Stephen was one of the first deacons appointed by the apostles to serve the early church in Jerusalem. He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and performed miracles among the people (Acts 6:5, 8). Stephen was falsely accused of blasphemy against Moses and God, and brought before the Sanhedrin. His speech to them accusing them of resisting the Holy Spirit and killing the Messiah enraged them, and Stephen became the first Christian martyr as he was stoned to death. His martyrdom was witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul. Here is an in-depth look at Stephen’s life and importance in the early church.
Stephen’s Appointment as a Deacon
In the very early days of the church in Jerusalem, the apostles were busy preaching and performing miracles, but a complaint arose from the Greek-speaking believers that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1). The Twelve gathered the whole congregation and told them to select seven men full of the Spirit and wisdom to appoint over this duty. The apostles would devote themselves to prayer and preaching ministry. This pleased the congregation and they chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch. These seven were brought before the apostles who prayed over them and laid hands on them, appointing them over the task of caring for the Greek widows (Acts 6:2-6).
Two characteristics set Stephen apart from the others: he was full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5). He was also said to be full of grace and power, and he performed great wonders and signs among the people. But Stephen also spoke with such wisdom and the Spirit that none could stand against him (Acts 6:8, 10). This foreshadows the conflict to come between Stephen and the religious authorities.
Stephen’s Arrest
Opposition arose against Stephen from some Freedmen and Cyrenians from the synagogues of the Freedmen, who began to argue with Stephen but could not stand against the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke (Acts 6:9-10). They secretly persuaded some men to falsely testify that Stephen was speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God (Acts 6:11). This stirred up the people, elders and scribes who seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin council (Acts 6:12). They presented false witnesses who said Stephen never stopped speaking against the holy place and the law, saying Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs of Moses (Acts 6:13-14).
As Stephen stood before the high priest, his face appeared like an angel’s (Acts 6:15). The high priest asked if the charges against him were true, and Stephen launched into a lengthy defense of his teachings (Acts 7:1-53). He recounted Israel’s history and God’s promise to Abraham to give the land to his offspring. He recalled how Joseph was sold into Egypt but God was with him and rescued the people from famine through Joseph. Stephen accused the council of resisting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets and the Messiah just as their fathers had done. The council was cut to the heart and ground their teeth at Stephen (Acts 7:54).
The Stoning of Stephen
Stephen looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right hand. He told the council he saw heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand. They covered their ears, yelled loudly, and rushed upon Stephen, dragging him out of the city to stone him to death as blasphemer (Acts 7:55-58). Saul of Tarsus was there, giving approval at the stoning of Stephen, who called upon the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit as he died (Acts 7:58-59). Stephen prayed that the sin would not be held against them as he died (Acts 7:60). Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house to drag believers off to prison following Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1-3).
Significance of Stephen’s Life
Stephen is recognized as the first Christian martyr, willingly giving his life for proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ. Stephen’s appointment as a deacon shows that the early church put servants full of the Spirit in leadership. They chose those who had wisdom, faith and the empowerment of the Spirit to lead. Even though Stephen served as a deacon caring for widows, he powerfully preached the gospel with miracles. Stephen modeled Jesus even to death, praying for the forgiveness of his killers. His martyrdom made a deep impression on Saul of Tarsus, God using this witness to later convert Saul into the apostle Paul. Stephen remained strong in his faith until death, even seeing a vision of the risen Christ as he died. His courage strengthened the early church even amidst persecution. God used Stephen’s witness to embolden and empower Christians in the face of opposition and death.
Key Lessons from Stephen’s Life
Here are some key lessons that can be learned from Stephen’s life:
- A life full of faith – Stephen was chosen for his great faith, which enabled him to perform miracles and confront the authorities without fear.
- Wisdom from the Spirit – Though falsely accused, Stephen spoke with such wisdom by the Spirit that opponents could not prevail against him.
- Devotion to preaching – Though appointed as a deacon, Stephen powerfully preached the gospel with the Holy Spirit’s anointing.
- Courage in persecution – Stephen boldly proclaimed Christ even when facing death by stoning for his witness.
- Forgiving spirit – Like Christ, Stephen forgave and prayed for God’s mercy on his killers as he died.
