"All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."
Acts 6:15
Like many, college was a difficult transition period for me. I struggled to accept the arrival of adulthood and its impending responsibilities. One area where I felt extremely vulnerable, and awkward, was my physical appearance, which affected my sense of identity and level of confidence. As a result, I was very apprehensive entering my freshman year. I viewed the university setting with deference and admiration. Therefore, I wanted to make a strong impression on my professors and my fellow students, not just in my study habits, but in my conduct and my apparel as well. I attended my first day of class dressed in a polo shirt and slacks. I quickly realized that I was the odd man out. Most of my male peers wore t-shirts and tattered jeans. Some even sported flannel pajama pants.
I kept to my personal dress code for a while, but eventually the low-key fashion of the other students began to influence me. Shortly thereafter, I left the polo shirts and slacks hanging in the closet and went to class in wrinkled shirts and ratty jeans. In time, I stopped caring about how I presented myself. What did it matter? I let my hair grow long and spent little-to-no time grooming it. I stopped wearing contact lenses, opting instead to don an old pair of gold-rimmed glasses. The disorder in my appearance mirrored the disorder in my attitude. I was in emotional turmoil. As my freshman year drew to a close, I was overcome with a feeling of displacement. I grappled with several questions. Where was my life going? Who was I? Would I let my appearance and internal sense of attractiveness be dictated by the behavior, or habits, of others for the rest of my life?
That following summer, God dealt with my confused heart. The Lord reassured me that spiritual growth is the real benchmark of splendor. Having fellowship with Him is the real source of character and meaning. My worth was not defined by what others thought of me, or even what I thought of myself. Who ultimately defined my worth was God. His Word confirmed over and over how He felt about me. The Bible affirms that I am masterfully created (Ps. 139:17). I am loved (Eph. 3:18-19). And through Jesus, God’s Son, I am saved from my transgressions (Ro. 10:13).
As these truths echoed in my mind, I understood that I was not insignificant. Furthermore, I was convicted to stop finding contentment in being a cultural imitator. I needed to be who God wanted me to be – unique and original. One of a kind. As my spiritual growth accelerated, my physical outlook changed. I cut my hair. I replaced the gold-rimmed glasses with contact lenses. I purchased a gym membership and apportioned time regularly to exercising my body. I reinstated the desire to utilize a respectable wardrobe, fully acknowledging that clothes and style do not wholly characterize my inner self - my relationship with God does.
When I arrived on campus my sophomore year, several students immediately noticed my makeover, which I labeled a personal metamorphosis. But what few knew is that the external change originated from an internal change. I desired to look physically handsome because God made me feel spiritually handsome. My relationship with Him gave me direction, satisfaction, and purpose. As a fellowship with God took shape, it reshaped me - from the inside out.
The apostles were certainly no strangers to transformation. The Holy Spirit’s permanent indwelling within their hearts, as well as the Holy Spirit’s bestowal of special healing gifts, verified that the apostles were transformed men. Their character, nature, and temperament were forever altered. Their spiritual reformation had powerful and lasting effects. But transformed men often encounter hardships, as was the case in Acts 6 when a controversy began to threaten the unity of the church. Scripture states that some Grecian Jews took issue with Hebraic Jews over the daily allocation of food to widows.
Much has been studied on what distinguished Grecian Jews from Hebraic Jews. By and large, most scholars believe the primary differences between Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews were language, geography, and culture. Grecian Jews likely spoke Greek whereas Hebraic Jews spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. Grecian Jews probably originated from territories outside Judean land, whereas Hebraic Jews were born and raised within the Judean region. Grecian Jews probably adopted some of the trends and norms of Greek life, whereas the Hebraic Jews likely maintained a separatist stance on Greek customs. Regardless, Acts 6:1 confirms some disciples strongly believed a segment of people were being ignored or disregarded.
The text does not imply that the Grecian Jewish widows were being overlooked on purpose. It could be that the rapid expansion of the church had outpaced the manner in which the food and provisions were distributed to the needy. Rather than dismiss this controversy or attempt to settle the dispute in secrecy, the apostles assembled the leading disciples to discuss, and thereby resolve, the matter. There is something to be said for addressing a disagreement through a transparent forum, a forum which fosters accountability and clarity.
The apostles told the disciples that their primary charge was to preach the gospel, not supervise charitable donations. This proclamation was not intended to diminish the importance of serving meals to families. It was a solemn acknowledgment that the apostles had been commissioned by Christ to teach the gospel, aided in large part by prayer. Jesus-centric evangelizing was their primary mission, and their primary focus. Therefore, they told the leading disciples to select seven men to manage the acceptance and division of future monetary contributions.
This recommendation marked the beginning of functional roles and responsibilities within the church structure. Notice that the apostles did not recommend the lay leaders be chosen haphazardly. They placed a spiritual standard of excellence for the people who would occupy the newly established positions. They required that the seven financial overseers be men who were full of the Spirit and full of wisdom. Nothing less would suffice. This clearly shows us that all church leaders, whether salaried or volunteer, should be employed by believers who fervently strive to honor God in all facets. The apostles’ suggestion pleased the leading disciples.
When the seven candidates were selected and presented to the apostles, the apostles placed their hands on them and prayed for them. Supplication accompanied by the laying on of hands was an ancient tradition that dated back to Genesis 48, when Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh in the same way. This action represented a transfer of power and conferred authority upon Ephraim and Manasseh. It spiritually encouraged them to faithfully and dutifully carry out their imminent responsibilities and it symbolically represented a desire for divine intervention and strength in their lives.
With the disruptive affair behind the church, Acts 6:7 states that the word of God spread. In fact, the gospel presentation was so convicting that some within the priestly order began to receive it and accept it. Prior to this, the priests had largely rejected the tenets of the Christian faith. But thanks to the Holy Spirit, many within the religious establishment overcome their prejudices and stepped out of spiritual darkness and into God’s glorious light.
