If you think it was jarring for the people in the high council to see Stephen’s face appearing to be

that of an angel, just wait… the face spoke!

No doubt Stephen must have been familiar with these words of His Lord:

“Do not be afraid of people’s scorn or their slanderous talk… I, even I, am the one who

comforts you.” (Isaiah 51:7,12)

“My name is the Lord Almighty. And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you

safely within my hand. (Isaiah 51:17-18)

When the high priest asked Stephen if the accusations just leveled at him were true, Stephen

didn’t answer in the way one might anticipate – defending himself, angrily saying “I didn’t say

that” or “you guys are a bunch of liars!”

Instead… when the high priest asked for Stephen’s response to the allegations, Stephen

responded with a history lesson – a summary of Old Testament 101! God’s story came flowing

out of the mouth of that angelic face – beginning with God’s appearance to and covenant with

Abraham and on to the stories of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and Solomon (Acts 7:2- 53).

As he concluded his response before his antagonists, his words cut them to the quick:

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit;

as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have

become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of

angels and have not kept it.” (Acts 7:51-53)

Betrayers! Murderers! Lawbreakers! Stephen didn’t hold back. His listeners were now so angry

they were gnashing their teeth like angry wolves (Acts 7:54)!

Stephen didn’t have a teleprompter, nor had he been rehearsing this speech before a friendly

bunch of buddies. He had been living with and meditating on God’s Word – that’s what he knew

best – and that’s what flowed from his mouth. And perhaps he was remembering the words from

Joshua:

”… be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is

with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Perhaps you’ll never be in a situation like Stephen’s – but then again you might. Are you

faithfully living with and meditating on God’s Word, so that when the occasion arises, God’s

words will flow from your mouth?

By Judy Shrout