Acts 6:9-15 Politics was present, even in this day. Liars, manipulators!

Good morning all, God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

     Well, everyone likes status-quo, especially if it is in their favor and benefits them.  Just don't upset the apple cart.  If it is comfortable and I like it - LEAVE IT ALONE! 

   Well, these is where the Jews were in the synagogue.  Just leave us alone, everything is working well and we like it.  Plus, you know at this time Jesus had already been crucified and the apostles were following Jesus' command to spread the word.

   WEEELLLLLLL, let us view further starting with verse 9: ⁹ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

   The ministry of Stephen may be the link that created some doubt in the mind of Saul of Tarus, later to become the Apostle Paul.  Anyhow, these people did not like Stephen, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, because he preached the wrong message, he preached in the name of Jesus Christ.  Now, this is threatening to these people.

   verse ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

  Remember, Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, whose wisdom is far greater than these men.  They did not like this so what were they to do? 

¹¹ Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

    Ah-ha, said one, let us find some suborned men (suborned means someone willing to lie, usually for money).  This did tend to be a common practice among the Jews during this era. Bribery went a long way here.

     ¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

   Sending out instigators to do nothing more than create problems, get the people upset about nothing, but claim that it is something serious. They came forth with slanderous charges of blasphemy against Moses and God.  Since Stephen did not do this, they needed, oh yes, false witnesses to come forth.

    ¹³ And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:  ¹⁴ For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

   Stephen had quoted Jesus' statement about destroying the body, and it being raised again in three days.  Yes, this statement was misinterpreted when Jesus uttered it and again when Stephen reported it.  So, the persecution of Stephen began as he was dragged from the council, but look at the next verse.

   ¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

  What these men saw, yet failed to realize is they were not seeing the face of a weak, effeminate man, but a face that was aglow with the love of the Lord Jesus for these his persecutors.

   Wow!  How strong and committed Stephen was!  May my faith and your faith be equally as strong.  Tomorrow we go into Stephens response.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny