< Acts 6 >

It was inevitable that tensions would develop among the disciples which would need to be resolved by the apostles. These Jewish disciples came from two distinct backgrounds: traditionalists of the land of Israel (the Hebrews); and those of the worldwide dispersed Jewry influenced by Greek thought (the Grecians). One party considered they were disadvantaged in the distribution to the needy, and complained. The problem was resolved by the appointment of supervisors to whom the apostles passed the Holy Spirit by laying hands on them, an ability possessed only by the apostles. One of these supervisors was Stephen, who being “full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”. v.8Waiting for response for Acts 6:8

The preaching of the gospel by the apostles and other disciples resulted in a great many people in Jerusalem accepting the Truth

Stephen disputed about God’s truth with certain Jews of various Greek schools of thought who were unable to withstand his reasoning from God’s word. They therefore resorted to false accusation and “stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him before the council of the Jews”. Stephen, falsely accused as Jesus was and in the same terms, confidently met these accusations and defended himself, exposing the defective knowledge and reasoning of these, the highest religious authorities in the land, as recorded in the next chapter.