Acts 6:8-15 (NIV)
Read by: Tim Craig
How do you react when someone brings a false or exaggerated accusation against you?
Today on Daily Read, the story of what Jesus is doing through the Spirit who is empowering his followers brings us to Stephen. Now Stephen was one of the seven Hellenistic Jews appointed as deacons in our passage yesterday. He was a Jewish man from the diaspora of Jews across the Mediterranean and Palestine who was full of the Spirit and wisdom.
So now you’ve got the Apostles who are all from Judea still doing their thing, and then this Greek-speaking deacon who in today’s passage is performing great wonders and signs too. This stirs up trouble with a new crowd that’s in town, the Synagogue of the Freedmen. They were Jews from the Diaspora who obviously are not interested in this Jesus person. They react pretty strongly against Stephen for this and it brings into focus the cost of bearing faithful witness to Jesus and also the power the Spirit will give us to do so.
----------REFLECT----------
1. What part of this passage stood out to you?
2. These synagogue leaders manufacture a story about Stephen in order to bring him before the Jewish officials. Have you ever had a lie told about you? Have you ever had something like that happen when you were trying to do right and stand up for truth? What was that like?
3. The Spirit gave him wisdom to withstand the opposition, and then when he was seized his face became "like that of an angel." It was as if he was experiencing this overlapping of Heaven and Earth in his own body and actions. Ask the Spirit for what you need to withstand division and opposition in your community or fellowship as you stand and act for truth.
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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>
InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>
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