BRUCE C WEARNE examines the persecution of Stephen as recorded in Acts 6...
That was when Stephen, full of grace and with power, came to do great wonders and signs among the people. But then some, belonging to the Freedmans’ synagogue (as it was called), the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians, together with some from Cilicia and Asia, asserted themselves in disputation with Stephen. But they could not counter the wisdom and the Spirit of what he said. Then they covertly contracted men who alleged, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they thereby stirred up the people along with the elders and the scribes, and they accosted him and taking him by force seized him and led him away to the council, having set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases from speaking words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth is going to destroy this place, and will transform the way of life Moses bequeathed to us.” And as all who sat in that council looked at him they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:8-15/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne)
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UNSURPRISED: Stephen was neither surprised nor panicked about his persecution, says Bruce C Wearne PICTURE: David Adams (taken at St Stephen Walbrook, London)
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It now seems that Luke had told us about the problem of food distribution to give some background to what happened a short time later. The proselytes were as much a problem to the proclamation of the Good News as were some of Jesus’ own people. In that context, Stephen, had been chosen because as a proselyte who had become a believer, he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit”. And his reputation had now grown.
We can imagine that some of those reading this book a few decades after the events described here would have had a vivid memory of Stephen and his impact. And it seems that Luke has “inside information” being told about Stephen’s demeanour from some who had been members of the council that had condemned him (see Acts 6:7).
This servant of God may not have lived long, but God made him a success in the true sense of the word. We might even say that Stephen continued in a direct line initiated by John the Baptist.
So Luke’s discussion of how food distribution was handled is also to inform us how Stephen came to public attention. He began to do great works. But then, almost immediately, this fanned the flames of jealousy and opposition.
Among those chosen with Stephen was Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. Luke tells us where this gentile worshipper of the God of Israel came from because later on his influence is apparent when we hear about the church at Antioch. At Antioch were a group of believers from Cyrene, in Egypt, among them Simon who had carried Jesus’ cross.
It was also from Cyrene that members of the Freedman’s Synagogue came. They were intent on destroying Stephen, so committed were they to the temple as the place where God was to meet them. They were even prepared to lay false charges and to organise lying witnesses. They were part of something deeply evil.
Luke is also telling us that the trial of Stephen signalled the beginning of a great persecution that led to a mass migration for non-Jews. The persecution of Stephen had long-term consequences. But the Holy Spirit was not taken by surprise. Neither for that matter was Stephen. He was not panicked. Luke tells us that all the people present at the trial were impressed by his calm and angelic demeanour. Stephen’s trial clearly reminded Luke of the trial of Someone Else, and it remained fixed in the memories of those who had been there.
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