Free Bible Commentary
“Acts 6:8-15”
Categories: Acts“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.’ And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, ‘This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.’ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”
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Satan is never more displeased than when Christ’s church is flourishing and God’s people are experiencing a modicum of peace and immense spiritual success. The Jewish council had been thus far unable to mount a serious resistance and threat to the spread of the Gospel by their antagonism of the Apostles. Now, with the singling out of one fearless, righteous disciple, all that is about to change.
Stephen was boldly preaching Jesus in the synagogues in Jerusalem, and no one could “cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” (verse 10). As usual, when God’s enemies can’t logically and politely refute the truth, they simply stir up the emotions of the crowd by reverting to slander and false charges (verses 11-12). With the arrest and murder of Stephen, Satan unleashed a full-fledged campaign of persecution against the Lord’s people (8:1).
“And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel” (verse 15). I’m not really certain exactly how Stephen’s face appeared angelic in nature. In my mind’s eye I see this hypocritical tribunal looking Stephen squarely in the eyes, avidly searching for any sign of fear or shame or guilt on the face of the subject of their wrath. What they saw instead was a countenance filled with faith, confidence and serenity; a face radiated by the light of the truth. As the old song goes, I think Stephen was letting the beauty of Jesus be seen in Him.
When armed with the truth, the Lord’s soldiers have nothing to fear!
For tomorrow, please read Acts 7:1-19.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
