Acts 6:8-15 CSB
Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. [9] Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen's Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. [10] But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. [11] Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." [12] They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. [13] They also presented false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. [14] For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." [15] And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
The Price of Truth
The destruction of one’s reputation by others is among life’s most difficult trials. We are often told to “go along to get along” or to “pick our battles,” yet there are moments when we must stand firm in our convictions—to contradict falsehoods, refuse wrongdoing, and speak uncomfortable truths. Such actions inevitably wound feelings, obstruct personal agendas, or illuminate alternatives others prefer to ignore. These confrontations breed storms. When faced with truth, people usually have only two options: accept it or attack it. The attacks often manifest as resurrection of our own past mistakes, fabricated accusations, or the exaggeration of our flaws—all deployed to silence the truth-teller and preserve the attacker’s preferred course.
We see this in the life of Stephen. Chosen to serve the practical needs of the church, Stephen quickly became a powerful witness for Christ. He carried God-given wisdom and spoke with an authority that wasn’t his own; it was the Holy Spirit working through him, resulting in signs and miracles that could not be ignored.
To understand why this caused such a violent reaction, we must understand the core of the first-century Jewish identity. It was built on four pillars: the memory of the Exodus, the sanctity of the Temple, the authority of the Torah (the Law of Moses), and the promise of the Holy Land. These were not just traditions; they were the definition of their existence. To suggest that these were being “fulfilled” or “transformed” by Jesus felt like blasphemy against God Himself.
Stephen was likely speaking in the Synagogues of the “Freedmen”—Jews from places like Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia who had once been enslaved but had regained their freedom. These were people who clung tightly to their traditions as a badge of their identity and heritage. When Stephen spoke to them, he wasn’t trying to take their history away; he was showing them that their history found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
When I used to travel, it was a joy to finally make it home from a lot of hard jobs, repairing equipment as an engineer. Sometimes I would fly to several different places in and out of the United States in one week. The job would be over. I would pack my bags and leave the hotel room, which was often comfortable with a lot of amenities. There would be the drive with the rental car to the airport, and then the flight home. The car was good. Sometimes they would bump me up to luxury or sports cars that I could never afford with my own money. The jets would fly me across the country, where I could look out the window and wonder over all that God had made. All these things were good. But then I would arrive. I would be home. Always a place of comfort.
The Law and the Temple are like this. They are not the destination, but part of the journey that can only be found in Jesus. They spoke of Christ.
The Freedmen could not accept this truth and argued with Stephen, but they couldn’t win over the words given to Stephen by the Holy Spirit. What could they do? They could either accept what God was saying through Stephen or fight against the messenger. They did the latter.
They persuaded people to lie about Stephen, to magnify something that the surrounding people held dear: they lied and said that Stephen spoke against Moses and God. The result was achieved. The people were stirred—the elders and scribes involved. They seized Stephen and took him to the Sanhedrin for judgment. False witnesses stood up and said that Stephen promoted the destruction of the temple and their customs and laws handed down from Moses by the man who was crucified. By Jesus.
When they looked at Stephen, he had a face like the face of an angel. He had the appearance of one who stood in the presence of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever felt the temptation to “go along to get along” when you knew you should stand for the truth? What made it difficult to speak up?
- Stephen’s life demonstrates that service and powerful witness go hand-in-hand. How can you be a better witness in your ordinary, daily tasks?
- What “traditions” or “comforts” in your life do you need to stop holding onto as destinations, so you can fully embrace Jesus as your true home?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for the example of Stephen, whose life reflected Your Spirit even when he was surrounded by hostility. Forgive us for the times we prioritize our reputation over the truth, or when we cling to the “hotels” of this world rather than the home found in You. Give us the wisdom to speak with Your grace and the courage to remain calm in the face of those who misunderstand or attack us. May our lives reflect Your presence so clearly that others see a glimpse of Your glory. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
