Who is Stephen in Bible?

What is Stephen's Story in the Bible? Well, he was the first martyr recorded in the New Testament. He was stoned to death, this is the story of how it happened.

Q&ANEW TEST. STORIESMURDER

Mike A. Fagundes

8/22/202310 min read

Who is Stephen in the Bible?

Who was Stephen of the Bible?

Stephen is the first martyr for the Gospel of Jesus The Christ and can be found in The Book of Acts chapters 6 & 7. He is also addressed by Catholics and has a church named after him called "St. Stephen's The Martyr" church. Acts 6:5 Stephen is introduced as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." His name, Stephen, In Greek his name is Stéphanos meaning "crowned with a wreath," is seen more as a title than a name. He was one of seven young men who volunteered to serve the widows and orphans of the early church. A couple of chapters just before this (in Acts ch.2) is when Peter leads 3,000 people (some of these people are the Grecian widows and orphans) to come to Christ (more on that in another post). So, given by the numbers above, there is a large group of these widows and orphans to care of. We as believers should ask ourselves. "Is this still what we are asked to do?" I would have to say... YES!!!

Was Stephen in the Bible a deacon?

YES, Stephen is recognized by theologians as to have been the first usher and deacon identified in the early church. Evidence for this is seen by his faith and how he carried the Holy Spirit within him. The next is that he was given a job in the church to serve in a place where the Apostles stated that it was better for them to continually pray and needed to appoint a group to serve this need in the ministry. Stephen knew the history of the Jewish heritage, even though he was a Grecian (a Greek-born Jewish descendant). Likely, this was because he was very well mentored by the Apostles themselves in the faith.

Was Stephen in the Bible Greek?

The Group of Widows and Orphans were Grecians or Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews from territories within and around Greece) with who the Palestinian Jews (who spoke Aramaic) didn't get along very well. It is believed by theologians that Stephen was a Grecian, given that he held the Greek Title Stephanos. This made him an easy candidate to be chosen, but I want to redirect to the reason for Stephen being picked to serve. Stephen was "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." This group of widows (especially since women did receive an inheritance at the passing of their husbands, it all went to the sons) and orphans had no one to provide for them. Here Stephen is one of the seven chosen Holy Spirit-filled and full-of-faith disciples asked to minister to this group. Amongst Stephen, Philip (coming up in a future post) was also chosen to help serve, his story is a great one too.

What was Stephen's Job or Ministry in the Bible?

Stephen was given the job of serving the Grecian / Hellenist widows and orphans as a deacon of the early church. As mentioned in the two questions before this one.

The Local Synagogue Comes Against Stephen

In Acts 6:8 we are told that Stephen also did great wonders and miracles among the people out of his being Full of Faith and Power (of the Holy Spirit). Just after we read about those works a group from the local synagogue of Libertines or Freedmen seeks to debate Stephen. When they notice that they can't win their argument, then they speak lies about him. Saying that, "he speaks blasphemies against God and Moses." (Acts 6:8) They turned to tell lies because they couldn't win their arguments against Stephen because of his wisdom and the Spirit that he had with him. This tells us that no matter the size of their group, their educational background, and years of intensive study; they could not match their wits with one man filled with The Spirit of God. This group of men from the synagogue ends up stirring up a crowd, (actually, they should be better called a mob) using the before-mentioned blasphemies against God and Moses to rally up a crowd against Stephen because they couldn't win him to their argument. So, it was just easier to turn everyone against Stephen.

A Mob is Created to Stir Up the People Against Stephen

Now that these men had the crowd/mob behind them, they then seized Stephen and bring him before the council of Elders in the Synagogue. They set up false witnesses (people to tell lies) against Stephen. The same lies that were spoken to rally the mob were the same lies shared by the people that stood as witnesses, and they also added to them, as any good mob group of liars does. The lies were that Stephen spoke blasphemes against the Holy Place (the Temple) and against the Law (the Laws that Moses wrote) and are to this day the rules that the people and priests lived by. They also spoke that Jesus of Nazareth (who by this time was already crucified, died, and resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven) would come to destroy the temple and change the traditions that they were accustomed to that were handed down by Moses and their elders.

Who Stoned Stephen to Death?

Stephen was Stoned to death by the Sanhedrin. Stephen was brought to the Sanhedrin (a council of high-ranking priests and judges of "The Law of Moses" leading up to "The High Priest") were the ones who judged Stephen and sentenced him to be stoned to death. Here's the part that puzzles me and likely all of the groups that witnessed Stephen as they spit out all these lies about him. As the council stares at Stephen he says nothing at that moment but his face begins to appear like that of an angel. With this being an obvious presence of God upon Stephen, then why did the elders not see that it was the mob that was the blasphemers and not Stephen? Alas, the elders, as Stephen points out that they too were rebellious against God and His chosen, just as their fathers were.

Stephen's Speech To The Sanhedrin

Stephen's speech in Acts chapter 7, Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council of religious leaders, to answer charges of blasphemy. Instead of defending himself, Stephen launches into a long speech that traces the history of Israel from Abraham to Moses to David and Solomon. Here's a breakdown of Stephen's speech:

Stephen begins by acknowledging the Jewish leader's authority and respect for their traditions, but he also suggests that they listen to him because they have been disobedient to God. Stephen begins by recounting the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. Emphasizing that God called Abraham out of his homeland (Haran meaning mountains parched or mountainous) and promised to give him and his descendants the land of Canaan as a possession. Stephen then emphasizes that Abraham was willing to obey God even when it meant leaving his home and going to a new land. Then from Abraham, he begins to talk about the patriarchs Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, emphasizing that Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, but God was with him and he eventually became second-in-command in Egypt. The story of Moses emphasizes that he was born into slavery in Egypt. Found by a princess of Egypt and becomes her son. Educated and then killed an Egyptian and was banished from the only home he knew of. God called him to be a leader and deliverer of his people to have God through Moses perform many signs and wonders in Egypt, but the people still rebelled against him and God.

