Faithful Followers

Acts 6:11-15 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy 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.
 
STEPHEN’S calling moved from aiding the widows’ food and money distribution to following Jesus into suffering. As we learned in the prior lesson, a group of Jews from two Africa and one Asian province (possibly including Saul of Tarsus) were determined to destroy Stephen. If they could kill the messenger, would they not also kill the Message, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) The accusing Jews wanted no one, not even God, to surpass their authority.
   What was their plan? They gave false testimony against God’s anointed man of Truth. These Jews did the same as they had done to Jesus. Matthew 26:59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
   When corrupt oppressors can’t convict with the truth, they create lies to accuse, judge and sentence the innocent. This is sin’s pattern. Consider the devil accused God before Adam and Eve: Genesis 3:4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of the forbidden fruit your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The couples’ response judged God as unfair to them. With their disobedience they sentenced God to be lower than Satan. Satan was the lying prosecutor. Adam and Eve were the corrupt jury. They found God guilty of lying. Their corrupt verdict became the core of mankind’s disobedience. The books of the Law and the Prophets describe God’s chosen people constantly judging God’s commands as irrelevant. Eventually they condemned and executed God when he came to earth to save them. False testimony kills.
   Amid the accusations, God prepared Stephen for his transition into heaven. His opponents saw that his face was like the face of an angel. “It appears that the light and power of God that was in Stephen’s soul shone through his face. God gave the Sanhedrin this proof of the false testimony. As the face of Stephen now shone as the face of Moses did when he came down from the mount, it was the fullest proof that he had not spoken blasphemy against Moses or God.” (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)
          God shines through the darkness. Be of good cheer to show you are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Be steadfast to obey God’s truth. Allow God’s glory to light your countenance, even in the very hard times.