October 14

Acts 6: 7-15
7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." 12 They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." 15 And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen was just set apart to help with the distribution of food among the Hellenist’s widows. Now we find him engaging members of a synagogue. Often the call we think we have received from God is not fully the call that we will be asked to perform. In our age of specialization we might say to Stephen that the twelve had appointed him so that they could engage the proclamation of the gospel. This is not his job.

The fact is that giving witness to the hope that is in us belongs to every Christian. Stephen speaks the truth to the synagogue. He has probably been involved with this synagogue. Like Stephen the members of this synagogue are Hellenistic Jews. So Stephen is practicing what we understand to be the most effective evangelism. He is sharing his faith with his friends and relatives. He begins with the people who know him.

As is often the case, these people who know him dismiss his story. They know him too well or they are resistant to the witness to Jesus. This Jesus talk will change the customs of Moses. The concern is not about the promise of God and the power of the resurrection. It is about the customs of Moses. This is often expressed today as “we have never done it that way before.” The challenge of the gospel is to see God at work in Jesus and to follow in hope.

Reflection questions:

1. How would we recognize when God is doing a new thing?
2. How to we look at our customs when challenged to see what should be kept and what should be changed.
3. How do we respond to those who are new to the faith when they bring up new ideas?