Master's Prayer Network

A — Acts 6:8

Comments: This brief statement clearly affirms that Stephen possessed the pre-qualifiers for his position of service (to be of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom — Acts 6:3), and he surpassed the basic duty of serving widows, as he performed wonders and miracles among the people. The Holy Spirit has not revealed through the Bible, the full nature of Stephen’s acts, but they apparently were noteworthy enough to lead to confrontational debate with opposing Jews. Even though God brought Messiah into the world by Jewish lineage, his coming created separation among the Jews as well as among all other people groups.

Jesus had said the separation would happen, and it became very evident as people openly expressed belief in him. “32 Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:32–39 RWebster). Stephen certainly exemplified the first, and the last two verses above, as his complete story in Acts has documented for us.

B — Acts 6:9

Comments: There are quite a few references in the New Testament of the existence of synagogues throughout cities and villages in Israel, and in other nations wherever the Jews had been dispersed. It is unclear from the wording of the above verse if the reference is to men from multiple synagogues; and the verse does not tell us where the dispute took place, but it seems to involve a mixture of Jews. Jesus taught in many synagogues, and even performed miracles of healing in some of them. “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matthew 9:35 RWebster).

Jesus warned his disciples of the mistreatment they would face in synagogues. “17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” (Matthew 10:17–18 RWebster). Jesus also spoke very bluntly to the self-righteous Jews, telling them how God viewed them, and what they would do to his disciples. “34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.” (Matthew 23:34 RWebster). Some among the Jewish leadership did believe, but it was difficult for them to take a firm stand that would separate them from the mainstream society of the Jews. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 12:42 RWebster). “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2 RWebster).

C — Acts 6:10

Comments: We should not overlook the textual replay of the two qualities mentioned here, because they were essentials set forth by the apostles for the seven men to be selected for duties that we might otherwise too lightly consider, thinking service to widows to be mundane functions not requiring spiritual qualifications. As Stephen’s situation demonstrates, being a recognized member of the body of Christ may bring any of us into strong conflict with opponents of the cross if we defend our faith during discussions. Stephen made irrefutable statements that even multiple opponents could not resist because that which he spoke was from wisdom and the spirit. When the qualifications for the seven were set forth in Acts 6:3, they were to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and Stephen was not alone in this confrontation because he was filled with the Holy Spirit!

D — Acts 6:11

Comments: Blasphemy was a very serious charge against a Jew, and in the Levitical law, death of the blasphemer at the hands of the congregation was required. “And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.” (Leviticus 24:16 RWebster). But including blasphemy against Moses in this charge was a nebulous way of allowing a blurring between those things that Moses had written as revelation from God, and the expanded traditions of the Jews that were attributed to Moses. If the charges were legitimate, the Jews would not have needed to resort to secretly inducing men to allege such charges.

The tactic of setting up false witnesses was not new in Israel. King Ahab’s wife used this technique in the Northern kingdom of Israel centuries earlier. (1 Kings 21:9–13). All of the participants in the perjury against Stephen violated one of the commandments written on the stone tablets by the very finger of God. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” (Exodus 20:16 RWebster). Those who gave false testimony against Stephen became worthless men just as the men described in 1 Kings 21:13 were worthless, and they perverted the law recorded by Moses.

E — Acts 6:12–14

Comments: A common companion to false accusation is to ratchet up the emotional level within a crowd so they begin to act like a mob rather than an orderly assembly. And a second time we are told by the text that false witnesses were employed to assure the conclusion Stephen’s opponents wanted from their inquiry. We know from the text that the witnesses against Stephen were false. From Paul’s testimony near the end of his ministry, his Christianity had not caused him to violate Jewish customs. “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called together the chief of the Jews: and when they were assembled, he said to them, Men, brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” (Acts 28:17 RWebster).

F — Acts 6:15

Comments: What an incredible contrast Stephen’s countenance presents in this highly agitated atmosphere! He is not filled with anger or fear, either of which is usually easily detected by the appearance of the face. Those who were staring at him were probably all quite angry. His facial expression was so markedly different from the expected, that all eyes were fixed, fastened, intently looking upon him. This probably brought about a dramatic pause in the action. There could have been many Old Testament scriptures that came to mind for Stephen to calm him at this time, and even sensing the very presence of the Holy Spirit within would have been a direct source of comfort. “He maketh the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.” (Psalms 107:29 RWebster). “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4 RWebster). “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do to me.” (Psalms 56:11 RWebster). “Hearken to me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” (Isaiah 51:7 RWebster).