The Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 25 Mighty Faith, an Angry Mob and an Angelic Face.

The Holy Ghost came down at Pentecost with an unforgettable demonstration of power and holiness. 

God birthed the New Testament church which began with 120 disciples in an upper room, and by this point in time numbers at least 10,000 to 15,000 believers!

We noted that a great number of priests were born again. This is noteworthy because they handled all the sacrifices offered as sin offerings, peace offerings and thank offerings to God. 

As Peter and the others preached from the Old Testament, the priests saw the connections of the suffering Messiah (Christ's first advent) with what the law and prophets foretold. 

They understood that each animal offered as a sacrifice for sin was a picture of Christ on the cross dying for their sins. 

Each animal offered as a thanksgiving and sweet savor offering to God was a picture of Christ's atoning work being our sweet savor offering accepted by God. 

We shall see today that there was a swift reaction from the unbelieving religious leaders. 

Stephen was mightily used by God.

Acts 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 

Stephen was singled out by the Spirit of God, for being full of faith and power because he was filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Stephen's strong faith.

The word translated "faith" has a rich meaning that is worth thinking about. "Faith" is having a conviction of the truth of man’s relationship to God and the things of God as proclaimed in the scriptures. It indicates having solid trust and a holy fervor born of faith.

"Faith" is having a strong conviction that God exists and that He is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and sustainer of all. 

"Faith" is a conviction that God is the author of eternal salvation through repentant faith in Jesus Christ, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.

Stephen was full of power from God.

Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost, overflowing with this kind of strong faith. 

He was also full of "power" which is the power to perform miracles coupled with moral power from an excellent spirit.

The Greek word translated "power" is contained in the words "dynamite" and "dynamic." The former refers to explosive power and the latter refers to maintaining a constant working for God. 

The grace of God gave Stephen the power and so he kept on doing great wonders and signs among the people. He was like a sudden whirlwind of power within the early New Testament church. 

Stephen was enabled to do great wonders and miracles. The miracles and wonders he did were signs used by God to authenticate the men sent by Him, proving that this man is His spokesman. 

Intense opposition from religious Jews

Acts 6:9  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.  

The phrase "then there arose" is only found four times in the Bible but in each instance it involves conflict, dissension and anger. Certain Jews from a certain synagogue entered into a heated dispute with Stephen. 

The word "arose" means that those particular Jews could not stand to hear any more preaching from Stephen. They did not want to hear about their guilt for crucifying Israel's Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

The "Libertines" were Hellenistic Jews who had been enslaved by Rome but were eventually set free. In addition Jews from synagogues in Cyrene, Alexandria and Cilicia and Asia were among those disputing with Stephen.

It is of great interest to note that Saul was from Tarsus which is in the province of Cilicia and it is very possible that Saul was one of them who disputed with Stephen. 

Jesus promised heaven's help for times like these.

Mark 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Jesus promised help from the Holy Ghost when His apostles were put on trial for preaching in His name. The apostles and disciples were not to mentally rehearse their defense against the charges brought by the council. The Holy Ghost would speak through these men at the right moment. 

Truth from God destroyed opposition objections. 

Acts 6:10  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

When the Holy Ghost spoke through men like Stephen, no man was able to disprove, discredit or contradict what was said. They had no power to resist speech verbally inspired by the Holy Ghost. 

Every possible argument or objection that they raised was shattered by God speaking through Stephen. They rejected the truth of God and they refused to sit under the authority of what God said to them through Stephen.  

They could neither support their own arguments nor disprove his. Stephen proved by irresistible arguments that Jesus is the Christ, and delivered God's truth with so much clearness that they had nothing to object against. Sadly, though they were not convinced, yet they were confounded. 

The promise of Jesus Christ is certain.

Luke 21:15  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

It is not said that they were not able to resist him. Rather, the Jews were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke, that Spirit of wisdom which spoke by him. Thus, was the promise of Jesus fulfilled in Stephen. 

Rejecting truth, they stooped to lying. 

Acts 6:11  Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

They "suborned" men to lie against Stephen. The word "suborned" means to pay someone to collude with another person to propagate a lie. They rejected and resisted truth from God and instead resorted to lying in order to impugn the morally pure character of Stephen.

An angry mob seized Stephen with force.

Acts 6:12-14  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, 13) And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 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.

They "stirred up the people" which means they used lies to foment a seditious mob. The elders and scribes led this angry mob of people and they "came upon" Stephen. This means they assaulted Stephen and the mob seized him by violent force. 

Evil collusion resulted in setting up false witnesses to speak against Stephen. It is the same tactic they used against Jesus and later on, against Saul, after his conversion to Christ. 

Blasphemy against God was the most serious charge that could be made against any Jewish person. They accused Jesus of blasphemy when He declared the truth that "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30).

Conviction of blasphemy against God was a capital offense and meant death by stoning. The serious nature of charges against Stephen indicate the murderous intent of their evil hearts. 

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. 

It appears that the light and power of God which dwelt in his soul, shone through his face. God gave them this proof of His truth in light of their false accusations.  

The face of Stephen now shone as the face of Moses did when he came down from the mount. It was the fullest proof that he never uttered blasphemous words against Moses or God. 

Otherwise, this notable angelic appearance would not have rested upon him. God put that special manifestation of His glory on Stephen's face to convict the wicked hearts of his accusers. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Exodus 34:29-30  And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30) And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

First, the closer that we walk with our Lord and the more like Christ God makes us, we can expect people and Satan to oppose us. 

Opposition to Stephen came from religious leaders who should have known the scriptures and been anticipating their Messiah. Instead, they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 

Second, those who oppose us will seek to twist our words into something that we did not say or mean. 

Third, many will reject the truth of God and believe a lie. They do not want to hear about sin, judgment, condemnation, eternal damnation and the need for repentant faith in Christ. 

Fourth, when we spend more time with the Lord by studying His word, meditating upon it and praying to Him, and seek to obey His word, we will be changed. 

Just as Moses' face shone with the glory of meeting God, so too will our countenance shine with the glory of God when we spend time in His word. 

Spending time with the Lord will change us in many ways and we can rejoice that God desires a close communion with each born again believer. 

Bob