The Jerusalem church · stoned around AD 32–35
Stephen in the Bible
The first martyr of the church. Name meaning: From the Greek Stephanos, “crown”
Stephen is one of the seven men chosen to serve the widows of the Jerusalem church, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). Falsely accused of blasphemy, he retraces the whole history of Israel before the Sanhedrin and denounces the resistance to the Holy Spirit. Stoned while forgiving his killers, he becomes the first Christian martyr; his death launches the gospel beyond Jerusalem and leaves its mark on Saul of Tarsus.
Key moments
- Chosen among the seven, “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” Acts 6:5
- He performs great wonders and miracles Acts 6:8
- Accused by false witnesses before the Sanhedrin Acts 6:13–14
- His face appears like that of an angel Acts 6:15
- “Ye do always resist the Holy Spirit” Acts 7:51
- He sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God Acts 7:56
- Stoned, he forgives his killers Acts 7:59–60
Strengths
- Full of the Holy Spirit
- Wisdom
- Courage
- A servant’s heart
- Forgiveness
Weaknesses
Acts reports no fault in Stephen. His only “wrong,” in the eyes of his judges, was to tell the truth frankly and without compromise, at the cost of his life.
Lessons for today
- The humblest service, done with a heart filled with the Spirit, can prepare the way for a great testimony (Acts 6:3-5).
- Knowing the Scriptures and the history of salvation enables us to give a reason for our faith with wisdom (Acts 7:2-53).
- Eyes fixed on Jesus give the strength to suffer and to forgive as he did (Acts 7:55-60; Luke 23:34).
- No suffering for Christ is wasted: God brings mission and conversions out of trials (Acts 8:4; 22:20).
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
People around Stephen
- Jesus — His Lord, whom he saw standing at the right hand of God
- Philip — A fellow member of the seven, who became “the evangelist”
- The twelve apostles — They laid their hands on him
- Saul (Paul) — Approving witness of his death, later an apostle
Stories with Stephen
Quiz: how well do you know Stephen?
For what service was Stephen first chosen, along with six other men?
The Hellenists’ widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution; the Twelve did not want to leave the word of God “to serve tables,” so they had seven men chosen. Acts 6:1–5
How did Stephen die?
They rushed at him, “cast him out of the city, and stoned him.” It was James whom Herod put to death. Acts 7:57–58
At whose feet did the witnesses lay their clothes?
“The witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul,” who consented to Stephen’s death. Acts 7:58
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.