Acts 6:8

 Acts 6:8 says, And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  Stephen, we know a lot about.  Stephen is found to be full of faith and power and doing great works and miracles among the people.  What a testimony for a deacon, or for any follower of Christ.  Stephen had to know what had been happening with the apostles being imprisoned and beaten, but that did not intimidate him.  We today, if we hear of possible persecution or even persecution itself, must not be intimidated.  Verse nine adds, 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.  Verse ten continues, And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.  Stephen encountered opposition from certain in the synagogue.  Again, those claiming to be God's people were against someone doing God's work.  Yet, they were unable to resist the wisdom and Spirit within which he spoke.  If we are speaking by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, no one can really dispute us and be successful spiritually.  Verse eleven states, Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. Through the rest of chapter six, those who opposed Stephen, unable to discredit him with truth, began to pay witnesses to lie about him.  If we are to be discredited as Christians today, it should be because people are lying about us.  Verse twelve adds, 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, Stephen was arrested and brought before the council of religious leaders.  Hopefully, the leaders of the church today will never begin to attempt to discredit or stop anyone who is effectively sharing the gospel with others.  Verse thirteen continues, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:  The false witnesses accused Stephen of blasphemy, or speaking sacrilegiously about God.  Yet, they were the ones who were really doing so.  Verse fourteen states, 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 accused Stephen of telling the truth, though they didn’t understand this.  Jesus really did come to destroy empty worship experiences and things that were done in God’s name that weren’t within His will.  Verse fifteen adds, And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel   Even then, those of the council looking steadfastly on his face saw a face as of an angel.  If we were treated as Stephen was, and they stared at us, what kind of face would they see?  Too often we proclaim the love of God for all people, but we show a face of hate or disgust. Even if persecuted or falsely accused, we must show the love of God.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can.