Great, you’re
back! Couldn’t wait to share another bit of Daily Bread with you once again.
Last time, remember we learned about commonwealth among the early Christians
and about a little escape from prison that the apostles pulled off with the
aiding and abetting of an angel of the Lord!
When the number of
disciples increased, there was some squabbling among the Grecians against
the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution
of things among the commonwealth.
The apostles
called the disciples together and said, It isn’t good for us to leave the
word of God to settle less important things. So, brothers, choose seven
honest men from among you, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, that we can
appoint over these things, but we’ll dedicate ourselves continually to
prayer and the ministry of the word.
If you’ll remember
back to Moses’ day, when his father-in-law Jethro went to visit him in the
wilderness, he saw how burdened Moses was with taking care of every domestic
problem all the children of Israel had. He suggested that Moses appoint men
who were well respected, and with good reputation as well, to take care of
the smaller issues, while Moses concentrated on carrying out God’s will.
Now, let’s rejoin the disciples.
They all agreed
with the twelve, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy
Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and
Nicolas a proselyte (convert) of Antioch.
They were brought
to the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them, appointing
them the responsibility. The Word of God spread, and the number of disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and many of the priests were obedient to
the faith. Don’t you like how they refer to all the early
Christians as disciples?
Stephen, one of
the seven newly appointed, full of faith and power, did great wonders and
miracles among the people. This is a very interesting thing to note. Stephen
wasn’t an Apostle, and yet he worked miracles by the Holy Ghost. He was a
disciple, like regular folk, but because of the strength of his faith, the
Holy Spirit allowed him to do extraordinary things. Don’t think for a minute
that the same thing can’t be done through you! Okay, back to our story.
Then some people
from one synagogue (of the Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians,
and Asians) started arguing with Stephen, but they weren’t able to overcome
the wisdom and the Spirit that he spoke with. They bribed men to say, We’ve
heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.
They stirred up
the people and the elders and the scribes, and came after him, and caught
him and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses that said,
This man won’t stop speaking blasphemy against this holy place and the law.
We’ve heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and
change the customs that Moses gave to us. All those who sat in the council,
staring steadfastly at him, saw his face, like it had been the face of an
angel.
Once again we see a Christian,
persecuted for Jesus’ sake, and yet, it seems that Stephen had the same
rejoicing attitude that the others had to suffer shame in His name. Do you
have a feeling that he’s gonna say something great, being that the Holy
Spirit made his face shine as an angel for the occasion? Next time we’ll study the
sermon that Stephen gave to the people, right here, at Daily Bread. Don’t
miss it!
