Devotions

Full of Grace and Power

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The early church was growing in Acts 6:1 “the disciples were increasing in number” but with that growth came problems. There were issues with individual believers, as we read with Ananias and his wife, there was external opposition as when they in Acts 5:17 “laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison”, and there were contentions between cultural groups in Acts 6:1 “the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews”. So, the Apostles took action, there were others, and they confirmed men in Acts 6:3 “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom”. Stephen, one of these men, was accused and gives us the perfect example for dealing with accusation. There is no defensiveness, no emotional reaction that would be the natural response. Instead, Stephen calls to his accusers in Acts 7:2 “Men—brothers and fathers—listen: The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham” and reminds then of the great work God has done among them.

The Word of God Kept Spreading

Acts 6:1-7 

Full of Grace and Power

Acts 6:8-15
This is a time when, in Acts 6:1 “the disciples were increasing in number” but there were also signs of opposition.

  • Ananias and his wife had held back proceeds from the sale of a property and lied about it in Acts 5:9.
  • The High Priest and Sadducees in Acts 5:17 “laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison”.
  • In Acts 6:1 “a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food”

So, men were selected in Acts 6:3 “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” for administration of the “daily distribution of food” in Acts 6:1.

This seems to have been a routine task of little spiritual importance and if you have ever worked in food distribution, maybe even laborious. Yet, we read of Stephen that he was in Acts 6:8 “full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people”. And now, there is another point of opposition in

Acts 6:9 “But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and disputed with Stephen”.

but they lost the argument in

Acts 6:10 “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking”.

So, they in Acts 6:11-14 “secretly instigated … incited the people … seized him (Stephen) … put forward false witnesses”.

But with all of their false accusations, as Stephen stood before them to be judged, they in Acts 6:15 “saw his face was like the face of an angel”. This expression does indicate that Stephen had been spending time in the presence of God “In view of the implied comparison with Moses in vv. 8 and 10 (full of grace, wisdom, and power), it is possible that there is a link here with Moses’ shining face in Exodus 34:29–35”.1 

Listen, The God of Glory Appeared

Acts 7:1-10
Stephen, standing before the Sanhedrin, begins to defend himself against the false accusations brought against him. He doesn’t though, react emotionally as we might. He doesn’t lash out you you men are lairs, that is not the truth, … Stephen doesn’t fall into the trap of becoming defensive. Instead, look at the first words out of his mouth in

Acts 7:2 So he said, “Men—brothers and fathers—listen: …”

With the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Stephen avoids any adversarial relationship and instead calls out to them “Men” (friends), “brothers” (my family who I love), “fathers” (my elders who I respect). And then Stephen goes back to their common heritage where he says to them in

Acts 7:2 “listen: The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham”.

Stephen’s defense is their shared history as part of God’s divine plan. And in God’s plan, Abraham was promised a land, but God delivered them into Egypt where they found favor.

The People Increased and Multiplied in Egypt

Acts 7:11-19

Who Appointed You a Ruler and a Judge?

Acts 7:20-29

God Will Raise Up For You a Prophet

Acts 7:30-38 

The Tabernacle of Testimony Belonged to Our Fathers

Acts 7:39-47
As Stephen continues through their shared history as the house of Israel, he reminds them that there was a time of rejection when in

Acts 7:39 “our fathers were not willing to become obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt”.

This was a time when in

Acts 7:42 “God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven”

Then, Stephen reminds them of the great miracle that God did for them bringing them into their own land. That God had given them, in

Acts 7:44–45 “The tabernacle of the testimony belonged to our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him … 45 and which, after receiving it in turn, our fathers brought in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out from the presence of our fathers, until the days of David”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Acts 6:1-15
  • Acts 7:1-47

References

  • 1. Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 243). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.