Stephen
| Stephen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Period | Apostolic Age |
| Occupation(Features) | Deacon |
| Major achievements | Protomartyr |
Stephen (Greek: Στέφανος)[1] was the first martyr of early Christianity. His name means crown, and he was one of the seven deacons chosen to oversee aid distribution in the early Christian community.[2] He was arrested by the Sanhedrin court on charges of blasphemy, orchestrated by Jewish leaders, and was subsequently executed. Apostle Paul, before his conversion to Christianity, participated in Stephen’s martyrdom. Paradoxically, while Stephen’s death intensified persecution against Christians, it also became a pivotal moment that propelled the spread of the gospel beyond the Jewish world.”
Historical Background
In the first century AD, the saints of the early Church, having received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, boldly preached Jesus as the Savior. Thousands were baptized daily,[3] and the number of converts to Christianity grew rapidly.[4] The Jewish religious leaders, jealous of this, imprisoned the apostles and flogged them publicly.[5] However, the apostles rejoiced in their suffering for Jesus’ name and continued to preach the gospel tirelessly, both in public and in private.[6]
Life of Stephen
Appointed as a Deacon
- The Challenge of Aid Distribution Among Hellenistic Jewish Believers
As the fervor of the gospel spread, the number of Christians grew, and the members lived in communal life, sharing everything in common.[7][8] The Jerusalem church, led by the apostles, was primarily composed of Aramaic-speaking Jews native to Israel (Hebrews), alongside a smaller group of Greek-speaking Jews who had settled abroad and later returned to Jerusalem (Hellenists). At that time, the church had a custom of helping widows in need, but the Hellenistic widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food and necessities. This oversight occurred because the apostles were so consumed with preaching the gospel that they had little time to manage the day-to-day affairs of the church.[9] Meanwhile, the Hellenists expressed their discontent over this issue.[10]
- Election of Seven Deacons
The apostles gathered all the disciples and asked them to select workers to manage the church's finances and administrative matters. Everyone agreed with joy, believing that the problems they faced could be resolved if the apostles focused on prayer and preaching God’s word while the elected workers attended to the service of the church. Seven trustworthy men—Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas—were chosen. The apostles laid their hands on them, and they became the first Christian deacons. After this, the church became more organized, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly.[11]
Devoted to Volunteer Service and Preaching
Stephen, one of the seven deacons, was known for his great faith. He performed miracles[12] while serving in church administration and engaged in theological discussions with the Jews, drawing from his deep understanding of the law. At that time, there were synagogues in Jerusalem established by Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia. Stephen engaged in discussions at these synagogues, but no one could withstand the wisdom with which he spoke.[13]
Arrested by the Sanhedrin
- The Jews’ Schemes
This caused hostility toward Stephen within Judaism. Many Jews believed that his teachings stemmed from the faith of Jesus of Nazareth.[14] To them, Stephen was a dangerous figure who was threatening the religious heritage preserved for generations. Determined to eliminate him, they plotted against Stephen, spreading rumors and enlisting influential figures such as elders and scribes.[15] They brought him before the Sanhedrin, the highest judicial body in Judaism, accusing him of blasphemy against Moses and God and of recklessly altering the law.[16] They employed the same deceptive tactics they had used to frame Jesus Christ.
- Speech to Sanhedrin
The false witnesses, summoned by the Jews, accused Stephen in court of saying that he would destroy the temple and change the law of Moses.[17] When the high priest asked, “Is this true?” Stephen confidently preached about Jesus, standing firm in his faith. He recounted the history of their forefathers, who, without recognizing God’s grace, had persecuted the prophets. He then accused them of killing Jesus, the Righteous One, just as their ancestors had done. Stephen boldly testified about Christ in the Sanhedrin, rebuking them for crucifying Him, the One who came in the flesh to fulfill the prophecies of the Bible.
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him(Jesus)--you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”
When the people heard Stephen’s words, were filled with guilt and anger, gnashing their teeth. At the end of his speech, Stephen’s spiritual eyes were opened and he saw the spiritual world. He declared, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”[18]
Martyrdom
Hearing this, the people could no longer contain their anger. They covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city and threw stones at him. Saul (who would later be known as Paul the Apostle) was present at the scene. As the people stoned him, Stephen cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then, kneeling down, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” With these words, he closed his eyes.[19] Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly for him.[20]
Influence of Stephen’s Martyrdom
After his martyrdom, a large-scale persecution of Christians broke out in Jerusalem, causing the saints to scatter to various places. All the Christians at that time fled throughout Judea and Samaria to escape the persecution, with only the apostles remaining in Jerusalem. Stephen’s death further ignited the faith of the disciples, leading them to spread the gospel even more fervently. The Christians who had fled preached the gospel wherever they went.[21] Philip, for instance, preached in many villages in Samaria and even baptized a eunuch, who held great authority over the finances of the queen of Ethiopia, in the desert.[22] Additionally, churches were established in Antioch, a pagan region.[23]
Lesson
As the first deacon of the early Church, Stephen was dedicated to testifying about Christ. He remained steadfast in his faith until the moment he fell asleep, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the gospel. One of the most remarkable moments of his life was when he prayed for the Jews who were stoning him.[19] Had he responded purely with human nature, he might have harbored hatred toward those who executed him with deceit and cruelty. Yet, he was able to forgive them because he had received Christ and lived a truly transformed, born-again life. His unwavering faith, even in the face of death, serves as a lasting example for Christians today.
See also
References
- ↑ Strong's Greek: 4735. στέφανος (stephanos), Bible Hub
- ↑ Who Was St. Stephen and Why Did He Die?, Bible Study Tools
- ↑ Acts 2:38-41
- ↑ Acts 6:7
- ↑ "Acts 5:17–40".
- ↑ Acts 5:41-42.
- ↑ "Acts 2:44–46".
- ↑ "Acts 4:32".
- ↑ Acts 6:1-15 verse by verse, Simplybible.com
- ↑ Acts 6:1
- ↑ Acts 6:2-7.
- ↑ Acts 6:8
- ↑ Acts 6:9-10
- ↑ Acts 6:14
- ↑ Stephen preaches with power and miracles, Word Online, September 24, 2021
- ↑ Acts 6:11-12
- ↑ Acts 6:13-14
- ↑ Acts 7:54-56
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Acts 7:57-60
- ↑ Acts 8:2
- ↑ Acts 8:4-5
- ↑ "Acts 8:26–39".
- ↑ Acts 11:19