Acts 6: Into the Maelstrom
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Footnotes help us to understand the different factions. “The Hellenists were not necessarily Jews from the diaspora, but were more probably Palestinian Jews who spoke only Greek. The Hebrews were Palestinian Jews who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic and who may also have spoken Greek. Both groups belong to the Jerusalem Christian community. The conflict between them leads to a restructuring of the community that will better serve the community’s needs. The real purpose of the whole episode, however, is to introduce Stephen as a prominent figure in the community whose long speech and martyrdom will be recounted in ch. 7”. (Senior 193)
We notice almost immediately that jealousy brews against Stephen and commentary further helps us to understand the further implications of the conflict we hear today. “The charges that Stephen depreciated the importance of the temple and the Mosaic law and elevated Jesus to a stature above Moses (6, 13-14) were in fact true. Before the Sanhedrin, no defense against them was possible. With Stephen, who thus perceived the fuller implications of the teachings of Jesus, the differences between Judaism and Christianity began to appear. Luke’s account of Stephen’s martyrdom and its aftermath shows how the major impetus behind the Christian movement passed from Jerusalem, where the temple and law prevailed, to Antioch in Syria, where these influences were less pressing”. (Senior 193)
Verse 10 tells us all: They could not withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke.
I am thinking of an article I read just last night of a similar conflict in the National Catholic reporter. Written by Tom Roberts and entitled, “Seismic shifts reshape US Catholicism,” it investigates the inevitability of change that happens when humans form a community. Liberals find that the change taking place is happening too slowly. Conservatives believe that the change they see happening must be halted. Moderates find themselves squeezed between these two inexorable forces. The conflict will ebb and flow with the natural social, political and fiscal movements and everyone begins to gather their own opinions in defense of a stance. Tensions ratchet upward. Wisdom and the Spirit – rather than clearing the air – are shoved into oblivion and the inevitable explosion takes place. As Christians, rather than succumb to the temptation to splinter into groups we must find a way to come together.
When we read this story in Acts we have the opportunity to look at ourselves to see how we fit into God’s plan for the world today. When we read the story in Acts we have the chance to examine how we witness to Jesus today. When we read the story in Acts we are called to examine how we allow Wisdom and the Spirit to influence our daily interactions with others.
When we are called to speak as Stephen speaks we must also be prepared to disappear into the maelstrom that will follow.
When we hear another speak as Stephen speaks we must be prepared to be open to the voice of Wisdom and the power of the Spirit.
When we enter the place where a conflict is raging we are called to witness as Christians must . . . with grace, and mercy, and wisdom . . . and always in the Spirit of God.
A re-post from January 22, 2012.
Image from: http://frbenedict.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html
Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.193. Print.
The Noontimes 