Stephen Summoned before Synagogue Leaders

Topic: Persecution
Passage: Acts 6:8–15

November 6, 2021

Commentary

Up to this point, the sign gifts seem to have been administered only by the apostles, but now we find Stephen, a newly appointed deacon, also demonstrating these extraordinary powers. Apparently his ministry was primarily among the Hellenistic Jews, referred to here as the “Libertines” (vv. 8-9). This group engaged Stephen in hot debate over the Messiahship of Jesus and the importance of temple worship. (The Jews would see these two matters as a threat to their whole religious system). However, nobody was able to match or resist Stephen’s wisdom and power (v. 10).

Unable to defeat him in debate, they soon resorted to violence. They hired informers who began  to distort Stephen’s words in the most damaging way possible (v. 11). If the price is right you can always get people to swear to almost anything. With shrewd maneuvering, a small group can sway a whole populace. This same group did it to Jesus by getting the populace, who were basically friendly toward Him, to shout “Crucify Him"! Now they were doing the same type of thing to Stephen, having officially rejected the Spirit of God (vv. 12-15).The Sanhedrin listened to Gamaliel, and once again, after threatening the apostles, let them go.

  1. These were the men who heard God’s command, and were not afraid to obey it.

  2. Stephen insisted that men had worshiped God long before there ever was a Temple. To the Jews the Temple was the most sacred of all places.

  3. He insisted that when the Jews crucified Jesus they were only setting the stage on a policy they had always followed.

Application

What is the worst lie anybody has ever told about me? As I see how Stephen handled his opponents, which of his qualities do I feel I need the most? Lord, help me to acquire it.

Acts 6:8– 15 (NET)

8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.