We return now to Jerusalem in c.A.D.30, from where Luke left us with the Apostles' appointing seven men to help minister to the needs of a growing Church. Today we begin with a look at this first named deacon, Stephen.
The word [from the Apostles] found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and [six other men].
Acts 6:5 NASB20
Stephen, a man full of faith
The multitudes of the growing church elect seven men to help the Twelve with administration of some daily duties of the church which have begun to cause complaint. Number one on their list: Stephen.
ACTS of the Apostles 6:
So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts of the Apostles 6:7 CSB
Now, Nineteen (not just the Twelve) Preach the Gospel in Jerusalem
Luke has witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit moving in Christ’s saints in Jerusalem, along with accompanying signs from God. Multitudes now join the fellowship of believers led by Peter and John, all the Apostles and now seven more saints determined to preach Christ crucified and risen from the grave.
Some perhaps, (in addition to the Twelve) may have witnessed the Lord Jesus as one of the more than five-hundred who saw Jesus with their own eyes after His resurrection.
The new congregation of believers encounter opposition from the established rulers of Jerusalem already determined to snuff out the burning new zeal of those who have believed in Jesus by the witness of the Apostles. (Perhaps these will be less likely to oppose the authority of Jerusalem’s official judgment than their outspoken uneducated teachers Peter and John, who had escaped imprisonment prior to trial.)
Stephen, full of grace and power
But what happens within their walls of Jerusalem?
Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts of the Apostles 6:8 CSB
First, Simon Peter and John, preaching in the courtyards of our Temple with a man healed from life-long lameness.
(We had to release them or the multitudes would have turned on us!)
But now, MORE signs — NOT through twelve Apostles of Jesus, but a NEW disciple of His Disciples!
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts of the Apostles 6:8 NASB20
Who is this new disciple of the former rabbi Jesus?
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.
These freedmen were also Jews caught up in the disputes of Hellenism, as had led to the call of their Greek brother Stephanos.
The Synagogue of the Freedmen included men who had been made captives of the Romans under Pompey but were afterwards set free; and who although they had fixed their abode in Rome, had built at their own expense a synagogue at Jerusalem which they frequented when in that city - Source
More than murmuring, False Witness against Stephen
10 But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say,
“We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
Acts 6:11b – false witness against Stephanos by some men of the libertinus
Why would liberated Jews (with their own synagogues) oppose these new rabbis?
- the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including
- both Cyrenians
- a large and very flourishing city of Libya Cyrenaica or Pentapolitana, about 11 miles (17 km) from the sea. Among its inhabitants were a great number of Jews, whom Ptolemy I. had brought there, and invested with the right of [Roman] citizens
- and Alexandrians,
- Ἀλεξανδρεύς Alexandria in Egypt
- and some from Cilicia
- Κιλικία a maritime province in the southeast of Asia Minor, boarding on Pamphylia in the west, Lycaonia and Cappadocia in the north and Syria in the east. Its capital, Tarsus, was the birth place of Paul – source
- and Asia,
- Ἀσία i.e. Asia Minor, or (usually) only its western shore:—Asia – proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today
- both Cyrenians
These Hellenized Roman Jews competed with rabbis of other Jewish sects for influence in Jerusalem.
Speaking of murmuring..
12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin.
Πέτρος First Petrus and now this Στέφανος Stephanos
13 They also presented false witnesses..
This strategy of an alliance between the libertines and more orthodox Jews against Jesus had worked before Pilate just a few months ago.
.. for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.”
ACTS of false witness against Stephen by the Freedmen 6:14 NASB
στέφανος Stephen
στέφανος stéphanos, stef'-an-os; from an apparently primary στέφω stéphō (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, G1238), literally or figuratively:—crown.
Stephen is about to become the angelic crown of witness to the first century church.
To be continued…
