Acts 6:7-15: a reflection

7The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council, 13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.

As the word of God spreads and Stephen does great signs among the people, opponents who cannot withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he speaks resort to deceit. They secretly recruit false witnesses, stir up the crowd, seize Stephen, and drag him before the council on trumped-up charges of blasphemy. He stands accused, surrounded by lies and hostility. And yet the passage ends on a striking note: all who sat in the council, looking intently at him, saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Notice the contrast: all around Stephen is falsehood, hostility, and threat, and yet his face shines with an unearthly peace, like an angel's. Under the weight of false accusation, facing a hostile court that means him harm, he is not contorted with fear or anger; he radiates a serene calm that his accusers themselves cannot miss. The peace of one full of the Spirit shows even on his face, in the very moment of unjust attack.

That is a picture of grace under false accusation. It is deeply painful to be lied about, falsely accused, surrounded by hostility we do not deserve, and the natural response is fear, bitterness, or the frantic defense of ourselves. Stephen, full of the Spirit, met it with a face like an angel's, a peace that came from God, not from his circumstances. When you are falsely accused or unjustly attacked, ask God for something of that same grace, a peace that does not depend on being vindicated by others, a calm that rests in God even under attack. The one who is full of the Spirit can face even lies and hostility with a shining, God-given peace.

Lord, when Stephen was surrounded by false witnesses and dragged before a hostile court on lies, his face shone like the face of an angel, radiant with a peace his accusers could not miss. When I am falsely accused or unjustly attacked, keep me from fear, bitterness, and the frantic defense of myself. Give me something of Stephen's grace, a peace that comes from you rather than from my circumstances, a calm that does not depend on being vindicated by others. Fill me with your Spirit, that even under attack I might rest in you. Let your peace guard my heart when I am lied about, and shine even on my face.