"This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the laws. For we heard him claim that this Jesus of Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."
What was the custom that Moses handed down?
It is interesting to note that the Sanhedrin is being involved in this heated debate with and about Stephen. It is the Sanhedrin that is the "custom" that the people are referring. In Numbers 11:16 God ask Moses to "assemble 70 of the elders of Israel" and to these God distributed some of his spirit so that they could assist Moses with dealing with the people.
This tradition was passed down. When one of the 70 died another was added. Eventually they became known as the Sanhedrin, the council that was to help interpret the Torah, the law, for the people.
So, when the accusation is made that Stephen is speaking about Jesus destroying the "custom" handed down from Moses, it is an accusation of seeking to destroy the Sanhedrin itself. It certainly got the Sanhedrin's attention pretty quickly. They were being threatened. I am sure they did not want to lose their position of power any time soon.
It was a pretty clever plan to get Stephen to be quiet.
Yet, Stephen as we will see tomorrow, chooses to speak the truth regardless of who in power was involved. He refused to bow to the powerful around him.
"All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel."
His face was like an angel as he listen to their accusations. He didn't defend himself. He did not get overly excited. He did not act out in anger. He held his mind's gaze on God.
This is what is meant by the "face of an angel." What do the angel's do in heaven? Their face always beholds the Father. They contemplate goodness itself. Stephen, while he was being accused, did not lose focus or get distracted. He kept his interior gaze on the Father and thus was strengthen and calm during the whole ordeal.
This is how we too should embrace life as it unfolds. We should keep our interior gaze on God. This is how we pray always without ceasing. From here shall come our strength, calm, peace, and courage to stand and speak when needed.
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