Acts 6:8-15 | Facing OppositionSample

Opposition often comes with slander and lies. That’s what Stephen faced.

When the Synagogue of the Freedmen couldn’t stand up to the wisdom of the Spirit Stephen was speaking, Luke tells us they secretly persuaded some to lie about Stephen instead. Here’s what they said: “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God” (Acts 6:11). Later, Luke tells us they even produced false witnesses to say: “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

If you can’t attack the argument, attack the man.

These Jews did not believe in Jesus. They saw him as a threat. So the grace, power, and wisdom evident in Stephen was also a threat. They thought Jesus and this nascent Christian movement were rejecting the foundations of Judaism by challenging the Law of Moses and the temple. That, of course, threatened their worldview and way of life.

Few things are scarier than having your foundational beliefs challenged. Few things are more threatening. So they try to discredit Stephen. Even if it meant lies and slander.

If you follow Jesus, expect the same. People will mischaracterize you, falsely judge you, distort what you say and believe, and maybe even slander you or tell lies about you. Tomorrow we’ll look more closely at what the men of this synagogue were claiming.

Today, just consider: How have you faced similar kinds of mischaracterizations, lies, or slander about what you believe or Christianity teaches?