The Witness of Stephen

Scripture Reading: Acts 6:1-15

 Now about this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief- food).

² So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food.

³ Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty. ⁴ But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

⁵ And the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith (a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah) and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte (convert) from Antioch.

⁶ These they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them.( as the priests had done in order to invoke God's blessing. This is one practice that is continued today in the church.)

⁷And the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].

   8Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing and favor) and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people.⁹ However, some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), as it was called, and [of the synagogues] of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, arose [and undertook] to debate and dispute with Stephen.¹⁰ But they were not able to resist the intelligence and the wisdom and [the inspiration of] the Spirit with which and by Whom he spoke.

¹¹ So they [secretly] instigated and instructed men to say, We have heard this man speak, using slanderous and abusive and blasphemous language against Moses and God. ¹² [Thus] they incited the people as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came upon Stephen and arrested him and took him before the council (Sanhedrin).

¹³ And they brought forward false witnesses who asserted, This man never stops making statements against this sacred place and the Law [of Moses];

¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down and destroy this place, and will alter the institutions and usages which Moses transmitted to us.

¹⁵ Then all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin), as they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face had the appearance of the face of an angel. from the Amplified Bible Translation.

Key Verse: Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people (Acts 6:8.).

Meditation: Stephen exemplifies the man “full of faith and of the of the Holy Spirit.” He was anointed with wisdom and power from the Holy Spirit. The religious authorities became alarmed particularly because the believers in Christ’s teaching were increasing and “large number *priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

Stephen was seized and brought before the **Sanhedrin. “They looked at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15).

Not only did his face reflect the glory of God, but also his words covered the history of God’s salvation of Israel, which the Sanhedrin should have appreciated. But Stephen brings the final condemnation  telling them they are always resisting the Holy Spirit. They stood condemned by the person they had on trial. They were guilty of murdering Jesus and now they would put Stephen to death.

But ***Stephen was already in the presence of Jesus, “full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

Finally, he demonstrated his greatest reflection of Jesus, “Lord, do not  hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).

Thought for the Day: When we are anointed with the Holy Spirit we are safe in the arms of Jesus.


* These would have been Jewish priests. Men, who had studies the teachings of the prophets all of their life. These men had also witnessed the life of Jesus as well as the Crucifixion of the Lamb of God.  

**Tannaitic sources describe the Great Sanhedrin as a religious assembly of 71 sages who met in the Chamber of Hewn Stones in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Great Sanhedrin met daily during the daytime, and did not meet on the Sabbath, festivals or festival eves. It was the final authority on Jewish law and any scholar who went against its decisions was put to death as a zaken mamre (rebellious elder). The Sanhedrin was led by a president called the nasi (lit. "prince") and a vice president called the av bet din (lit. "father of the court"). The other 69 sages sat in a semicircle facing the leaders. It is unclear whether the leaders included the high priest.

The Sanhedrin judged accused lawbreakers, but could not initiate arrests. It required a minimum of two witnesses to convict a suspect. There were no attorneys. Instead, the accusing witness stated the offense in the presence of the accused and the accused could call witnesses on his own behalf. The court questioned the accused, the accusers and the defense witnesses.

The Great Sanhedrin dealt with religious and ritualistic Temple matters, criminal matters appertaining to the secular court, proceedings in connection with the discovery of a corpse, trials of adulterous wives, tithes, preparation of Torah Scrolls for the king and the Temple, drawing up the calendar and the solving of difficulties relating to ritual law.--written By Shira Schoenberg

The Sanhedrin was also the religious counsel that sentenced Jesus. In traditional Christianity the Sanhedrin represented the Jews and their laws. And as Christians we have a new authority- Jesus and not Moses. 

*** Stephen indeed knew where he was and of whom he was speaking about.