¹⁵And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. ¹The high priest said, “Are these things so?” ²And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, ³and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ ⁴Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran . . .”

One of the greatest theologians of all time was one of the first prototype deacons, but his “career” was cut short because of the content of his preaching. But what power, what tremendous insight and nuanced thinking emanated from his lips in this lengthy oration. His proclamation of the central, comprehensive OT message finds no better elucidation than what we read in Acts 6. Luke records this lengthy confrontation in response to none other than the high priest of Israel. Also among his judges are the elders and the scribes of Israel, the “Council” (that is, the Sanhedrin), a formidable crowd to say the last. The accusations against him were blasphemy and bearing false witness in relation to the teaching about Jesus Christ.

Luke, the author of Acts, begins with the observation of Stephen’s appearance, having his “face like the face of an angel.” One might suspect the cause to be the Shekinah glory, similar to Jesus’ change of appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration. At minimum, we take it as a phenomenon that was unmistakably supernatural. Stephen’s face revealed neither anger nor stress; he exuded a calm confidence, yet a commanding presentation.

He begins with the usual address, “brethren and fathers,” and then speaks of “the God of glory.” His message and his life lined up! His message hearkens back to the beginning of Israel’s history, to Abraham, the original progenitor of God’s people, and begins to recount the patriarch’s initial calling and step of faith. God was the initiator in calling out Abraham from the godless, pagan life and culture of Mesopotamia. His command was straightforward: “Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.” Ironically, Stephen was not a member of the religious, educated elite, yet he lectured them about the history they knew quite well (beginning in Genesis 12:27). They knew the historical facts, but they were about to be schooled in the real message of the Scriptures.

The history of Israel begins with the calling of God and the obedience of Abraham. It is God’s story, not that of the religious leaders. It is obedience to God, and not to the Sanhedrin. It is about God’s glory, not the pride or status of human hierarchy. From here, Stephen continues his piercing message.

Lord, help me to have ears to hear, for it is Your story of salvation.