Stephen's rebuttal

I have studied this passage many times over and every time I come back to one group of verses. I have looked over and over at the life of Stephen, his martyrdom, his faith and his confidence in his faith. Every time there are a few things that jump out.
This Sunday we are finishing up the 6th chapter of Acts and it revolves around Stephen's arrest. People started a rumor about him that was not anywhere close to true. They tried to go head to head with him and couldn't, they tried to attack him both publically and privately but it says they were no match for him. So they started spreading nasty rumors about him. They said that he had spoken blasphemy against the temple(which was an attack to get the law following Jews involved), and against Moses(which was to get the "Freedmen" group involved as they were direct decendants of those who were in the wilderness lead by Moses) and they got their way. They got him arrested and now he had to defend himself. But he didn't immediately.
Have you ever had something spread about you that wasn't anywhere close to true. People take either your words or your actions and spin them around taking everything out of context so that you look terrible. They do it on purpose maybe to try to ruin you in some way, how do you handle it. It's tough I'll admit being in that situation, and if confronted by a group of people who don't know the truth and are only questioning you based on what you have heard it is angering. It gives you a sour feeling in your gut and an anger burning inside your head for sure. You immediately want to cut them off as they say those things and defend yourself. You want to let them know how angry it makes you that they would even believe such a thing. You are so full of rage, and hurt that these things are even being questioned.
In ACts chapter 6, verse 15 we read: All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
His direct reaction to hearing these things, which I am sure he knew were being spread, I'm sure he had spent nights questioning why these things were being said, and thinking of what the best way to respond would be. I'm sure these things enraged him to the fullest, yet it says as they stared him down. As they gave him a look as if they were disgusted with him, his face was like the face of an angel.
What? That's it, one of the guys who is doing the most for the church in this setting, the one everyone refers to as "full of the SPirit" and "of full faith" is going to sit there and look like an angel? How very dissappointing. Well, truth is he does let them know what the truth is, but he does so lovingly, and as if the Sanhedrin were the ones on trial and not himself.
So next time you're feeling like you are under attack, by rumors and gossiping that just aren't true at all think about Stephen. While people are attacking you your body language and your face tell them if they are winning or not. If you are angry looking and sour in the face, they've won. But, if you are smiling and look like you have no argument in you, with the face of an angel they'll be discouraged and they will notice it as they are speaking to you.
So follow Stephen's example and be the face of an angel to those who are attacking you with things that are not true.
Thanks for reading and have an awesome weekend!