When They Cannot Resist the Wisdom by Dr. Johnny O. Trail, LMFT
On the last day of Stephen’s life, he delivered one of the longest sermons recorded anywhere in the New Testament. Even though he related the truth of Israelite history to their murder of the Messiah, his auditors would not allow themselves to change from opposing God’s plan for the redemption of lost humanity. It is obvious from the text of Acts that Stephen’s logic and wisdom was something his audience could not contend with or refute. The text says, in Act 6:10, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”
When individuals are faced with a truth they cannot refute, they tend to resort to degenerate tactics to get their way about things. Facts are pesky things that do not go away very easily. They remain the truth even when others seek to pervert them and attack the ones proclaiming the truth. It would do a Bible student well to consider the way some people attack purveyors of the truth.
When people cannot overcome the logic of one’s words, they result to debased tactics to make sure they get their way about things. The audiences of Stephen, Jesus, and various other biblical preachers and prophets did not always receive the messages of Godly men in a favorable manner. As a result, their exchanges became heated, emotional, and dishonest in nature.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of a speaker, sometimes they will engage in telling lies about the person they are opposing. This was true of Stephen’s audience (Acts 6.11) and of Jesus’ auditors just prior to His crucifixion. Matthew 26:59-61 says, “Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.' " The Savior of the world was put to death because people were willing to tell a lie about Him.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of a speaker, sometimes they will engage in name calling. Jesus confronted the Pharisees and other religious leaders about their hypocrisy on several occasions. Sometimes they would make racial slurs toward Christ to undermine his words. John 8:48 says, “Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan…” Despite their intentions, Jesus was not about the superiority of one race over another (Acts 10.34), and He would not be swayed by such comments.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of a speaker, sometimes they will attribute his words and actions to evil or demonic intentions. The Jewish leaders of the people could not deny the miracles or teachings of Christ, so they attributed His miracles to demonic powers. Matthew 12:24 says, “Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." It is ironic to think that the very one who was sent to deal a death blow to Satan and his minions (Genesis 3.15) would be accused of being in league with him.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of a speaker, sometimes they will attack his family origins. John 8.41b “…Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God." In these dialogues between Jesus and the Pharisees, the Pharisees reached a new low in criticizing the mother of Christ as an immoral woman. Nothing could have been further from the truth (cf. Matthew 1.18-25). Mary was a morally pure woman prior to and after the birth of Christ.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of the speaker, sometimes they attack the educational background of the one speaking. This seems to be one of the areas that people attempted to criticize the Apostles on as they went about preaching the truth regarding Jesus. Acts 17:18 says, “Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.” The philosophers who lived in Athens did not believe Paul was educated enough to lecture them on any topic let alone religion. This same charge is leveled against faithful men and women today, and it is unfounded in scripture or reason.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of the speaker, sometimes they will resort to provoking mob action to oppose the one they do not agree with. Acts 17:5 says, “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” This is true in regards to much of the opposition that Christians see in our world today. When people do not get their way, they will seek to form alliances and use propaganda to get others to oppose the one speaking the truth.
When people cannot resist the wisdom of the speaker, sometimes they will murder the one speaking. This was true of Jesus (Mark 15.13-14, 30). This was true of Stephen (Acts 7.57-60). This was true of John the Baptist (Mark 6.27). While murder is not typical in our age, one can lose standing, livelihood, and relationships for standing for what is right.
These concepts are true regarding spiritual and carnal considerations. Family systems can operate along the same lines at times. Regardless of how the proclaimers of the truth are treated the truth remains unaltered and consistent. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
