Topical Bible: Religious Intolerance: The Jewish Leaders in Persecuting Stephen

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Religious intolerance, as depicted in the New Testament, is exemplified in the account of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This episode highlights the tension between the early Christian movement and the established Jewish religious authorities. Stephen, a man "full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5), was one of the seven deacons chosen to serve the early church in Jerusalem. His ministry was marked by "great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8), which drew the attention and ire of certain Jewish leaders.

The opposition to Stephen arose from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, who were unable to counter his wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:9-10). In their frustration, they resorted to deceit, persuading men to falsely accuse Stephen of blasphemy against Moses and God (Acts 6:11). This tactic of using false witnesses is reminiscent of the trial of Jesus, where similar methods were employed by the Jewish authorities to secure a conviction (Matthew 26:59-61).

Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, where the false witnesses claimed, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law" (Acts 6:13). The charges against Stephen were serious, as they struck at the heart of Jewish religious identity, centered on the Temple and the Mosaic Law. Stephen's defense, recorded in Acts 7, is a profound recounting of Israel's history, emphasizing God's faithfulness and the recurrent disobedience of His people.

In his speech, Stephen accused the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit and betraying and murdering the Righteous One, Jesus Christ (Acts 7:51-52). This bold proclamation incited the council's fury, leading to an outbreak of violence. "When they heard this, they were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him" (Acts 7:54). Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). His vision further provoked the council, who, in a display of religious intolerance, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7:58).

The persecution of Stephen by the Jewish leaders underscores the deep-seated resistance to the nascent Christian faith, which challenged the established religious order. This act of intolerance was not merely a rejection of Stephen's message but a broader repudiation of the transformative work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Stephen's martyrdom marked a pivotal moment in the early church, as it catalyzed the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, fulfilling Jesus' command to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

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Acts 6:9-15
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
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Acts 7:57-59
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran on him with one accord,
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Acts 8:1-3
And Saul was consenting to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
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