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Stephen debating with unbelieving

Jews.

September 18, 2011

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In Acts 6:1-5 we saw the establishmentestablishment of deaconsdeacons in the

church.Their job was to serveserve tables:

Oversee the distributiondistribution of food to the needy.

So the apostles could spend their spend their timetime in prayer, study of the Scriptures, and preaching.

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The deacons were requiredrequired to be men filledfilled with the Holy GhostHoly Ghost and His WisdomHis Wisdom.

They had to be men with honest reputationshonest reputations.

And we see that they were men of faithmen of faith in God.

StephenStephen was one of these deacons.

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8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputingdisputing with Stephen.

These disputersdisputers of God's Word were not in the church; they were unsaved Jewsunsaved Jews.

They churchchurch loved Stephen;

They had just ordained himordained him as a deacon.

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Some people say that miracles died outdied out with the apostles; only theyonly they had supernatural power.

But Stephen was notnot an apostle;

Yet he did greathe did great wonders and miracles.

What qualified himhim to do these things?

He was fullfull of faith and the Power of God.Faith will release the Power of GodPower of God to do great things.

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10 And they (the disputers) were not able to resist the Wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

They had no realreal arguments;

They were just denying the TruthTruth of Jesus Christ.

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These unbelieving Jews bribed menbribed men to commit perjurycommit perjury.

They were false witnessesfalse witnesses.

12 And they stirred upstirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

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13 And set up false witnessesfalse witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy placeholy place, and the Lawthe Law:

Stephen was saying what Jesus saidJesus said:

That the templetemple would be destroyed.

Once He said, "Destroy this templethis temple and in three days I willI will raise it up."

In this case, He was speaking of His Own bodyHis Own body.

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Stephen was also speaking of the temporary temporary naturenature of the Law of Moses.

Matthew 5 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfillbut to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilledtill all be fulfilled.

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If the Gospel is for all menall men, and it is --

Then the Law of MosesLaw of Moses had to be temporary.

Jesus completely fulfilledfulfilled every jot and tittle of the Law,

And we are now saved through faiththrough faith in the finished workfinished work of Jesus Christ.

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14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

The Glory of GodGlory of God was upon Stephen, just asjust as it had been upon Jesus,

Moses, and Elijah on the Mount of TransfigurationMount of Transfiguration.

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Common sense would have made these men fearmen fear to attack Stephen with God's GloryGod's Glory upon him.

But they were not ruled by common sensecommon sense;

They were ruled by fearfear and hatredhatred.

Fear is at the rootroot of hatred.And yet, the Fear of GodFear of God leads us into a

lovelove relationship with Him.

But the Fear of God includes respectrespect and aweawe.