- God’s sovereignty – Through his martyrdom, Stephen became the seed of the gospel for the conversion of Paul.
- Hope in suffering – At his martyrdom, Stephen looked to heaven and saw the glory of Christ, his hope through suffering.
Stephen lived a life full of the Holy Spirit’s power and wisdom, faithfully preaching the gospel though it cost him his life. His Christ-like example at death changed the church and converted the apostle Paul. Despite opposition, Stephen remained fixed on Christ and hopeful in seeing His glory, a powerful model for all believers.
Stephen in Relation to Saul of Tarsus
Saul of Tarsus witnessed Stephen’s martyrdom and approved of his execution (Acts 8:1). Saul was a Pharisee who violently persecuted the early church, seizing believers from their homes and committing them to prison (Acts 8:3). He laid waste to the church, entering house after house, dragging off men and women, and putting them in jail (Acts 8:3). Saul was thoroughly convinced of his own righteousness as a Pharisee in keeping the law and zealously persecuted what he saw as a heretical threat to Judaism in the form of the Christian church (Philippians 3:6).
As Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen and his prayer, the memory likely stuck with him. Later on the road to Damascus, the risen Jesus appears to Saul asking “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). When Saul asks who is speaking, Jesus replies “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). This encounter leads to Saul’s dramatic conversion, the murderous persecutor of the church becoming the apostle Paul on mission to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.
Stephen’s martyrdom revealed to Saul the dark intensity of his own sin in persecuting and consenting to the death of the innocent. Yet the Christ-like grace and forgiveness Stephen demonstrated pointed ahead to the cross of Christ absorbing such sin. Stephen’s testimony planted a seed that led to a remarkable transformation as Saul the persecutor became Paul the preacher of the faith he once tried to destroy (Galatians 1:23).
How Stephen’s Life Ended
Stephen was seized by Jewish leaders in Jerusalem for blasphemy against Moses and God, and proclaiming that Jesus would destroy the temple and alter the Mosaic customs (Acts 6:11-14). This may refer to Jesus’ prophecy that the temple would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days, misconstrued as a literal destruction but metaphorically speaking of His death and resurrection (John 2:19-21). The charges were framed out of the jealousy of the members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9).
When Stephen gave his defense speech before the Sanhedrin, he responded to the high priest’s question about the charges by recalling Israel’s history in resisting God’s work through the prophets (Acts 7:2-53). Stephen concluded by accusing the council of betraying and murdering the Righteous One – Jesus the Messiah (Acts 7:52). The council was furious and ground their teeth at Stephen but he did not back down (Acts 7:54). He looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right hand (Acts 7:55).
Seeing this vision caused the council to yell loudly, cover their ears and rush upon Stephen to drag him out of the city where they began to stone him to death (Acts 7:57-58). But Stephen called upon the Lord and prayed for His spirit as well as for their sin to not be held against them (Acts 7:59-60). Thus Stephen became the first Christian martyr, wrongfully executed for his proclamation of the gospel.
Stephen’s Importance to the Early Church
Stephen played a crucial role in the early church for the following reasons:
- First Christian martyr – His death established him as the first believer to be killed for proclaiming Christ.
- Affirmed the gospel – By willingly dying, he showed belief that Jesus conquered death.
- Example of grace – He forgave his killers, reflecting Christ’s gracious example.
- Sparked persecution – His death ignited Saul’s attacks on the Jerusalem church.
- Spread the gospel – This persecution scattered believers preaching the gospel elsewhere.
- Converted Paul – Saul’s conversion through Stephen’s witness gained an apostle.
- Showed courage – Stephen boldly preached Christ though it cost him his life.
- Empowered believers – His courage strengthened and inspired early Christians.
Stephen established the idea that believers should be willing to die for testifying that Jesus is the Christ. He set an example of grace under fire, forgiving his killers while remaining faithful to death. Though persecution followed, the gospel spread across Judea and Samaria, reaching Saul who became Paul. The church gained an apostle through Stephen’s faithful witness. His courage empowered early Christians to boldly preach Christ amidst growing opposition.