Stephen then talks about the Israelites' time in the wilderness. He reminds the people how they repeatedly rebelled against God and Moses, even though God provided (food and water) for them and performed many miracles (parting of the Red Sea) on their behalf. The Tabernacle, emphasizes that God instructed Moses to build it as a place for Him (God) to dwell among his people. The Tabernacle was always to be a temporary structure and David later wanted to build a permanent temple for God. But even, King David (the man after God's Own Heart), could not choose him to be the king of Israel that could do it, but his son Solomon would build the Temple of God.

What did Stephen accuse the Sanhedrin of?

Stephen then finishes his speech by accusing the Jewish leaders of being like their ancestors who rebelled against God and his chosen leaders. He accuses them of killing the righteous prophets and of betraying and killing Jesus, the righteous one. The people at this time to take up stones and begin hurling them at Stephen. While he's being pummeled he sees a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God and asking for Him to receive his spirit. Stephen forgives his murderers as his last words before dying: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60).

Stephen's speech is a powerful reminder of The Faithfulness of God to His people throughout history, despite their repeated disobedience and rebellion. God's always Faithful to His people. It is also a reminder that the Jewish leaders of Stephen's time were continuing in the same pattern of rebellion and rejection of God's chosen leaders. Ultimately, Stephen's speech leads to his own martyrdom, but it also inspires many others to follow Jesus and proclaim the gospel message with boldness and courage.

What Year Was Stephen Stoned?

Per Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia Stephen was stoned in the year of 36 CE.

Stephen's Legacy

Stephen defended himself eloquently with God's Grace and power. Stephen retraces the history of the Jewish people and demonstrates how God had worked through various prophets to prepare the way for Jesus, The Christ. However, his speech angered his accusers, who began to stone (a Mosaic law of punishment by death for someone found guilty of blasphemy by the Sanhedrin) him to death. Even though it angered the people there (including a young Pharisee by the name of Saul, whose Roman citizen name was Paul a soon-to-become apostle) and the Sanhedrin. Stephen's name is mentioned again in Acts chapter 11:19. Where his death had struck fear in the other followers and they scattered to as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but because of that fear to speak to Gentiles (people of non-Jewish descent), they spoke only to people of Jewish heritage.

What Did Jesus Do For Stephen?

Jesus Stood Up For Stephen.

Every description of what Jesus does in Heaven after His Resurrection is either seated or Interceding at the right hand of The Father:

  • Mark 16:19 (KJV): "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

  • Acts 7:55-56 (KJV): "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly 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."

  • Romans 8:34 (KJV): "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

  • Ephesians 1:20 (KJV): "Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places."

  • Colossians 3:1 (KJV): "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

  • Hebrews 1:3 (KJV): "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

But in only one place is Jesus mentioned as standing at The Right Hand of God (Acts 7:55 & 56) and with Stephen's last breath he, just as Jesus did from the Cross (Luke 23:34), forgives the people (Acts 7:60) for what they do and to receive his spirit (Acts 7:59).

Who Buried Stephen's Body?

Acts 8:8 says that devout men buried Stephen's body and they mourned him greatly.

Despite his tragic death, Stephen's legacy lived on. He was remembered as a faithful servant of God who was willing to die for his beliefs. His martyrdom inspired others to stand firm in their faith, even in the face of persecution and death. The story of Stephen also served as a warning to those who would seek to silence the message of the gospel. His life and death are a testament to the power of God's grace and the strength of the human spirit. Stephen speaks what the Bible records as 52 of 53 verses that pierce the hearts of the council and witnesses alike.

My Summary of Acts Chapter 7

I don't always have the time to read my bible, so I listen to it. The version of Stephen's passages that are my favorite to listen to, come from the "The Word of Promise" NKJV Audio Bible" that I have linked here. This is to the Audible book, so worth it. The Late and great actor Luke Perry has 2 main voice parts that he plays, Judas Iscariot and Stephen. My favorite is his version of Stephen because his reading of chapter 7 is a long monolog that comes to life for me, and I hope when you hear it, it does the same for you.

My favorite part of Stephen's story in the Bible is Stephen's Speech to the Sanhedrin. Stephen narrated a full summary of Jewish history to the Sanhedrin and how their fathers have persecuted the prophets before them leading up to the death and persecution of Jesus Christ before His resurrection from death and meeting Standing up For Stephen as one of the first martyrs to lay down their life for Him, just as The Lord did for us.

Lessons from Stephen's Life

There are many lessons that we can learn from Stephen's life. Here are just a few:

  1. Stay true to your faith. Stephen's unwavering faith in God and his commitment to the gospel message are an inspiration to all Christians. He refused to compromise his beliefs, even when faced with intense opposition.

  2. Be a servant to others. Stephen's role as a deacon reminds us of the importance of serving others. He was willing to do whatever was necessary to help those in need, even if it meant putting his own life at risk.

  3. Stand up for what is right. Stephen's courage in the face of persecution is a powerful example of how we should respond when confronted with injustice. He spoke out against the religious leaders who were using their power to oppress others, and he paid the ultimate price for his convictions.

  4. Forgive your enemies. Stephen's final words, asking God to forgive his murderers, are a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiveness. Even amid extreme suffering, Stephen chose to show compassion and grace to those who were attacking him.