Stephen was one of those seven men commissioned to be 'kitchen aids' of hospitality and keepers of finances overseeing daily distribution of food for widows. This, so the apostles could devote their full time and attention on prayer and the ministry of preaching the Word of God and gospel of Jesus Christ.
These ministers of money and food had been chosen because they were known to be "full of the Spirit and wisdom". Stephen was specifically known to also have been "a man full of faith" (vs 5) as well as the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3-5 NIV).
Here's more of Stephen's character and blessing: he was "richly blessed by God" (GNT Acts 6:8) and "a man full of God's grace and power" (Acts 6:8 NIV). His blessing was grace and power from God. Besides his kitchen duties and serving tables, the blessings of God enabled him to do "great wonders and miraculous signs among the people" (vs 8). Isn't it wondrous!
Then the bitter pill of opposition arose, instigated by "little" men full of the spirit of jealousy and rage. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit was with Stephen granting him wisdom to refute the arguments presented by members of the synagogue of the Freedmen. They could not stand up against him.
Not to be outdone, their next tactic these little men presented was to "secretly persuade," likely through bribery, to falsely accuse Stephen of having said things he obviously would NOT say: i.e., blasphemy against Moses and God (vs 11). They even produced false witnesses to testify to it (vs 13)! Some things never change. They did this to Jesus too.
Stop and think a minute. If you'd been falsely accused about anything, what would your reaction be? Angelic face? Dirty look?
Those actual accusors from among the Sanhedrin "looked intently at Stephen during this fiasco (vs 15 NIV). Stephen's countenance was "like the face of an angel" (vs 15 NIV). It must have been somewhat unsettling for them.
With angelic look upon his face, Stephen began his verbal defence. He reiterated their Jewish history as we read in Acts 7, remarking on times of Israelite rebellion against God and Moses who granted them mercy; of Joshua, David, Solomon and so on, bringing them up-to-date with their disposal of Jesus Christ. Stephen used the adjective, "stiff-necked" (Acts 7:51 NIV) with which, he said, this generation of religious leaders were characterized. They'd killed the "Righteous One" (7:52 NIV). He told them they "always resisted the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51 NIV).
This made the leaders all the more angry. Then with waves of dirty looks and frowns of explosive anger burgeoning upon their faces, they stoned Stephen to death. Stephen, still full of the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw God and Jesus, remarked about what he saw. The stones came then, harder and faster, in full-blown rage.
Before his last breath, Stephen managed to cry out,
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60 NIV).He then "fell asleep" in Jesus.
Forgiveness. Mercy. How sweet the sound and how like Christ, Stephen had been.
May we allow the Holy Spirit sway within us too, in our day and age. May we become Christ-like, even in the face of strong opposition as Stephen had done, and that with angelic look upon his face!..
Thank-You, Jesus for Your Holy Spirit's indwelling and dynamic power we Your followers, can have when we allow Him to work within and through us. May our faces shine with angelic look on Your behalf, come what may! May our character shine as Stephen's had done.
Big talk, but we seek your help Father, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
~ERC September 2021~
Based on Acts 6:8-15 and Acts 7 NIV/GoodNews
Sing, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, with Maranatha.
and A Mighty Fortress is Our God, with Michael W. Smith
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