Short answer
Stephen was one of the first deacons appointed by the apostles in the early Christian church, renowned for his faith, wisdom, and the miracles he performed. He became the first Christian martyr, facing a violent death for boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What Scripture says
"Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch."
"And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people."
"Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”"
"And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
"And Saul approved of his execution."
Going deeper
Stephen holds a significant place in the narrative of the early Christian church as its first recorded martyr. He was chosen as one of seven men by the apostles to serve the burgeoning community, specifically to ensure that the needs of Greek-speaking widows were met, freeing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:1-4). The qualifications for this service were high: men "of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3). Stephen exemplified these qualities, chosen as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5).
Beyond his administrative duties, Stephen was also empowered by God to do remarkable things; he was "full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). His bold preaching and the wisdom with which he spoke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, could not be refuted by his opponents, who eventually resorted to false accusations of blasphemy against Moses and God (Acts 6:9-14).
Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, recorded in Acts chapter 7, is a sweeping review of Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness and the recurring rejection of His messengers by the people. He concluded by accusing his accusers of resisting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets, much like their ancestors (Acts 7:51-53). This powerful indictment enraged them, but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God—a vision he courageously proclaimed (Acts 7:54-56).
His testimony led directly to his stoning, making him the first Christian to die for his faith (Acts 7:58-60). In his final moments, Stephen mirrored Jesus on the cross, praying for his executioners and commending his spirit into the hands of the Lord. His death was not in vain; it profoundly impacted a young man named Saul, who would later become the Apostle Paul (Acts 8:1a), and it scattered believers, inadvertently spreading the Gospel message further throughout the region.
Key takeaways
- Stephen was one of the first deacons, chosen for his faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit.
- He performed miracles and boldly preached the Gospel, which angered religious leaders.
- Stephen became the first Christian martyr, dying by stoning for his testimony.
- His final words echoed Jesus, praying for his persecutors and entrusting his spirit to God.
- Stephen's martyrdom played a role in the conversion of Saul, who became the Apostle Paul.
A prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the unwavering faith and courage of Stephen, Your servant. May we, like him, be filled with Your Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus and to forgive those who persecute us. Strengthen us to stand firm in our faith, even in the face of adversity, knowing that our ultimate hope rests in You.