Why do the enemies of the Church always lie about us? These days, when Christians uphold the rights of the unborn we are often called sexists, even though it is the Christian faith that is responsible for most of the advances in women’s rights that have occurred throughout human history. When we insist that only the Christian religion is true, we are called racists, even though our faith has always welcomed and embraced people of every tribe and tongue and nation.

But such lies are nothing new. After all, Jesus was arrested by the religious leaders because people lied and said He was going to tear down the Temple in three days. Stephen’s enemies said that he spoke against the Temple and the Law of Moses. And even though he carefully explained his position in the following chapter, clearly indicating that it was his enemies who were the true enemies of God, they refused to believe him.

Instead, because they couldn’t refute what he said, they threw rocks at him until he died, just as they had crucified Jesus. And the opponents of Jesus still try to use force to make everyone believe their lies. Islam has made it illegal to preach the Christian faith in many parts of the world, and the communist regime in China continues to jail Christians and tear down their sanctuaries.

So, how should Christians respond to such threats? Verse 10 says that Stephen opposed lies with wisdom. Far from trying to discredit the Law of Moses, the following chapter indicates how he used his knowledge of the Scriptures to justify his faith in Christ. He spoke the truth in the face of lies, and we must do no less.

But what about the persecution that often comes to those who speak the truth? Just as the Holy Spirit gave Stephen the power to speak the truth (v. 10), even making his face like that of an angel (v. 15), we must rely on the same Spirit to give us strength to endure whatever force the world might direct against us. But just as Stephen followed Jesus in forgiving his killers (7:60), we must continue to speak the truth only in love, in genuine concern for the welfare even of those who are most filled with hate for us. For that’s the only way we can truly show the grace and power and truth that were so obvious in the life of Stephen – and of Jesus.

Acts 6:8-15 (ESV)

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,
13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words 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 delivered to us.”
15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.