describe Stephen.
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power,
was performing great wonders and signs among the people.9 Opposition arose, however,
from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue,
composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians,
and some from Cilicia and Asia,
and they began to argue with Stephen.
10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom
and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say,
“We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes;
so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin.
13 They also presented false witnesses who said,
“This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law.
14 For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place
and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him
and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
shine when confronted by opponents of the truth.
two words that describe Stephen,
“grace and power.”
define those words in the context of the miracles he was able to perform.
Note that Stephen was not an apostle,
but the Spirit still empowered him
to do things that pointed people to Jesus.
Stephen’s critics were no match for his wisdom and authority,
so they resorted to false accusations.
Their enlistment of others to accuse Stephen was conducted in secret.
This spoke volumes about their character,
especially when compared to Stephen’s integrity.
Freedmen’s Synagogue
Members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue started an argument with Stephen,
but they were unable to successfully invalidate his message.
As the name implies, this group was made up of men who had been
freed from slavery or had a family history of slavery.
The membership likely included Hellenistic Jews who had moved to Jerusalem
from northern Africa or Asia.
Luke’s inclusion of such diversity highlights an important truth.
While the message about Jesus was reaching people from different backgrounds,
opposition was also coming from people of different backgrounds.
verses 10-15 on pages 79-80 of the PSG.
Briefly discuss words or ideas that stick out
highlight the meaning of “face of an angel.”
When the false accusations were presented,
all who were sitting in the meeting noted that Stephen’s countenance changed
to something like an angel.
Just as angels had communicated God’s message to the people,
Stephen shared the truth about God.
Believers can shine in a way that brings glory to God when confronted by opponents of the truth.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 81 of the Personal Study Guide:
Encourage the group to think about and identify the points that most resonated with them or most challenged them from this session. Remind adults that Stephen was not an apostle, but a lay leader in the early church. Discuss ways lay leaders can partner with church leaders for more effective ministry.
Lead the group in prayer. Use the benediction as a blessing to encourage the service that members of the group perform already or the good works that God has prepared for them to do.
During the week send each adult in your group a text or email to encourage and thank them for the ways they serve the church. Use the message to highlight individual acts of service and the impact those individuals have made on their congregation or in their community. Challenge them to continue looking for areas where they can meet the needs of others and stand up for the truth of the gospel.
Play Matthew West’s song “Do Something” for the group. Encourage adults to consider how God created us to do good works and consider what happens when we fail to take advantage of the service opportunities God provides. Call on a volunteer to read Ephesians 2:10, which forms a basis for the song. Emphasize that service is not reserved for a select few in God’s kingdom but is an expectation for all Christians.