Stephen

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**Stephen** was one of the first seven deacons of the early church. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith and he did amazing miracles among the people and many became believers. He was arrested on false charges and stood before the Jewish council. Stephen's face shined like an angel's face as He gazed into heaven. He enraged the Jewish leaders by calling them stubborn and deaf to the truth. They dragged him out of the city and stoned Stephen to death as he prayed for his them. Stephen became the first Christian martyr who gave his life for the Gospel.

## Bible InfoScan

The Bible does not provide us with information about Stephen's birth or personal life. He was one of the first seven deacons of the early church. The deacons were men chosen to supervise the food distribution to the widows in the early church, to the needy Christians from Greek backgrounds (Acts 6:5). Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and had the spiritual gifts of faith, wisdom, grace and power, and he became a preacher and a miracle worker. He began to preach the Gospel and performed amazing signs and wonders among the people. God's message spread and many became believers—even Jewish priests! (Acts 6:1-7).

However, not all the Jewish people were persuaded by Stephen's message. Some Jewish men from a synagogue began to debate with Stephen. They were no match for the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit within Stephen. The men then persuaded others to lie about Stephen, saying that he spoke against Moses and even God! Stephen was arrested and brought before the Jewish council called the Sanhedrin. As Steven stood before the council and listened to their false accusations, his face began to shine like an angel’s face. The council could only stare at him (Acts 6:8-15).

Stephen then responded to the charges against him with a detailed summary of Jewish history from Abraham and Moses to Jesus. Stephen spoke boldly and accused the Jewish leaders of being rebellious, stubborn, and deaf to the truth! The members of the council were enraged and shook their fists at him.

Stephen then saw a vision of God in heaven, with Jesus at His right hand. When Stephen told his accusers the vision, they put their hands over their ears. Drowning out his voice with their shouts, they rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:57-58).

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed and asked God to receive his spirit. Acts 7:60 says, “He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. Stephen did exactly as his Lord and Savior did as he suffered at the hands of his persecutors—he asked God to forgive them (Acts 7:1-60, Luke 23:34).

Stephen was the first Christian martyr who gave his life for the gospel. His martyrdom introduced major persecution in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3) and resulted in the Gospel being taken to Samaria and to the Greeks.

## Life Lessons

* Be faithful in your responsibilities.
* Rely on the power of the Hoy Spirit to share your Christian beliefs with others.
* Share the gospel through your actions and your words.
* Forgive those who persecute you.