Many of us have heard the story in Acts 6 before. Some of us have read it, some of us even multiple times. Some of us may have even giving sermons or teachings or led discussions on this passage.
Yet, I believe that today I will share something with you that will blow your mind.
Let’s begin with the passage:
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
~Acts 6:8-14
Did you catch why it is so incredible?
Read again the following highlighted section:
“…they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
Do you see it now?
These FALSE witnesses claimed that Jesus had changed the customs (or abolished the Law) of Moses!
If these allegations had been true, then there would never have been any need to bring up false witnesses against Stephen.
Isn’t this incredible? Does it make you rethink the way you perceive your Bible?
Let me end with Jesus’ words from Mathew 5:17-20,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Land Of The Living 