FEAR AND LOATHING
Read ACTS 6:8–15
Stephen Seized
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.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Christian martyrs, remaining faithful even to the point of death, triumph over Satan through ‘the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony’ (Revelation 12:11).Some of our negative responses result from feeling threatened. We fear change that may rob us of control or force us to admit we are wrong. Is that what produced the Jewish reaction to Stephen? He was painted as multi-talented but gracious, yet he provoked hostility. His arguments couldn’t be refuted and that bred false accusation and mob rule. It was all part of the cycle of opposition that Luke highlighted in Acts (see 4:2–7; 5:11, 17), only this time it would be deadly.
The apostles had done nothing to undermine the temple. In fact, it was their go-to place for preaching to the crowds (5:12–14, 19, 20). But it was only Jesus, without the temple, who could save. The temple and the teaching of Moses were pointers to a coming Savior, not the end point. Now, having fulfilled their function, they no longer had the status they once held. When God’s Word comes to us, part of its job is to correct our wrong thinking (2 Timothy 3:16), especially when our views are somehow displacing Jesus. We don’t always see when that’s happening to us, and few enjoy having it pointed out.
Apply
Are there things in our church traditions or personal lives that we rely on more than Jesus? How can we be alert to this?
Closing prayer
Give me wisdom, Holy Spirit, to discern where anything is taking the place of Jesus himself in my thoughts, my actions, my interactions with others. Help me to put him first always.
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