Topical Bible: Slander: Enemies of Stephen

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Slander, as depicted in the Bible, is a grievous sin that involves making false and damaging statements about someone. It is often used as a tool by those who oppose the truth and seek to undermine the work of God. One of the most poignant examples of slander in the New Testament is found in the account of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose enemies resorted to deceitful tactics to silence his powerful witness for Christ.

Stephen, described in Acts 6:5 as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit," was one of the seven deacons chosen by the early church to serve and minister to the needs of the community. His ministry was marked by great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8). However, his growing influence and the wisdom with which he spoke stirred opposition from certain members of the Jewish community.

The opposition arose primarily from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which included Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia (Acts 6:9). Unable to counter Stephen's wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke, they resorted to slanderous tactics. Acts 6:11 records their actions: "Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, 'We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.'"

These false accusations were designed to incite the religious authorities and the people against Stephen. The slanderers further stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, leading to Stephen's arrest and subsequent trial before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:12). During the trial, false witnesses were brought forward to testify against him, claiming, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law" (Acts 6:13).

The charges against Stephen were serious, as they accused him of blasphemy against the temple and the Mosaic Law, both of which were central to Jewish religious life. The false witnesses twisted Stephen's teachings about Jesus and the fulfillment of the Law, presenting them as direct attacks on the Jewish faith and traditions.

Despite the slander and the hostile environment, Stephen remained steadfast in his faith. Acts 6:15 notes that "all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." This description underscores the divine presence and peace that accompanied Stephen even in the face of false accusations.

In his defense, recorded in Acts 7, Stephen delivered a powerful speech recounting the history of Israel and highlighting their repeated resistance to God's messengers. His words culminated in a bold indictment of the Sanhedrin, accusing them of betraying and murdering the Righteous One, Jesus Christ (Acts 7:52).

The slanderous actions of Stephen's enemies ultimately led to his martyrdom. As they stoned him, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, prayed for his persecutors, saying, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60). His response exemplified the grace and forgiveness that characterize the followers of Christ, even in the face of unjust slander and persecution.

The account of Stephen serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of slander and the lengths to which opponents of the Gospel may go to suppress the truth. It also highlights the call for believers to stand firm in their faith, trusting in God's justice and grace amidst trials and false accusations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 6:11
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On the Feast of St Stephen or of St Lawrence
... WAY SERMON IV On the Feast of St Stephen or of ... count them who spoke evil of him as
enemies to the ... for the sake of goodness, all the rebuke, slander and shame ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon iv on the feast.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 1.
... instruments of injustice, the most desperate enemies of all ... great calumniator, who
thus did slander even God ... Stephen, as having said that "Jesus of Nazareth ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part.htm

Letters to Olympias.
... they did everything with a view to slander His fame ... themselves were driven away,
and their enemies had the ... they wrought, then the death of Stephen again caused ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letters to olympias.htm

Acts VI
... for the salvation of men, will find his enemies unable to ... are defeated in discussion,
they always resort to slander, or to ... They tried both against Stephen. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts vi.htm

To Anatolius the Patrician.
... and turned into ridicule by the enemies of the ... those Edessenes never put together
their slander against me ... Hierapolis for the enthronization of Stephen, and in ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/cxi to anatolius the patrician.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... may sometimes as well wrong another by silence as slander. ... Thus Stephen the
proto-martyr, He kneeled down and cried ... he came to pray for his enemies, he kneeled ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

Matt. xviii. 21
... an object of veneration even to thy very enemies, though they ... And that wicked demon
did not only slander Him, but ... to be accursed for them; to Stephen, who is ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxi matt xviii 21.htm

Pontius Pilate
... themselves to execute the death sentence on Stephen in the ... it enter into the minds
of His enemies among the Jews ... Is the charge but a piece of malicious slander? ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/pontius pilate.htm

Prosperity under Persecution
... Be has made his enemies work for him, aiding the ... hence, when after the death of Stephen
the disciples ... form of burning or imprisonment, but of slander, of cruel ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/prosperity under persecution.htm

A Letter from Origen to Africanus.
... starting-point for gratifying their desire to slander the common ... freed from the yoke
of their enemies, that they ... the Acts of the Apostles also, Stephen, in his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens letters/a letter from origen to.htm