Keraia
People

Stephen

Stephen, one of the seven deacons chosen by the early church, was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, performed miracles, and became the first Christian martyr after his powerful testimony before the Sanhedrin.
MaleNew Testament eraNew Testament1 book28 verses

Summary

A man living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Acts 6:5; only referred to as Stephen (Στέφανος).

Profile

Stephen was an early Christian whose life was an example for others to follow. Because he spoke bravely about his faith, the Jewish authorities arrested and killed him. He is known as the first Christian martyr. This means he was the first person to die for his faith in Jesus.

Stephen was one of seven men chosen to help distribute food to needy Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1–6). Of the seven men chosen, Stephen was special because he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). Showing God's grace and power in a special way, he performed miracles (Acts 6:8). He was brave in telling others about Jesus and was good at explaining and protecting Christian beliefs (Acts 6:9–10). Because he spoke so openly about Jesus, the Jewish leaders arrested him. They brought him before their ruling council (called the Sanhedrin) to question him (Acts 6:9–12).

Witnesses accused Stephen of speaking against the holy temple and the law of Moses (Acts 6:13–14; compare Mark 13:2; John 2:19; 4:21). Stephen defended himself before the Jewish ruling council (Acts 7:1–53). He talked about Israel's long history of resisting God and his servants—first Moses and now the Prophet whom Moses had predicted (Acts 7:51–53). The Jewish authorities, angry at Stephen's bold claims, dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7:54–60). As he died, Stephen prayed for their forgiveness (Acts 7:60).

Stephen's brave testimony led to the first persecution of early Christians (Acts 8:1–3). This persecution caused the good news to spread further as believers left Jerusalem and shared the message of Jesus wherever they went (Acts 8:4; 11:19–21). After Stephen died for his faith, Christians began sharing the good news about Jesus beyond their homeland of Judea.

Stephen's life shows us that being a faithful Christian can lead to strong opposition. Speaking boldly for Jesus may be costly (see Revelation 2:10, 13), but nothing can stop the church from growing (see Matthew 16:18; Acts 8:1–4).

Passages for Further Study

Acts 6:5–8:2; 11:19; 22:20

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Stephen

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 21 verses that refer to Stephen without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. 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.
  2. Acts 6:6Referred to, not named
    They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
  3. Acts 6:8
    Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
  4. Acts 6:9
    But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,
  5. Acts 6:10Referred to, not named
    …but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
  6. Acts 6:11Referred to, not named
    Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
  7. Acts 6:12Referred to, not named
    So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
  8. Acts 6:13Referred to, not named
    …where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
  9. Acts 6:15Referred to, not named
    All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
  10. Acts 7:2Referred to, not named
    And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
  11. Acts 7:11Referred to, not named
    Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
  12. Acts 7:12Referred to, not named
    When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
  13. Acts 7:15Referred to, not named
    So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
  14. Acts 7:19Referred to, not named
    He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
  15. Acts 7:38Referred to, not named
    He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
  16. Acts 7:39Referred to, not named
    But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
  17. Acts 7:44Referred to, not named
    Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
  18. Acts 7:45Referred to, not named
    And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,
  19. Acts 7:54Referred to, not named
    On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
  20. Acts 7:55Referred to, not named
    But 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.
  21. Acts 7:56Referred to, not named
    “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
  22. Acts 7:57Referred to, not named
    At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
  23. Acts 7:59
    While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
  24. Acts 7:60Referred to, not named
    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.
  25. Acts 8:1Referred to, not named
    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.
  26. Acts 8:2
    God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
  27. Acts 11:19
    Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
  28. 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.’