Sweetness and strength

Stephen, already distinguished among the distinctive, is marked by faith and power in his ministry. It brings him into conflict and triumph, aided by the Holy Spirit in making known Christ. That only exposes him to further lies and hatred, as his enemies bring in false witnesses and make false accusations. Yet even in the midst of all this, Stephen is marked by light and love, by sweetness and strength out of his relationship with God. The man accused of blaspheming Moses and God is a Moses-like man who walks with God and follows Christ to the very end.