Why did Israel not want Christ to return?
Israel did not want Christ to return because they were content with their own religion and rejected His rule over them. They were not ready for Him and did not want Him to come, declaring, "We will not have this man to rule over us."
Les explains that at the stoning of Stephen, Israel reached the crescendo point of her rejection. They weren't ready for Christ to return and didn't want Him to come because they were too happy with their own religion. Their rejection is seen in their violent response: they stopped their ears and ran upon Stephen with one accord, casting him out of the city and stoning him. This was permitted because Rome let the Jews handle their own religious system, even to the point of killing their own. The climax of their rejection is captured in the cry, "We'll not have this man to rule over us," showing their refusal to accept His authority. As they reached this pinnacle of rejection, God introduced Saul (later Paul) to the scene.