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Chad DeCleene

Face of an Angel

You have the face of an angel. This phrase has been used to describe beautiful children. Some may have even tried using this as a pickup line. When we visualize this phrase, we often think of a face glowing with joy in the midst of a peaceful setting. All is going right around them and they are beaming like an angel. 

How many of you would picture a man standing trial before an angry mob when you think of this phrase? This is exactly how Luke uses this phrase in Acts 6 to describe Stephen.

And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15

Stephen had been preaching the gospel to the Hellenistic Jews. God was using him to perform signs and preach Jesus with great power. As a result, some men who belong to the Synagogue of the Freedmen began to argue with Stephen. However, Luke tells us that these men “could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which he was speaking.” Stephen was speaking with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and these men could not reason against him. Instead of taking time to think through what Stephen was saying and seeing if it was true, they found false witnesses who twisted Stephen’s words.

Stephen spent his time ministering to the widows of the church, preaching the gospel, and performing signs to validate his message and bring honor to God. As a result, he ended up on trial before an angry mob. These people were riled up based on the testimony of false witnesses. These men lied about Stephen and what he said and got the crowd worked up even more.

How would you respond to being falsely accused? What would you look like as you heard people lie about you? Most of us would be fairly concerned. We would likely feel the urge to defend ourselves and yell at those who were lying about us. However, in the midst of all of this turmoil, Stephen stood calmly in front of them, and all who saw him thought his face looked like the face of an angel. 

How could Stephen stand there so calmly? How could he just watch as people lied about him? Stephen showed what it is like to live in the power of the Spirit. He knew that God would give him the words to stay. He knew and believed that God was in control of the situation. He did not need to jump in and defend himself. He knew he was speaking the truth and he would do so without fear even though it would cost him his life. 

Stephen is an example to us of how to walk in the Spirit and rest in God even in the midst of turmoil. Too often we are too quick to jump in and defend ourselves or start arguing with those with whom we disagree. Stephen was not worried or distracted from his purpose which was to honor Christ with his life and his words. As we live in a culture that is consistently more and more against Christ, may we calmly and confidently stand up for Christ, resting in the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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