Acts 6 shifts its focus from the church-at-large to Stephen, one of the seven men who had been brought before the apostles for confirmation and dedication. Luke listed Stephen first among the seven financial overseers in Acts 6:5, citing that Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, which apparently made him stand apart from others. By all accounts, Stephen was an extraordinary individual. He displayed immense wisdom, courage, and integrity. Furthermore, Stephen was full of God’s grace and power, able to perform wonders and astounding signs among the people (Ac. 6:8). The Bible signifies that Stephen was a man who honored God through his actions and conduct. He consistently presented a passionate, dynamic witness. His effective evangelizing offended some within the Hebrew community. The opposition originated from citizens of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia, intimating that the people most resistant to Stephen were Hellinist Jews. Hellinist Jews were individuals who hailed from regions outside the Judean territory. Hellinist Jews sought to adapt the Hebrew practice to the culture and language of a Hellenistic, or Greek-like, society. And they were fiercely adamant about preserving the traditions of the Hebrew practices because of the pagan environment. There are many examples in Acts where the Hellinist Jews were much more hostile to the gospel than other Jewish people, including religious leaders, living in or near Jerusalem.
The hostility towards Stephen became volatile and argumentative. Some confronted Stephen and publicly quarreled with him. Stephen’s responses were so godly and Spirit-filled that his attackers could not refute his statements. With incredible insight and clarity, Stephen was able to confound the dissenters and debaters. When the contenders realized that they could not contradict Stephen’s truth claims, they turned to deceit. They convinced some people to lie and declare that they had heard Stephen speak against the temple and the Mosaic law. This shameful tactic helped incite a riot of sorts. Stephen was summarily seized by a crowd and rushed to the Sanhedrin, the same council who attempted to shame and discredit the apostles. Stephen was falsely charged with conspiring to destroy the temple and its laws, a claim that was once wrongly issued against Jesus (Mt. 26:61).
As Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin, Acts 6:15 records that his face was like the face of an angel. Perhaps Stephen exhibited a radiance, akin to the glow Moses received after conversing with God on Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29), or maybe Stephen’s general countenance was so serene, despite the volatile conditions of his arraignment, that it caused the religious leaders to marvel at it. Either way, Stephen was visibly different from everyone else in the room for he had the Spirit of God in him. He was under the influence of an irrefutable transformation, a transformation containing three elements that merit further reflection.
One, transformation is undeniable. Every one of the Sanhedrin members present witnessed Stephen’s angelic face. The text does not state that most of the members saw it, or even that some of the members saw it. All saw it. One of the attributes that sets Christianity apart from other beliefs is the transparent change that accompanies faith in Jesus. Does this mean every born again Christian will avoid pitfalls or mistakes? No. But what it does tell us is that when one surrenders his or her heart to Christ, there will be undisputable evidence that a transformation has taken place. It may not be a supernatural facial glow, but it will be overwhelmingly comprehensible in some way.
Two, transformation is unmistakable. Godly change cannot be cloaked. It cannot be concealed. It is translucent and identifiable. The Sanhedrin could not ignore Stephen’s transformation. It was curiously captivating. Stephen did not run from it, nor did he attempt to hide it. His transformation was available for others to behold. Stephen’s transformation had a distinct quality that set it apart from anything or anyone else.
It is critical to note that Stephen did not boast about his godliness. His humble and honest approach only amplified his conversion to faith in Christ. Where some might have been tempted to brag about their blessing, Stephen continued giving praise and glory to God. Furthermore, Stephen spoke of Jesus directly to hostile audiences. Undaunted by naysayers, Stephen entered the fray with a convincing witness. This ability was not of Stephen’s own making for the Holy Spirit provided Stephen the ability to speak in authority and power (Ac. 6:10).
So many times the wonder of God is restrained because Christians distract others from it. Selfish motives and stubborn wills often prevent the holy message from being transmitted in our lives. Stephen’s example gives us with much inspiration. He did not let his flesh get in the way of God’s Spirit. He daily chose to be a mouthpiece for Christ and left a legacy sealed with an unmistakable transformation.
Three, transformation is unveiled. It exposes what is in one’s heart. The ultimate proof of this point was later exemplified by Stephen’s testimony in front of an antagonistic Sanhedrin council in Acts 7. Stephen called out the religious leaders for not obeying the divine instruction given to them, going so far as rebuke them for their role in the execution of Jesus (Ac. 7:51-53). Stephen’s words sent the Sanhedrin into a state of rage, which ultimately led to Stephen’s own execution, making him the first recorded Christian martyr.
In the midst of adversity, Stephen could have remained silent. He could have renounced his earlier testimonies. But transformation does not allow one to go backwards spiritually. To have ignored, or abandoned his allegiance to Christ, would have been a rejection of himself, for Jesus’ life was eternally intertwined with Stephen’s life. When the Holy Spirit embodied Stephen’s heart, God’s love for Stephen and Stephen’s admiration for Jesus were forever inseparable. Truly, Stephen exhibited a Christ-centered heart.
The constant element that is restated throughout Acts 6 is that Stephen was a spirit-filled man. Filled with knowledge. Filled with wisdom. Stephen willingly emptied himself of his selfish nature so that he could be filled with the Holy Spirit, the One Who grants knowledge and wisdom. When enemies lined up to oppose him, Stephen did not fight back. He did not resist them. His transformation would not allow it. Stephen reacted to fury with faith. To callousness with compassion. To disdain with devotion. To terror with truth. To lies with love. Such is the activity of the Holy Spirit, the great Counselor of God, Who undoubtedly transforms lives.
Can others see the transformation that has occurred within you?
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