Acts 6:8-15 

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

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

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. ¹³ They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

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

More Rice!

An elderly from the countryside said: “Marami pang bigas ang iyong kakainin, bata!”

Literally translated: “You need to eat more rice, child!”

This saying means that young children have a lot of things to learn before they could achieve or attain the level of wisdom of the older people. Older people gained more wisdom than younger people through experience.

A teenager answered the elderly, “Hindi po naming kinakain ang bigas. Niluluto muna naming ang bigas bago kainin.” [Sir, we only eat rice when it’s cooked.]

And followed up with, “Marami po kayong nakain na bigas subalit mas marami akong nakain na Pizza!” [You’ve eaten more rice, I’ve eaten more Pizza!]

The elderly and the youngster were trying to assert on who has gained more wisdom by stressing on their personal experiences.

Each generation may have some similar situation they would go through but there are many situations that each generation went through differently.

My wife is a teacher but our children teach her how to manipulate computers. I doubt if young computer experts are willing to prepare a live goat for dinner.

Expertise in practical things is possible for the person who focuses his/her life into it.

Technically speaking, one can be an expert about the Bible but wisdom comes from God. The Spirit of God gives appropriate words to believers when they are called to testify.

Stephen, one of the original seven lay-leaders experienced what Jesus said in Mark 13:11, ¹¹Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Debate about faith has been a norm among religious minded people, then and now. Some people tried to argue with Stephen, one of the original seven lay-leaders.

1. Wisdom

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 

Stephen was performing great wonders and signs, and oppositions arose from everywhere. There were oppositions coming from Jerusalem and even from outside Jerusalem.

Oppositions could not stand up against the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gave to Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

Leaders, normally, face challenges or testing to prove their worth as leaders. Church leaders need the Holy Spirit because any time, any where, there will be oppositions. God allows oppositions to reveal the pretenders and the committed leaders of the church.

Christians are called to leadership ministry because we are commanded to make disciples. Disciples are Christ’s followers and Christians are commanded to make followers of Christ.

Oppositions are serious in their business of trying to put leaders or Christians down to prove that they are right in their opinions. Some situations grow out of bounds as reminders that we need the Lord’s help.

¹¹ Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 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. ¹³ They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

When the opposition cannot withstand the wisdom of Stephen, they used another strategy. They reported that Stephen spoke blasphemous words against Moses and against God. They used their political connection, instigated and secretly spread a gossip around. They have false witnesses to make their accusation become valid before the Sanhedrin.

The word of the Lord Jesus in Luke 12:51-53 came true in this situation:

⁵¹ Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Dr. Luke who wrote the book of Acts and the Luke Gospel integrated this truth in Christ. When the Spirit of Christ is at work there will always be opposition that would cause chaos.

Are not parents facing instant opposition from their children when they give instructions?

High Technology

This generation of children are more procrastinators than in the previous generation. According to some observations, those who love multi-tasking while searching the internet are becoming more impatient. Playing games, updating Facebook accounts, and listening to music simultaneously…Never did they know that they are missing the difference between what is interesting and what’s important or what’s necessary.

The difference between “obedience out of respect” and “obedience out of necessity” are not easily quantified or hard to figure out. The Spirit of the obedient Son of God inspires obedience out of respect. God inspired obedience does not depend on whether instruction is necessary or trivial.

The willingness to obey based on the triviality or urgency or necessity of instruction is not what the Lord wants to see from Christians. If one obeys out of respect, God has prepared reward for the immediate response. If one obeys ignored or delayed obedience because the instruction appears to be trivial, there are consequences prepared for delayed obedience.

The level of our faith is measured by our response to God established authorities. It is not because one is worthy of respect, not because one is worthy of obedience, it is wisdom from God that inspires obedience and expects blessing.

Wisdom that comes from God warns that delayed obedience has undesirable consequences.

Stephen could have consulted, discussed and even asked for the opinions of the apostles or other leaders of the church regarding the accusation he was facing. Wisdom from the Spirit inspired Stephen to stand his ground and face the Sanhedrin.

2. Appearance

¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

The opposition observed wisdom from Stephen and saw his extra-ordinary appearance.

When one is pleased with a particular person, initially, it’s because of his/her appearance. One can discern when one is happy or when one is lonely through facial expressions. The face of Stephen, however, was extra-ordinary, just like the face of an angel.

How do you describe the beautiful the face of an angel? Who has the most awesome appearance [that] you have ever seen in your life?

In Judges 13:6, the mother of Samson met an angel and told her husband about it. ⁶ … “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name.

Later the father of Samson asked the angel about his name and the angel replied… ¹⁸ “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.”

The awesomeness of Stephen’s face was easier described to be like the face of angel. Human words are not enough to explain the awesomeness Stephen’s face.

Three Bible characters with awesome appearances have been witnessed by other people.

In Exodus 34:29…²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

In Luke 9:29-30 Jesus talked with Elijah and Moses on top of a mountain. ²⁹ As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. 

The best human description for Jesus’ face was “flash of lightning” while the appearance of Moses and Elijah was described as “glorious splendour.”

Those who spend time in prayer would have experienced that each time they have extended time in prayer their appearance would become more beautiful and pleasing.

Facial cream, lotion or any beauty products are much coveted in the market. The Bible gives free and the best way to have wonderful face like an angel. Be filled with the Spirit of Christ and God’s grace and you spend more time in prayer.

Wisdom and appearance are assets of any individual when one is full of God’s grace. You don’t need eat much rice to gain wisdom.

You might want to shelve your morning and evening ritual on your face for brighter appearance and spend your time in prayer instead.

Well, you can seriously pray while putting on your facial cream but desire to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. Your prayer time is a manifestation of how much the Holy Spirit is at work in your life.

When one is full of God’s grace, there is enjoyment in spending time in prayer. It is the work of the Holy Spirit by God’s grace that one will desire to pray.

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