Acts 6:8-15

Introduction

Stephen was on of seven men who had a Hellenistic name at the church in Jerusalem that was chosen to handle the crisis of Hellenistic widows being neglected in the daily ministration.

His name comes first in the list of 7:

Of the thousands of men that were in the church at Jerusalem, Stephen was first person that came to people’s mind in fulfilling the position of being a deacon. Him being full of faith and the Holy Ghost was demonstrable to all the church. You could not come up with a list of 7, without including Stephen.

Luke continues with the life of Stephen as an evangelist, after his appointment to serve tables

Although the people viewed Stephen as a blasphemer and killed him, he was one of the noblest and most powerful men who ever lived. it is no exaggeration to place him on a par with the likes of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, John the Baptist, and the Apostles.

Stephen’s Testimony

People give testimony all the time. Testimony that is important and believable. Testimony that can convict or exonerate people. Testimony that allows them to take out a large sum of money or to commit one’s life to. John had this idea, when he wrote: 1 John 5:9 “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”

What is this testimony? 1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

This testimony is of greatest importance for three reasons:

It is coming from God - who is truth

It’s focus is Jesus Christ - The Deliverer

It has eternal implications!

Thus, the power of a person’s testimony is do they point people to a Biblical Jesus. Particularly, in a society that wants a perverted Jesus.

The problem in testifying a correct and Biblical view of Jesus!

God’s people struggle

If we do not struggle with our words, we may struggle with our life.

Paul mentions how our lives our a conversation that tells a story or testifies to something true

Galatians 1:13 “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:”

Truth is a tension usually exist between what our mouths say compared to what our life says.

Mark 9:24 “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

The world is derelict in their testimony of Jesus:

The world wants Jesus but a Jesus that they can control the narrative. They can give their own testimony, even if it is untrue.

Stephen’s society was adverse to the real Jesus. They enjoyed teachings on Jesus that fit there narrative; rather than the teaching of Jesus being true and complying with God’s narrative.

Our society is adverse to the real Jesus. Governor Newsom of California has a billboard ad that says: Need an abortion, California is ready to help, Learn more at Abortion.ca.gov. Underneath this Governor Newsome quotes Mark 12:31 “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

How did Stephen get to the place where he confronted his culture with the real Jesus? Where he could give testimony about Jesus? Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

Full of Faith

The phrase “full of faith” does not occur very often in the Bible

Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

Full of faith - to be absolutely influenced by:

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Romans 4:20-21 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

Summary:

Who God is

What He has done

What He will do

To have unfettered confidence in God

To be emptied of rational and natural thought.

LOVE

This does not focus on one arena of life, but all arenas of life.

living

Church activity

Relationships

Commerce

Employment

Full of power - To be led by God, to do what God wants to be done.

The focus of this has to be obedience. It starts with being led by to fulfill His purpose. Often, we are led by ourselves to fulfill our purpose.

As this relates to Stephen

Whether this was to serve tables to to perform wonders and miracles.

This required Stephen to be satisfy his power base - The Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to be satisfy the Holy Spirit. After all, it is possible to grieve the Spirit of God!

Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

The kind of conduct that is suited to cause grief.

Ephesians 4:32-5:1 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”

The word “followers” speaks of imitating.

Stephen Adversity - Acts 6:9-14

Acts 6:9–14 KJV 1900

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Jerusalem had synagogues from various parts of the Roman Empire.

Apparently, Stephen is near a group of synagogues

Libertines - Freemen

Cyrenians - A Roman rules Greek colony in North Africa, where Libya is today

Alexandrians - Alexandria, Egypt

Cilicia - Southeast Coast of Asia Minor, in modern Turkey - The capital city of Cilicia was Tarsus

Asia - The Roman province of Asia - Included Ephesus and Pergamum

Evidently Stephen used wonders and miracles as a platform to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Being filled with faith and power creates adversity in a culture that is in conflict with Truth.

It was not the wonders and miracles that drew them over the edge. It was Stephen’s theology. His Christ-centered theology.

During or after this, Jews from these synagogues began disputing with Stephen.

Dispute = debate

Speaks of a rapid fire kind of environment

Their desire was to quash his theology through this disputing.

However, they were not able to resist the spirit and wisdom by which he taught.

resist - They did not have the strength to stand against him. Why could not the resist him? Luke gives 2 reasons:

spirit - not speaking of the Holy Spirit but his attitude and mannerism. The way he went about defending the truth of God’s word.

Luke does not describe in detail why they could not conquer his spirit. But I am not sure he had to. You cannot conquer the spirit of Biblical love!

Wisdom - The skill he had to rightfully divide the word of God!

We cannot be overlooked is once again, we see a promise of Jesus kept - Luke 21:15 “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”

Their hope was to change the narrative by bringing false witnesses to stir the people up

Suborn - They put these men forward in an underhand way for fraud.

Blasphemous words against Moses and God

It is interesting that Moses comes before God.

The only option before them was to attack his character, with the hope of stirring the people up.

stir the people up - to move the people in a seditious way.

They shook the people up like an earthquake.

The strategy was all-inclusive

People

Elders

Scribes

Brought before the Sanhedrin

The people, elders and scribes came upon Stephen, caught him and brought him before the Sanhedrin

came upon him - rushed at him

brought him - with violence

False Witnesses claiming:

Blasphemed the law

Blasphemed the Temple

Acts 6:14 “For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”

Stephen’s message

Jesus is greater than Moses

Jesus was God

Jesus is greater than the Temple

Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law

Jesus was greater than the customs and traditions of the Jews.

Face of an angel

Acts 6:15 “And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

Close to God

Reflects some of God’s glory

Face that exhibited peace, not terror.