Stephen was a man of God willing to do even seemingly insignificant tasks for the glory of His Savior. Once he said yes to helping feed widows, the Holy Spirit came upon him and he began to preach boldly and perform many miracles. That’s when the Jewish officials took notice, and he became a target of the Sanhedrin, just like Jesus had been. When he was brought before them, he began teaching them about the Old Testament, which was a rather strange irony. As he told the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, he spoke with authority while boldly calling out the Isrealites’ long-standing resistance to the Word of God. But why would an intelligent man stand in front of a group of highly educated rabbis and attempt to instruct them on the Bible? I believe it’s because he wasn’t really speaking to them. In the assembled crowd, there were children, teenagers, and other impressionable people who needed to hear what he had to say. Although he was technically addressing the Sanhedrin, his message rang out to a larger audience and has impacted religious history for thousands of years, right up until today. 

Friend, even if it’s unpopular, when the Lord moves in your heart, boldly proclaim His truth! If the Holy Spirit comes upon you and gives you words to speak, be faithful to His lead. Don’t hold your tongue for fear of being harmed, rejected, or even of looking stupid. Your words carry weight, and with your lips surrendered to Jesus, He will use you to bless, mold, and shape those around you, especially future generations. Do everything you can to be a peacemaker, but when God gives you a platform and drops His words in your spirit, by all means, speak them loudly and clearly!