Bible Characters · Early Church

Stephen

The first martyr of the church: one of the Seven chosen to serve the widows, full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, who traced Israel's history to the council's face, saw heaven opened, and died praying for his killers.

Early Church7 references in 1 bookIn theological review

The facts, as Scripture gives them

Lived
Dates not given in Scripture.
Region
Jerusalem. (Acts 6:5; Acts 7:59)
Work
One of the seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution to the widows. (Acts 6:1-5)

Key verses

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.

Acts 6:5 (BSB)

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

Acts 7:59 (BSB)

What they did

  • Was chosen with six others, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, to serve the church's tables so the apostles could preach. (Acts 6:3-5)
  • Did great wonders and signs among the people, and disputed with the synagogue of the Freedmen, who could not withstand his wisdom. (Acts 6:8-10)
  • Before the council his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15)
  • Preached the long defence through Abraham, Joseph, Moses and the prophets, charging the council with resisting the Holy Spirit and murdering the Righteous One. (Acts 7:2-53)
  • Looked up and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55-56)
  • As they stoned him, prayed: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit; and, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. (Acts 7:59-60)

Connected to

  • Philip: His fellow member of the Seven (Acts 6:5)
  • Paul: Then called Saul: the witnesses laid their garments at his feet, and he approved of Stephen's execution (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1)

Mentioned in

Acts.

Every reference (7)

Acts 6:5 · Acts 6:8 · Acts 6:9 · Acts 7:59 · Acts 8:2 · Acts 11:19 · Acts 22:20

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.