A MAN FULL OF GOD'S GRACE AND POWER

Passage: Acts 6:8-15

Key verse: 8

NIV

Stephen Seized

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs(A) among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene(B) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia(C) and Asia(D)—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.(E)

11 Then they secretly(F) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”(G)

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.(H) 13 They produced false witnesses,(I) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place(J) and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place(K) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”(L)

15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin(M) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Stephen Is Seized

8 And Stephen, full of grace and (A)power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But (B)they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then (C)they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they (D)set up false (E)witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against (F)this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth (G)will destroy this place and will (H)change (I)the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face (J)was like the face of an angel.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The wisdom the Spirit gave him (8-1 ) Stephen, one of the seven leaders, had already been described as, "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (5). His ministry was most probably among the Hellenic Jews as this was where his opposition came from. Jews from the Synagogue of the Freedmen began to argue with him. However, they could not stand against him. Stephen was not necessarily cleverer than these Jews, yet because of his faith and reliance on Jesus, the Holy Spirit equipped him with the necessary wisdom to answer them. 2. The face of an angel (11-15) These Jews arranged for men to falsely accuse Stephen of blasphemy against the law of Moses and God. When he was brought before the Sanhedrin, they produced false witnesses who slandered him further and distorted Jesus' own teaching. It can be very distressing to be falsely accused of all kinds of evil, yet Stephen was calm and had the face of an angel.

Prayer: Lord, help me to rest in your grace and power in difficult times.

One Word: Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom