Key Text: Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8).
The Jerusalem Church in Judea experienced explosive growth and the early converts were Hellenistic Jews from many different countries. They primarily used the Greek language and had different cultural backgrounds than the Hebraic Jews who were native to Judea. Widows were especially needy where disparities resulted between service to the Hellenistic widows and the Hebraic widows. The Twelve apostles were careful not to decline in their primary responsibility- preaching the word of God. So, they defined who should do which ministry. First, the congregation would select leaders for the Food Ministry. Second, these leaders would come from among the congregation. Third, seven men would be chosen. Fourth, the pastors established qualifications for these servant leaders and maintained supervision over all of them. Having made prayerful choices under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the congregation had the seven men “stand before the apostles.” Demonstrating approval and endorsement, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them, which indicated blessing and commissioning for service. The Hellenistic leaders complained that each of the seven men they chose had Greek names. One of these seven was Stephen, a powerful and eloquent preacher described as “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost” v 7 , “full of faith and power” v 8, speaking with “wisdom and spirit” v 16, and having “the face of an angel” v 15. But Stephen was too successful and he made enemies.
The opposition arose from a synagogue in Jerusalem called the Freedman’s Synagogue. These Jews were former Roman slaves and their descendants, which included migrants from Cilicia and Asia (modern Turkey). Since Stephen had a Greek-speaking background, he may have come to this synagogue to witness for Christ. Reacting against his words, the Hellenistic Jews “began to argue with Stephen” v 9. The Freedmen were “unable to stand up against Stephen’s “wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking”. So the Freedmen “secretly persuaded some men to bear false witness against Stephen. This “stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes”. The mob dragged Stephen to the Sanhedrin’s council chambers located in the temple compound. The plaintiffs referred to Stephen simply as “this man” and they claimed he was “speaking against this holy place and the law”. Witnesses claimed to have heard Stephen say Jesus would “destroy this place,” a testimony similar to what was said against Jesus. Their testimony also alleged Stephen said that Jesus would change the customs that Moses handed down. But God honored Stephen before his accusers and despite being attacked, “his face was like the face of an angel, being full of God’s grace and Spirit. His defense was an impassioned witness to Christianity as he argued to persuade this audience that Christ was indeed the Messiah and that they betrayed their God, His Law, and His covenant by refusing to accept His son.
Stephen concluded his witness by claiming to see the heavens open, revealing Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Even before the Sanhedrin would pronounce the sentence, the mob took Stephen outside the city and stoned him. Stephen’s accusers, the “witnesses,” led the stoning and, as was the custom, they first removed their outer clothing and entrusted it to one of their members, whose name was Saul. Stephen died calling to Christ, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (7:60). With quiet confidence, Stephen maintained the dignity of innocence as a testimony to God’s grace. AMEN!
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