8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.(ESV)
Mark 6:8–9
CHARGES AND CHANGES
Stephen does respond to the underlying charge that he is a renegade Jew, and by extension, that the Messianic church is composed of apostate Jews. He does this by asserting that Israelite history (from the call of Abraham to the building of Solomon’s temple) proves that his listeners are the real defectors from God. Stephen is on the offense, not trying to win any favors!
God has compassion for the troubles of his church, and the groans of his persecuted people; and their deliverance takes rise from his pity. Acts 7 and 8 (ESV)