Acts 6:14

for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us. "

1. And yet another similarity with the death of Jesus - they charged him with saying that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple.

2. They also accused him of teaching that the customs would be changed.

1. Custom - This word is not a term of a "law" such as the 10 Commandments.

2. Custom is what is done often, repeatedly, until it becomes ingrained, as if it were law. Let me give one simple example.

3. Pray BEFORE you eat. I was taught as a child that I could not eat a single bite of food until we said prayer. Why? Does the Bible command such?

4. Here is what the Bible teaches -

1. We should be thankful for our food - 1 Timothy 4:4-5

2. We should offer thanks AFTER we have eaten and are full - Deuteronomy 8:10

5. So - What is the origin of the "law" requiring us to pray BEFORE we eat? The answer is - Custom. Long standing habit, tradition. "We have always done it this way."

3. It was not the Law of Moses that they were concerned about. It was the loss of their many traditions, customs, (loopholes) which they had invented. Stephen was showing the weakness of following their traditions.