<p>7:54 <i>Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart<em>- </em></i>See on Acts 5:33 &quot;Cut to the heart&quot;.</p><p><em>And they ground their teeth at him- </em>Such language must surely connect with the oft repeated description of the rejected gnashing their teeth at the judgment (Mt. 8:12; 13:42,50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30); as if those Jews acted out their own rejection by their attitude to the word in this life. Judgment is ongoing now, in its essence. As Stephen's enemies &quot;gnashed on him with their teeth&quot;, his Biblical mind would therefore have raced to Job 16:9, describing the behaviour of the wicked towards the faithful: &quot;He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes upon me with his teeth&quot;. The context goes on: &quot;Now, behold, my witness is in heaven and my record is on high&quot; (v. 19). Surely Stephen had thought ahead to this, for as his enemies gnashed their teeth against him, &quot;he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God&quot; (Acts 7:56). He looked up to Heaven and saw His witness, faithful and true, standing there as he expected.</p>