"Providence is a term that has to do with God not interfering with the normal processes of life but orchestrating all of those contingencies and all of those thoughts and actions to effect exactly what He wants, when He wants, with whom He wants, where He wants."
John MacArthur
In God's Providence, Common Vessels Glorified God
In chapter 4, we observe, "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus." The fact that there was nothing special about Peter and John only increased the fact that God was getting all the glory. For this reason, we read, "And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply."
On the day of Pentecost and following, the believers enjoyed good relations with all the people. Acceptance is normal in the history of the Church at the beginning until believers multiply and infringe upon the authority and wealth of those in control; then, the persecution begins. In our context, those in authority speak out their problem, "...that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name." With all that God's grace offers to sinners who deserve all the punishment God will inflict for eternity, all the "leaders" wanted to do was to inhibit the people from hearing the only message that could save them. Even though this miracle happened through a disciple of Jesus, Jesus' name had to be silenced, underscoring that God got the glory.
In God's Providence, Spirit-filled Stephen was Chosen to Serve
In Acts 6:1, we learn, "A complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food." The manner of handling this problem was to choose seven men who would be respected for their good reputation and for being Spirit-filled; they could be trusted to be fair.
In God's Providence, Spirit-filled Stephen Proclaimed the Gospel's Peace
In verse 8 of chapter 6, we are informed, "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.'" We can be sure there is a division concerning whether or not miracle gifts are still in effect. Let me say that from the beginning, it was not just the 12 that performed miracles. Stephen was anointed to serve by overseeing the distribution of food to widows. Another fact that is also true is that in times of authentic revival, like in The Great Awakening or the Welsh revivals, miraculous happenings were reported to have happened. Undoubtedly, there have been fraudulent miracles, as there have always been false teachers.
Many men have risen to argue against the truth since the days of Cane and Abel. The frustrating problem remains consistent among God's people. "But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." As a result of being found to be wrong, liars are sent to condemn the innocent. "Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and [against] God."
The religious institution of Judiasim was quick to defend their rights to the people who supported their livelihoods. When Stephen stood before the council, we were told, "The Council saw his face like the face of an angel." Stephen was walking in the complete armor of God, including, as Ephesians 6 says, "and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;" The member of his body that carried him to where he was going, helped to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ; a Gospel of peace that first shown on his face.
In God's Providence, Stephen Was Martyred
Stephen proclaimed not only a Gospel of Peace but also the truth that continued down the long centuries that it is always the governments undergirded with institutions of false religious beliefs that persecute men of God. Some of Stephens's last words were, "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and [yet] did not keep it."
In God's providence, Stephen "...saw the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." The orchestrating of all of the contingencies surrounding Stephens's death was no small part of Saul's conversion and subsequent brokenness of his heart and reality check of his being a pharisee who persecuted Jesus Christ.
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