{6} And Stephen, full of faith and {g} power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

(6) God trains his Church first with evil words and slanders, then with imprisonments, afterwards with scourgings, and by these means prepares it in such a way that at length he causes it to meet in combat with Satan and the world, even to bloodshed and death.

(g) Excellent and singular gifts.

People's New Testament

6:8 And Stephen... did great wonders and miracles. He is the first gospel preacher, not an apostle, whose work is named. He is also the first, not an apostle, under the new dispensation, to work miracles. Philip, also, of the seven, possessed miraculous power (Ac 8:6). Both received the imposition of apostolic hands. This seems to have been necessary to impart this power (Ac 8:15,17,19). See also Ro 1:11. As far as we know, it was limited to apostles, and to those whom whom the apostles laid hands. Also see PNT Ac 5:12.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Ac 6:8-15. Stephen Arraigned before the Samhedrim.

8. And Stephen, &c.-The foregoing narrative seems to be only an introduction to what follows.

full of faith-rather, "of grace," as the best manuscripts read.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:8-15 When they could not answer Stephen's arguments as a disputant, they prosecuted him as a criminal, and brought false witnesses against him. And it is next to a miracle of providence, that no greater number of religious persons have been murdered in the world, by the way of perjury and pretence of law, when so many thousands hate them, who make no conscience of false oaths. Wisdom and holiness make a man's face to shine, yet will not secure men from being treated badly. What shall we say of man, a rational being, yet attempting to uphold a religious system by false witness and murder! And this has been done in numberless instances. But the blame rests not so much upon the understanding, as upon the heart of a fallen creature, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Yet the servant of the Lord, possessing a clear conscience, cheerful hope, and Divine consolations, may smile in the midst of danger and death.