22, Ch2 36:16; Neh 9:26; Jer 2:30; Jer 20:2, Jer 26:15, Jer 26:23; Mat 5:12, Mat 21:35-41, Mat 23:31-37; Luk 11:47-51; Luk 13:33, Luk 13:34; Th1 2:15 which showed: Act 3:18, Act 3:24; Pe1 1:11; Rev 19:10 the Just One: Act 3:14, Act 22:14; Zac 9:9; Jo1 2:1; Rev 3:7 of whom: Act 2:23, Act 3:15, Act 4:10, Act 5:28-30 Acts 7:53”