8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Commentary
Vs. 8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”
The Scripture now singles out one man from amongst the seven chosen deacons, Stephen to who it is said was full of faith and power, so much so that he did great wonders and signs among the people.
Vs. 9 “Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.”
Stephens effectiveness was such that there arose fierce opposition to him and his preaching from immigrant Jews residing in or near Jerusalem, belonging to a certain “Synagogue of the Freedman” which comprised of Jews from Cyrene, a city of Africa; Alexandria, a seaport city in Egypt; as well as Jews from Cilicia a province in Asia Minor and Asia which also was a province in Asia minor made up of three territories.
Vs. 10 “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”
Stephens preaching by the Holy Spirits Wisdom and Power was such that though these men sought to refute what he was preaching and teaching they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Vs. 11-14 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
Having then failed to refute Stephens preaching, or hinder him personally in any way from preaching Jesus Christ and His Gospel, they now resort to inducing men to maliciously slander him, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” Vs. 11 And so they stirred up all the Jews of Jerusalem along with their elders and their scribes, and so these all came down upon Stephen and seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin council. And not content with that but once Stephen was there, they also set up false witnesses to distort his preaching and testify against him saying, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” Vs. 13-14 Guaranteed Stephen never spoke blasphemous words against either the Temple or God’s Law. Stephens preaching though would most definitely have warned about the Temples coming destruction, and the Lord Jesus Christ having ushered in the New Covenant (Matt. 24:1-2; 26:26-28; Hebrews 8:7-13).
Vs. 15 “And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.”
When the council was seated with all their angry men with their angry staring countenances, Stephen was also brought before them, “And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.” Such a contrast then from those wolves who were only seeking to justify their soon to be shedding his blood, was Stephen whose face was as the face of angel, bright shining and holy and innocent and harmless.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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