Cut to the Heart
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:54-60
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:37-42
In the above two passages we have to very different reactions to the gospel message. Both groups of people were cut to the heart after hearing the words of God, but the outcome was vastly different.
In Acts 7, the people were furious and killed Stephen - not wanting to listen to the words that he spoke. In Acts 2, the people were sorrowful at their state and asked to hear more of the word of God - wanting to know what they should do.
The gospel message is a powerful weapon (Hebrew 4:12) and we ought to be using it. There are those who will dismiss the message, but there are others who will desire to learn more and will be obedient to Christ.
-- John Thrower Jr.