The Bold Ministry of a Stephen Acts 6:8-15

Of the seven chosen servant leaders, we come now and focus on the life of Stephen.  He is a man full of the Holy Spirit (vs. 3, 5).  The result of the Spirit’s fullness in Stephen’s life was that he “did great wonders and miracles among the people” (v. 8).  In the New Testament era, the performance of miracles was one of the signs of an apostle (II Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4), confirming his God-given authority.  In verse 8, they observed the sterling person of Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit, faith, and wisdom.

Now in verse 10, let us observe the awesome power of Stephen.  Since he was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, the people were not able to discredit or silence him.  As believers today, as we yield to the Holy Spirit, we are able to witness courageously for Christ.  Although Stephen’s ministry was met with opposition (vv. 9, 10-15), he nevertheless spoke boldly for the Lord.  His antagonists had a two-fold charge against him.  They said that Stephen was speaking against the temple and that he was changing the law of Moses.  As he was about to answer the Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin saw his face shining as the face of an angel (v. 15).  The face of Stephen glowed brilliantly as he faced those seventy-one men of the Sanhedrin.

We need more Stephens today to witness a dying world.  Stephen was not intimidated by those who opposed him.  Like Stephen, we as believers today, need to possess the boldness of Stephen as we witness for Christ.  As we witness, we need to utter, telling others that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Furthermore, we need to tell them: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  As we continue to witness, we need to declare: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  Lastly, we need to tell the unsaved: “That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).