Acts 6:8-15 ESV

8 And Stephen, full of grace and 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 they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then 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 set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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8 Si Esteban, na puspos ng biyaya at ng kapangyarihan ay gumawa ng mga dakilang kababalaghan at mga tanda sa mga tao. 9 Ngunit tumayo ang ilan mula sa sinagoga, na tinatawag na Mga Pinalaya at ng mga Cireneo, at ng mga Alejandrino, at ng mga taga-Cilicia, at taga-Asia, at nakipagtalo kay Esteban. 10 Ngunit hindi sila makasalungat sa karunungan at sa Espiritu na sa pamamagitan nito'y nagsasalita siya.11 Nang magkagayo'y lihim nilang sinulsulan ang ilang lalaki, na nagsasabi, “Narinig naming nagsasalita siya ng mga salitang kalapastanganan laban kay Moises at sa Diyos.” 12 Kanilang sinulsulan ang mga taong-bayan, maging ang matatanda, at ang mga eskriba. Siya'y kanilang hinarap, hinuli at dinala sa Sanhedrin.13 Nagharap sila ng mga sinungaling na saksi na nagsabi, “Ang taong ito'y hindi tumitigil sa pagsasalita ng mga salitang laban sa Dakong Banal na ito at sa Kautusan.14 Sapagkat narinig naming kanyang sinabi na wawasakin nitong si Jesus na taga-Nazaret ang dakong ito, at babaguhin ang mga kaugaliang ipinamana sa atin ni Moises.”15 Nakita ng lahat ng nakaupo sa Sanhedrin na nakatitig sa kanya na ang kanyang mukha ay katulad ng mukha ng isang anghel.


ADAMANT YET ANGELIC

One of the first deacons, Stephen was a Hellenist-Jew with unique traits. He was tough in his words but tender in his looks. He was adamant as a preacher but angelic in his appearance. 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. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

As Elijah was to Jezebel’s prophets so was Stephen against these Jews from all over the region. He is "of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3) Definitely, His wisdom was from above. His enemies ran out of reason against him. This enhanced Stephen's opponents to initiate among the people a mob. That the people would be mad and kill him. They said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 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. They accused Stephen, saying he wants to see the temple destroyed. Moreover, they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

Stephen’s apologetical prowess couldn’t be questioned. But, the people were not ready to hear. In such a case, these Hellenists lied to themselves and others to justify their desire to reject the gospel. The gospel can either soften or harden the hearts of men.

Jesus had prepared the disciples for this, telling them to shake the dust off their feet when leaving those who refuse to listen (Mat 10:14). More seriously, He warned them that those who would reject His message would persecute them someday (John 15:18–19). Even then, they must not only be tough but non-vindictive to their oppressors. A lesson learned is to let the message of the gospel offend not our attitude.

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