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Stephen
First Christian Martyr · New Testament · c. 1st century AD (d. c. 34-35 AD)
The Stoning of Saint Stephen — Hans Baldung
Summary
Stephen was one of the seven chosen to serve the early church's Greek-speaking widows, full of faith and the Holy Spirit. His bold defense before the Sanhedrin and vision of the glorified Christ led to his stoning, making him the first martyr of the Christian church.
- Among the passages here, Stephen is first named in Acts 6:5: “This proposal pleased the whole group.”
- The record places Stephen in New Testament.
- 14 verses name Stephen, in 1 book.
- 5 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 6:8→- 5 key events in order
- 14 verses name Stephen, across 1 book
In Scripture
- Verses
- 14
- Books
- 1
Stephen
- Role
- First Christian Martyr
- Era
- New Testament
- Dates
- c. 1st century AD (d. c. 34-35 AD)
- Tribe
- Hellenistic Jew (Jerusalem)
- Father
- Unknown
- Mother
- Unknown
- Spouse
- Unknown
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Chosen as one of the sevenActs 6:1-6In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
- Performed signs and preached boldlyActs 6:8-10Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- Defended the faith before the SanhedrinActs 7:1-53Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
- Vision of the glorified ChristActs 7:55-56But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
- Stoned to deathActs 7:57-60At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
3Where the passages this page records close
Biography
Stephen was chosen among seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, appointed to oversee the daily distribution of food to widows so the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Though appointed to practical service, Stephen was also full of grace and power, performing great wonders and signs among the people, and his preaching stirred fierce opposition from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, who could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. Unable to refute him honestly, his opponents suborned false witnesses and dragged Stephen before the Sanhedrin on charges of blasphemy. Given opportunity to answer, Stephen delivered the longest recorded speech in Acts, tracing Israel's history from Abraham through Moses and the prophets to demonstrate that the nation had consistently resisted the Holy Spirit and killed those who announced the coming of the Righteous One, whom his hearers had now betrayed and murdered. Enraged, the council rushed upon Stephen, but he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up and declared he saw the heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. The council dragged him out of the city and stoned him while he prayed, echoing Christ's own words from the cross: 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit' and 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.' Stephen's death, witnessed and approved by a young Pharisee named Saul, scattered the Jerusalem church and spread the gospel further, making his martyrdom a catalyst for the very missionary expansion his persecutors sought to prevent.
Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Stephen's Spirit-filled ministry of both service and power
More key verses
Text: Berean Standard Bible.
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Wisdom and power that opponents could not refute, courageous public defense of the faith, Christlike forgiveness toward his killers, unwavering faith at the point of death
Weaknesses
Scripture records no personal failure; his boldness before the council, though faithful, provoked the fatal violence against him
Lessons
Practical service and bold gospel proclamation are not opposed but complementary. Faithful witness may cost everything, yet God uses even martyrdom to advance His purposes. Forgiveness of enemies is possible even at the point of death.
Spiritual significance
Stephen shows that faithful service and bold proclamation belong together, and his forgiving death, echoing Christ's own words from the cross, models the pattern of martyrdom that would mark the early church's witness.
How Stephen points to Jesus
Stephen's death, praying for his persecutors' forgiveness as Christ did, models cruciform discipleship, and his martyrdom directly precipitated the scattering that carried the gospel to the Gentile world through men like Saul, who witnessed his death.
Stephen in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Stephen. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
New Testament1 book · 14 mentions
Acts14 mentions
- Acts 6:5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
- Acts 6:8Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- Acts 6:9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,
- Acts 6:11Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
- Acts 6:12So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
9 further mentions in Acts, read them in the book.
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