Stephen, The First Christian Martyr

We find Stephen in the Book of Acts (6:1-8:3).  The events recorded in the Bible about Stephen took place around A.D. 34. 

There arose a problem in the Jerusalem church concerning the Hellenists widows.  It seems the Hellenists widows were being neglected in the daily distribution, a provision for the poor.  The Hellenists were Greek speaking Jews who lived outside of Palestine.  While the Hebrews lived in Palestine and primarily spoke Aramaic.  The language barrier may have been a reason for the neglect of the Hellenists widows. 

The apostles then had the disciples select seven men from among them to take care of this duty so they could focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word. They were to be men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom.  Most notable among the seven were Stephen and Philip the evangelist.  Some interpreters see the seven as the first deacons but the text never refers to them as deacons.  Stephen himself helped the needy but it seems he primarily focused on the ministry of the Word. 

Stephen was a Hellenist (Greek speaking Jew), and was said to be full of grace, power, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit.  He preached Christ in the Greek speaking synagogues.  There arose some who disputed with Stephen but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.  They accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the council or Sanhedrin.  They had false witnesses testify that he spoke against the temple and the law, saying Jesus would destroy the temple and the customs from Moses. 

As Stephen was before the Sanhedrin his face appeared like the face of an angel.  It showed the brightness of the glory of God.  Stephen then made a speech before the council in which he mad his defense.  In the speech he gave an overview of Old Testament history.  He focused on the patriarchs, Moses, and the continued apostasy of Israel.  Stephen turned the argument around on the Jewish leaders.  He showed that they were the ones who were disobeying and rejecting God.  The Israelites constantly rejected the leaders and prophets God sent them.  In the speech Stephen also showed that the temple cannot contain God.  It was also to be temporary until the time of Christ.  Stephen closed his speech calling them a stiff necked people who resist the Holy Spirit.  He accused them of killing the prophets and told them they had now betrayed and murdered Jesus, the Messiah. 

On hearing these things the Jewish leaders were enraged.  But Stephen looked to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  They then took him out of the city to stone him.  Stephen's final words were "Lord Jesus receive my spirit" and "Lord do not hold this sin against them".  After this persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church and the disciples were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.  The gospel had begun to be taken to the ends of the earth. 

As Stephen was being stoned a man name Saul also known as Paul was there giving his approval.  Stephen's witness had a great effect on Paul (Acts 22:20).  This persecutor of the church would soon become a Christian himself.  Paul would go on to become a great apostle and wrote 13 books of the New Testament  lead by the Holy Spirit. 

Where are the men like Stephen in the church today?  There do not seem to be many with the boldness and devotion he showed.  His speech would be considered harsh by many modern American Christians.  But he was correct in what he said because he was full of the Holy Spirit as he spoke.  We need men who are willing to boldly speak the truth and who are willing to die for the cause of Christ.