Mob Mentality: Acts 6:10-15
“9) But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10) But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11) Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12) And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. 13) They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; 14) for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15) And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.” Acts 6:10-15
Because they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen was speaking, they resorted to subversion. They stirred up the crowd with lies, emotional hype and hysteria.
Solomon made a profound observation in Proverbs 29:9 when he said; “When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.” The same has been true throughout human history. Facts, truth, logic, good science, reason and fair discussion are always trampled under foot by the wicked. Satan recognizes no rules. That’s how wickedness enslaves the masses.
The scheme against Stephen had but one goal, they wanted to stir up the people. They wanted to “spin a story.” Their goal was to start a riot. They wanted to destroy him. The religious leaders used this ploy against Jesus. The subversive “Synagogue of the Freedmen” used this ploy against Stephen in this text. In Acts 19:24-41, Demetrius the silversmith used this same tactic against Paul and the church in Ephesus.
Why is this important? Scripture exposes “Mob Mentality” as a demonically driven scheme against the righteous. Many godly martyrs throughout history have died at the hands of “Mob Mentality.”
Mob Mentality hears no reason, recognizes no truth, has no logic, plays by no rules, has no morals and is void of common sense. It is fueled by the demonic realm.
By contrast, righteousness never resorts to mockery, belittlement, threats, emotional hype, deception, violent demonstrations, destruction, subversion or the need to hire instigators. Does this tyranny sound familiar in our modern era? Stay tuned, there might be a biblical reason!
This battle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness is seen throughout the whole Bible. But be forewarned, this frenzy of wickedness will be ramped up as we move deeper into the end times. Paul warned about the mystery of lawlessness in scriptures like 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 and 2 Timothy 3:1-12. Both of these Scriptures relate to the end times. These things are happening right before our eyes.
Study the fate of Stephen in Acts 6:9-7:60. He was the first, but by no means the last Christian to suffer and die at the hands of “Mob Mentality”; or as Jesus called it in the book of Revelation; “the synagogue of Satan.” (See Revelation 2:9-10 and Revelation 3:9-10) They were by no means “the Synagogue of the Freemen.” They were mindless slaves. They were pons in a much bigger and more lethal battle.
So, what can we do?
The Apostles got it right. They devoted more time and attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word! They focused on spreading the gospel, but they expected opposition. Jesus forwarded them that persecution would come! Spiritual warfare was a reality in the early church. It is growing exponentially today. Ignorance is not bliss. It is time to seek God earnestly and focus on spreading the Gospel.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
