Stephen’s Arrest, Acts 6:8-15

This post concerns Stephen’s arrest.

Stephen’s Arrest discusses the role one of the deacons played in the church expansion. The apostles appointed Stephen a deacon and gave him the Holy-Spirit-derived ability to do miracles. He performed miracles and in addition, preached that Jesus was the Messiah.

These miracles show that miracles could occur from disciples who had the Holy Spirit imparted to them and not just the apostles. (Acts 8 demonstrates that Philip the Evangelist could do miracles but not pass on this ability. The Apostles alone could pass it on.)

His skill in the Old Testament prophets aided him in public debate, Acts 6:9-10. “Then some… Freedmen… rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

Freedmen were former Jewish slaves now liberated. They could not defeat his arguments about the Messiah.

Indeed, this preaching caused the conversion of many priests, Acts 6:7. “and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”  This preaching led to great opposition by the Pharisees. So, they found people to swear that Stephen had blasphemed the temple and God. Thus, Stephen was arrested and charged before the council, Acts 6:13-14. “they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

Jesus had uttered words which they would not understand and now twisted, John 2:19-22. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.”

This sets up the trial of Stephen.

So, what did we learn?

1.Many priests became converts.

2.Stephen powerfully proclaimed the gospel.

3.Stephen appeared before the council.

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