Stephen

How Nave’s arranged it

• (A Christian martyr)
• Appointed one of the committee of seven to oversee the daily ministrationActs 6:3Acts 6:5Acts 6:6
• Faith and power ofActs 6:5Acts 6:8–10
• False charges againstActs 6:11–15
• Defense ofActs 7
• StonedActs 7:54–60Acts 8:1Acts 22:20
• Burial ofActs 8:2
• Gentle and forgiving spirit ofActs 7:59Acts 7:60

The passages, in Bible order (12)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 12 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Acts 6:3

   Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them

   ›Commentary on Acts 6:32 voices

   “Luke also has recorded that Stephen, who was the first elected into the diaconate by the apostles, and who was the first slain for the testimony of Christ, spoke regarding Moses as follows: "This man did indeed receive the commandments of the living God to give to us, whom your fathers would not obey, but thrust [Him from them], and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for we do not know what has happened to [this] Moses, who led us from the land of Egypt.

   “Wherefore brethren look ye out among you,.... Or "choose out among you", as the Syriac version adds, and as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it; which shows that this sort of officers, deacons, must be members of the church, and of the same church to which they are ordained deacons; and that they must be chosen to that office by the whole community, or by the common suffrages and votes of the people.

   Everything gathered on Acts 6:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Acts 6:5

   This 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.

   ›Commentary on Acts 6:52 voices

   “And the saying - “The word” - the counsel, or command, And they chose Stephen ... - A man who soon showed Acts 7 that he was in every way qualified for his office, and also suited to defend the cause of the Lord Jesus. This man had the distinguished honor of being the first Christian martyr. And Nicolas - From this man some of the fathers (Iren., lib. 1:27; Epiphanius, 1; Haeres., 5) says that the sect of the “Nicolaitanes,” mentioned with so much disapprobation Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15, took their rise.

   “The first named is Stephen, the glory of these septemviri, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; he had a strong faith in the doctrine of Christ, and was full of it above most; full of fidelity, full of courage (so some), for he was full of the Holy Ghost, of his gifts and graces.

   Everything gathered on Acts 6:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Acts 6:6

   They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

   ›Commentary on Acts 6:62 voices

   “They set them before the sight of the apostles, and praying, they laid hands on them. Not those who set them, but the apostles, laid hands on them. For indeed the common dispensation demanded that men be chosen as ministers for widows; but when those …

   “Whom they set before the apostles,.... They did not barely nominate and propose them to them, but they brought them into their presence, and placed them before them, as the persons whom they had chosen, in order to be ordained by them.

   Everything gathered on Acts 6:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Acts 6:8–10

   Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

   ›Commentary on Acts 6:8–102 voices

   “With the common ordination of the seven having taken place, Stephen obtained the greater grace of choice for the one more suitable for selection. For he who before ordination did not perform marvels, when it was not evident what he was, and when by ordination …

   “And Stephen, full of faith and power,.... The historian proceeds to give a narrative of Stephen particularly, the first of the seven deacons; of his faith and miracles, of his elocution and wisdom, of his courage and intrepidity, of his constancy, and of his suffering martyrdom.

   Everything gathered on Acts 6:8–10→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Acts 6:11–15

   Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

   ›Commentary on Acts 6:11–152 voices

   "Then they suborned certain men to say." The disputants do not testify themselves — because they would immediately be exposed as slandering Stephen out of envy — but they bribe others, so that the matter would not be considered unjust — because they did not …

   “Then they suborned men,.... Hired false witnesses, which seems to have been commonly done by the Jews; so they did in the case of Christ: which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God; that is, against the law of Moses, and so against God, who gave the law to Moses, as appears from Act 6:13 the blasphemous words seem to be, with respect to the ceremonial law, and the abrogation of it, which Stephen might insist upon, and they charged with blasphemy; see Act 6:14.

   Everything gathered on Acts 6:11–15→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Acts 7:1

   Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

   ›Commentary on Acts 7:12 voices

   "they saw his face." It even happens that someone who is in a lower rank appears graceful and splendid. Therefore, so that those to whom he was about to speak might be struck dumb by his words, he begins with a facial display, by which …

   “Then said the high priest,....

   Everything gathered on Acts 7:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Acts 7:54–60

   On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.

   ›Commentary on Acts 7:54–602 voices

   “If the Jews wanted to kill Stephen, then why did they not kill him immediately? Because they wanted to present a plausible pretext for their audacity, since the insult he had caused them was not a plausible pretext for killing him; moreover, what they considered …

   “When they heard these things,....

   Everything gathered on Acts 7:54–60→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Acts 7:59

   While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

   ›Commentary on Acts 7:592 voices

   “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God,....

   “Calling upon God - The word God is not in the original, and should not have been in the translation. It is in none of the ancient mss. or versions. It should have been rendered, “They stoned Stephen, invoking, or calling upon, and saying, Lord Jesus,” etc. That is, he was engaged “in prayer” to the Lord Jesus.

   Everything gathered on Acts 7:59→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Acts 7:60

   Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

   ›Commentary on Acts 7:602 voices

   “What beyond;-that you should not swear nor curse; that you should not seek again your goods when taken from you; that, when you receive a buffet, you should give your other cheek to the smiter; that you should forgive a brother who sins against you, not only seven times, but seventy times seven times, but, moreover, all his sins altogether; that you should love your enemies; that you should offer prayer for your adversaries and persecutors? Can you accomplish these things unless you maintain the stedfastness of patience and endurance?

   “And he kneeled down,....

   Everything gathered on Acts 7:60→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Acts 8:1

    And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

    ›Commentary on Acts 8:12 voices

    “And Saul was consenting ... - Was pleased with his being put to death and approved it. Compare Act 22:20. This part of the verse should have been connected with the previous chapter. And at that time. - That is, immediately following the death of Stephen. The persecution arose on account of Stephen, Act 11:19. The tumult did not subside when Stephen was killed. The anger of his persecutors continued to be excited against all Christians.

    “Now on that day, a great persecution arose in the Church that was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. If the Church was scattered, the apostles remained in Jerusalem, as Luke tells us, it is …

    Everything gathered on Acts 8:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Acts 8:2

    God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

    ›Commentary on Acts 8:22 voices

    "And devout men buried Stephen." If they were "devout," then how did they "make great lamentation?" This is because they were not yet perfect. On the other hand, who would not have wept, being deprived of such teaching, such defense, and such miracles, and seeing …

    “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial,....

    Everything gathered on Acts 8:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Acts 22:20

    And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

    ›Commentary on Acts 22:202 voices

    "And when the blood of Stephen was being shed." He reminded them of one cruel murder, when Stephen was reproving them at that time, and they could not endure it.

    “And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed,....

    Everything gathered on Acts 22:20→

    Verse page →Original language →