Acts 6:8-15 … Stephen is the most famous deacon in the church, and with his story we see persecution explode. Verse 10: “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”

Stephen was too filled with the Spirit to be resisted; and they tried hard to debate him. A Christian, filled with the Spirit and fulfilling God’s call in his or her life, is very hard to deal with. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. The religious leaders stirred up the people to make false charges: blasphemy against God and attacking the law of Israel given through Moses. How did they accomplish their false attack? Secret meetings where they shared false accusations. They used whoever they could stir up the people, including elders and scribes. Why did they operate that way? They could not beat Stephen in a face-to-face honest debate. So, they resorted to behind the back tactics. That is the method of cowards. If you can’t accomplish your plan in the right way, use any sinful methods you think will work. This is the pattern of every movement to bring down a leader throughout history. Verses 13-15 record the trial with false witnesses. They invoked Jesus Christ as leader of the conspiracy against Israel and Judaism. Stronger words were employed as well, “destroy” and “change”—Jesus is back on trial. Stephen had a heavenly appearance, was filled with the Spirit.

Sin cera, Erik

Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

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