unfair opposition

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:8-15, ESV)


Stephen was obviously a respected and trustworthy man, a faithful believer in Jesus, someone full of the spirit, someone witnessing for Jesus - but that doesn't stop people sinning against him. We should not be surprised when some people attack us and speak falsely about us. We are told that they could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which he was speaking - they couldn't prove him wrong, but that didn't stop them stirring up lies about him and twisting his words. His face looked like the face of an angel, but that didn't stop his shotgun trial and eventual death. We should be ready for the fact that, no matter what we do, some people will oppose us and tell lies about us. We should pray that God helps us to respond like Stephen is about to  - with a gracious and clear explanation of the gospel