The Face of an Angel
Acts 6:12/15
Stephen, the first deacon and Christian martyr the first gospel preacher. He was also one of the first to work miracles under the new dispensation. His life gave the sacred writer cause to give a detailed account of his character, education, background and the things which led to is death.
The apostles had encountered some mild threats and imprisonment; but it was now bursting forth in full rage and madness, these leaders of Jerusalem wanted to put a stop the work of God.
The first chapter of Acts dealt with the promise Jesus made to the disciples and His ascension. The focus in chapter two was on the day of Pentecost or the birth of the church. Then in chapter three Peter and John confronts the lame man that was carried to the gate of the temple. Because of the miracle that took place Peter and John appear before the high priest in chapter four. In chapter five Ananias with his wife Sapphira lies to the Holy Ghost.
Chapter six begins with murmuring among the Grecians against the Hebrews. They felt their widows were neglected in their daily activities, which was results of the rapid growth of the early church.
So the apostles called the people together saying, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” And they instructed the disciples to look for seven men who were of an honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. So the apostles could give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.
Stephen and six other men were chosen, and the apostles laid their hands on them and prayed.
The bible states, “The word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem, and many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Stephen, no doubt was diligent and faithful in the discharge of his office for the bible says, “He was full of faith and power, and did great wonders and miracles among the people.” He did not think being called to the office of a deacon was beneath him. And, being faithful in a little, he proved the truth of the gospel, by working miracles in the name of Jesus Christ.
He was full of faith and power, by which he was enabled to do great things. His faith so fill him that it left no room for unbelief and made room for the influences of divine grace, so that, as the prophet had spoken, “He was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts.”
When we are filled with faith and emptied of self, the spirit of Christ, who is the wisdom and power of God, fills our hearts. A believer does not need to be a preacher to operate in the nine gifts of the spirit, for one is given the working of miracles, and to another prophecy and these signs follow those who believed.
Verse nine tell us who Stephen’s opponents were, they were Hellenist Jews, Jews of the dispersion, who seem to be more zealous for their religion than the native Jews. Hellenistic Judaism combined Jewish religious tradition with elements of Greek culture. They were of the synagogue which is called the synagogue of the Libertines.
They were jealous for their righteous cause, and run down Christianity by force of argument. They would quote from the book of Isaiah 41:21, “Bring forth your cause, says the Lord, bring forth you strong reasons.”
But why did they dispute with Stephen? Yet, did not dispute with the twelve that Jesus had chosen as apostles? Could it be because they despised the apostles as unlearned and ignorant men, whom they thought it below their pay-grade to engage in conversation?
But Stephen was a scholar, and they thought it was an honor to engage or meddle with someone on their level. Some think it was because they stood in awe of the apostles, and could not be as free with them as with Stephen who was in an inferior office.
Verse ten tells us, “They were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” They thought they could dispute with Stephen, but they were disputing with the Spirit of God in him, for whom they were no equal.
So these enemies of the cross set up false witnesses, which said, “This man continues to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.” They were enraged against him because he had proved them to be wrong, and showed them the right way; for which they should have been thankful.
Because of the truth Stephen had spoken, the people were stirred up, the elders, and the scribes, came upon him, and brought him to the council. “And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”
Sitting before the Sanhedrim the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these things they are saying true?” This gave Stephen the opportunity to share with the council, the favor that God has shown to His people, starting with the call of Abraham.
And Stephen said unto them, Men, brethren, and fathers. The God of glory that appeared unto our father Abraham, (he is talking to men that knew the Tara, they had been verses in the law and knew about Abraham) and God told him to leave the country and his kindred and come into the land which He would show him.
God told Abraham that his seed would be as the sands of the sea and the stars of the heavens. And gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
Stephen reminds them how God had protected the provided for them. For while they were in Egypt the people multiplied as God had promised Abraham.
Because of the growth of Israel, Pharaoh must get rid of all the young children; it was in this time that Moses was born and was placed in the river and Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
Moses was taught in all the wisdom and ways of Egypt, and was mighty in words and in deeds and when Moses was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Moses tried to explain to his brethren how God would deliver them, but they did not understand. Moses took the life of an Egyptian and fled to the land of Madian, and when forty years had passed there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a burning bush.
Have you ever wondered why the bush was not consumed? When Moses saw the bush, he stepped out of time into eternity. In eternity there is no time. (When we been there ten thousand years.)
God was preparing Moses who would lead the children of Israel out of bondage, telling him to take off his shoes for the place where you are standing was holy ground.
God said, “I have heard the groaning of my people and am come down to deliver them. I will send thee into Egypt.”
Stephen said, “Our fathers had the tabernacle in the wilderness, as he had appointed Moses that he should make according to the fashion that he had seen.” And David wanted to build a tabernacle for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but Solomon built him as house. But the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands but in the hearts of those who are born again.
Stephen called them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Ghost as their fathers did. And when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of the Father.
They cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
And they stoned Stephen while he was calling upon God, and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit, and he knelt down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep.
Stephen the first deacon and the first disciple martyred for doing the work of the Kingdom of God, and they saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
