A Study of Acts: A Plot Starts Against Stephen
Acts 6:7-15 - Are you bending in the wind and following popular opinion? Or are you rooted in the Word of God?
“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”
Acts 6:7-15 NASB1995
So once again, Luke talks about how the word of God keeps spreading and the number of disciples increases greatly in Jerusalem and many priests became obedient to the faith. In the last devotional, we were introduced to Stephen, one of the seven disciples who were selected to ensure the proper distribution of food to the widows. Well, this Stephen is more than just a perfunctory deacon. He is full of grace and power and was performing many signs and wonders among the people.
The enemy immediately works to shut down the testimony of Stephen. Members of a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, consisting of members from many places, rise up to argue with Stephen. They were quite unable to cope with the wisdom and spirit with which he was speaking. So who was this group? Here is what Gotquestions.org says about the Synagogue of the Freedmen; one of the members may very well be have been that sly Pharisee from Tarsus (Cilicia) named Saul:
Some scholars believe that these persons were slaves of the Romans who had been freed, became proselytes of the Jewish religion, and had a synagogue in Jerusalem. The NLT calls this group the Synagogue of Freed Slaves.
Other scholars contend that these freedmen were not Jewish proselytes but Jews by birth who had been taken into captivity by the Romans and then set free and subsequently called liberti or libertini. There were many such Jews. Some have speculated that among these zealous members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen was Saul of Tarsus, who would have been more than capable of disputing with Stephen in matters of religion.
Whoever the Freedmen were, one thing is clear: Stephen’s proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the miracles he performed caused great animosity. Try as they might, the Freedmen “could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke” (Acts 6:10). Unable to answer his arguments or discount his miracles, they brought false witnesses against him and “stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law” (Acts 6:12). Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen and the others opposing Stephen accused him of blasphemy, a deadly charge. Just as evil men had accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 9:1–3), so the same spirit of evil in the hearts of the Synagogue of the Freedmen spoke against Stephen.
The Synagogue of the Freedmen accuse Stephen of blasphemy. They claim that he was speaking against the temple and the law and against Moses. They bear false witness against him with the people, the elders, and the scribes, so Stephen was dragged away and brought before the Council. Here is superb commentary from Enduring Word about these actions:
They secretly induced men to say: The opponents of Stephen could not win a fair fight, so they used lies and secret strategies to shape popular opinion against Stephen.
Normally, Luke would not know what the opponents of Stephen secretly induced men to say. Possibly he knew it because a man named Saul of Tarsus was among the opponents. Some of them were from Paul’s home region of Cilicia. Saul (who became known as Paul the apostle) may have told Luke about this incident.
They stirred up the people: The opponents of Stephen could do nothing against the followers of Jesus until they got popular opinion on their side. Previously, persecution against the apostles had been limited because popular opinion was with them (Acts 2:47, 5:26).
Popular opinion can be easily shaped. The same crowds that praised Jesus (Luke 19:35-40) soon called for His crucifixion (Luke 23:18-23). The crowds that loved the apostles (Acts 2:47, 5:26) cry out against Stephen. This is why we should never let popular opinion shape the vision or focus of the church, but let it rest on God’s eternal Word.
We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.… This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law…Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs: These were the accusations against Stephen. Significantly, many of the same false accusations were leveled against Jesus (Matthew 26:59-61). It is a good thing to be accused of the same things Jesus was accused of.
They accused him of these things because Stephen clearly taught that:
Jesus was greater than Moses (blasphemous words against Moses).
Jesus was God (blasphemous words against…God).
Jesus was greater than the temple (blasphemous words against this holy place).
Jesus was the fulfillment of the law (blasphemous words against…the law).
Jesus was greater than their religious customs and traditions (Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs).
Of course, Stephen never taught against Moses and God, but his glorification of Jesus was twisted. Stephen never spoke blasphemous words against this holy place (the temple), but he would not make it an idol as many Jewish people in that day did. Stephen had his words twisted, and false accusations were brought against him.
“Whatever form of words Stephen used which gave rise to the accusation that he said Jesus would destroy the temple, he certainly grasped and expounded the inner meaning of Jesus’ own words.” (James Montgomery Boice).
Several commentators imply or directly state that the thrust of Stephen’s message – that Jesus supersedes the temple and its localized worship – was a doctrine that the apostles themselves must have shied away from proclaiming. This is unwarranted speculation. The demonstrated boldness of the apostles is undeniable proof that they withheld no truth from fear that it might be too controversial – or dangerous.
A few takeaways from this commentary:
The people are now stirred up against Stephen. These are the same folks who were so enamored with Jesus before raging against Him and were also loving the message of the apostles, but they are now bending in the wind of opinion. One thing we know about humans is that they are fickle, uncertain, ignorant about things of eternal worth, and are easily swayed by propaganda.
Popular opinion should NEVER influence the message of God or the vision or focus of the church!! Jumping on the latest social justice bandwagon to support the prevailing human-centered fad of the week is contrary to the Message.
When you preach about Jesus, it is guaranteed that your words will be twisted by those who are against His message (prompted by the enemy).
Stephen faces his accusers and his face is described as being “like an angel”. Stephen is unruffled, at peace, and confident that God is on his side. He is filled with the glory of God!
In my next devotional, I examine the first part of Stephen’s response to the Council, where he talks about Abraham (Acts 7:1-8).
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Please help me stand strong against popular opinion and be firm in the Word of God! Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Gotquestions.org was accessed on 9/5/2025 to answer the question, “Who was the Synagogue of the Freedmen?”
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.