Bible Passages about Stephen
Here are some of the key Bible passages about Stephen:
- Acts 6:5 – Stephen was chosen as a deacon full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 6:8 – Stephen was full of grace and power, performing wonders and signs.
- Acts 6:9-15 – Opponents falsely accused Stephen of blasphemy before the council.
- Acts 7:1-53 – Stephen recounts Israel’s history and accuses the council of resisting God.
- Acts 7:55-56 – Stephen has a vision of Jesus on the right hand of God.
- Acts 7:58-60 – Stephen is stoned to death and calls on Jesus to receive his spirit.
- Acts 8:2 – Devout men buried Stephen and mourned greatly for him.
- Acts 11:19 – Persecution arising from Stephen’s death scattered believers preaching the gospel.
- Acts 22:20 – Saul kept watch over the clothes of Stephen’s killers as he was martyred.
These key passages reveal how Stephen was full of faith and the Spirit, performed wonders, was falsely accused and tried, accused the religious leaders, had a vision of Christ, forgave his killers, was mourned by devout men, and his death incited Saul’s persecution of the church resulting in the spreading of the gospel.
Stephen’s Message and Impact
Stephen powerfully preached a message accusing the Jewish leaders of spiritual hardness and resisting the Holy Spirit. His speech in Acts 7 charges them with persecuting the prophets and rejecting and murdering God’s Righteous One – Jesus. Stephen exposed their hypocrisy in pretending dedication to God while oppose His work. Though framed and killed, Stephen revealed their blindness and sin, while embodying the gracious sacrifice of Christ in forgiving them, praying the sin would not be held against them.
Stephen ignited fierce persecution against believers, led by Saul. But this drove the rapid spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem across Judea and Samaria. Saul’s conversion through reflecting on Stephen’s dying grace gained the apostle who took the gospel to the Gentiles. Though killed, Stephen did not die in vain but incredibly impacted Paul and the geographic spread of early church growth. He lived up to his name as the first Christian martyr, establishing a heritage of facing persecution and death with boldness, grace, and faith in Jesus Christ.
Stephen’s courageous example encouraged early Christians facing persecution, knowing they had a hope beyond this world shown by his glimpse of the risen Jesus on the right hand of God. His message exposed religious hypocrisy and pride, calling people to repentance and faith in Christ alone. Stephen’s dynamic, Spirit-filled life and witness tremendously impacted the early church and the rapid expansion of the gospel message.
Lessons Christians Can Learn from Stephen
Here are key lessons Christians today can learn from Stephen’s life:
- Spirit empowerment – Stephen performed wonders by the Spirit’s power. Believers must depend on the Holy Spirit working through them.
- Wisdom and grace – Though accused, Stephen spoke with wisdom and grace that opponents could not resist. Christians should answer objections wisely and graciously.
- Courage – Stephen boldly proclaimed Christ though it meant death. Christians should have courage to be witnesses for Christ when faced with persecution and threats.
- Faithfulness – Stephen remained faithful to death. Believers should continue following Christ even unto death.
- Forgiveness – Stephen forgave his killers. Christians should extend forgiveness to enemies and persecutors.
- Eyes on Christ – Stephen looked to Christ when persecuted. Believers should fix their eyes on Jesus when suffering for the gospel.
- Hope – Stephen’s hope in death was the exalted Christ. Christians have hope of resurrection and eternal life with Christ beyond the grave.
Stephen provides an inspiring example for believers today of depending on the Spirit’s power, speaking with grace and wisdom, showing courage in persecution, remaining faithful to death, forgiving enemies, fixing our eyes on Christ in suffering, and living with eternal hope.
Conclusion
Stephen emerges in the early church as a Spirit-filled deacon appointed to serve the Greek widows in Jerusalem. Though tasked as a servant, Stephen powerfully preached the gospel with wisdom, grace and miraculous signs. When opponents conspired against him, he courageously testified before the Sanhedrin council. Though framed and executed for his witness, Stephen forgave his killers and looked to the exalted Christ for hope. His martyrdom strengthened and inspired early Christians amidst persecution while spreading the gospel. Stephen’s dynamic faith and steadfast devotion to Christ even unto death established him as the first Christian martyr and a model of bold, gracious witness that still inspires believers today.