Who Was Stephen in the Bible? The First Christian Martyr

Stephen was one of seven men chosen by the early church in Jerusalem to oversee the daily distribution of food to widows (Acts 6:1-5). He also performed wonders and signs, debated with opponents of the gospel, and gave a long speech before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:8-10; 7:1-53). He was then stoned to death, making him the first follower of Jesus whose martyrdom the Bible records (Acts 7:57-60). A young man named Saul, later the apostle Paul, approved of his killing (Acts 8:1).

His story is told in Acts 6-7, a book written by Luke according to early church tradition. Stephen's death set off a persecution that scattered believers beyond Jerusalem and carried the gospel to new places (Acts 8:1-4).

Stephen Quick Facts

Category	Details
Name meaning	Often understood as "crown" (from the Greek word stephanos)
Testament	New Testament
Key books	Acts 6-7; also mentioned in Acts 8:2, 11:19 and 22:20
Time period	Early church in Jerusalem, about AD 33-35 (traditional dating)
Role	One of the seven chosen to serve the church's widows (Acts 6:5)
Known for	His speech to the Sanhedrin and his death as the first Christian martyr

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Who Was Stephen in the Bible? Chosen to Serve

As the number of disciples grew, the Hellenistic Jews (Greek-speaking Jews) complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution, while the Hebraic Jews' widows were not (Acts 6:1). The Twelve called the disciples together and said it would not be right for them to neglect the ministry of the word to wait on tables (Acts 6:2).

They asked the believers to choose seven men known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3). The group chose Stephen first, describing him as a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. The others were Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism (Acts 6:5). The apostles prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6).

All seven men have Greek names. Christian tradition often calls them the first deacons, though Acts 6 does not use that title for them. The text describes their task with a Greek verb meaning "to serve" (Acts 6:2).

Wonders, Debate, and False Charges

Luke describes Stephen as a man full of God's grace and power who performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8). Opposition came from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which included Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia (Acts 6:9). They argued with Stephen but could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him (Acts 6:10).

His opponents then persuaded men to claim that Stephen had spoken blasphemy against Moses and against God (Acts 6:11). They stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the law, seized Stephen, and brought him before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:12). False witnesses said he never stopped speaking against the temple and the law, and that he claimed Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs of Moses (Acts 6:13-14).

Everyone in the council looked at Stephen and saw that his face was like the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).

Stephen's Speech to the Sanhedrin

The high priest asked Stephen if the charges were true (Acts 7:1). Stephen answered with a long speech surveying Israel's history (Acts 7:2-53). He did not deny that he spoke about Jesus. Instead, he showed how God had worked outside the land and outside the temple, and how Israel had often resisted the people God sent.

Abraham and the Patriarchs

Stephen began with Abraham, to whom the God of glory appeared while he was still in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2). God promised Abraham the land, though Abraham did not own even a foot of it during his life (Acts 7:5). Stephen then described how the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt, yet God was with him and rescued him (Acts 7:9-10).

Moses Rejected

Most of the speech covers Moses. Stephen noted that Moses was educated in the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action (Acts 7:22). When Moses tried to make peace between two Israelites, one pushed him aside and asked who made him ruler and judge (Acts 7:26-27). Moses fled to Midian, and forty years later God spoke to him from a burning bush (Acts 7:29-30).

Stephen pointed out that this was the same Moses whom the people had rejected, yet God sent him as their ruler and deliverer (Acts 7:35). Moses also said God would raise up a prophet like him (Acts 7:37). Even after the exodus, the people turned back to Egypt in their hearts and asked Aaron to make gods for them (Acts 7:39-41).

The Tabernacle and the Temple

Stephen traced the tabernacle from the wilderness to the time of David, who asked to provide a dwelling place for God (Acts 7:44-46). It was Solomon who built the house (Acts 7:47). Stephen added that the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, and he quoted Isaiah 66:1-2 to support the point (Acts 7:48-50).

The Accusation

Stephen closed by turning the charge back on the council. He called them stiff-necked and said they always resisted the Holy Spirit, just as their ancestors had (Acts 7:51). Their ancestors persecuted the prophets who predicted the coming of the Righteous One, and now they had betrayed and murdered Him (Acts 7:52). They had received the law but had not obeyed it (Acts 7:53).

The Death of Stephen

The members of the Sanhedrin were furious and gnashed their teeth at him (Acts 7:54). Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). He told them what he saw:

"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56)

They covered their ears, rushed at him, dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:57-58). As the stones fell, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). His last words were a prayer for his killers:

Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:60)

Both prayers echo words Jesus spoke on the cross. Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him and committed His spirit into the Father's hands (Luke 23:34, 23:46).

What Happened After Stephen's Death

Saul and the Persecution

Acts records that Saul approved of Stephen's killing (Acts 8:1). That same day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered through Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him (Acts 8:2). Saul went from house to house, dragging off men and women to prison (Acts 8:3).

Saul later met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and became the apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-6). Years afterward, he recalled in prayer that he had stood by, approving and guarding the clothes of those who killed Stephen, whom he called the Lord's martyr (Acts 22:20).

The Gospel Spreads

Those who were scattered preached the word wherever they went (Acts 8:4). Philip, another of the seven, proclaimed the Messiah in Samaria (Acts 8:5). Others traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and some began speaking to Greeks about the Lord Jesus (Acts 11:19-20). The church in Jerusalem then sent Barnabas to Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:22, 11:26).

Key Lessons From Stephen's Life

• Practical service and spiritual ministry go together. Stephen was chosen to handle food distribution, and he also spoke with Spirit-given wisdom (Acts 6:3, 6:10).
• Faithfulness can come at great cost. Stephen told the truth to the council knowing how they had treated the prophets (Acts 7:52, 7:58).
• Forgiveness is possible even toward enemies. He prayed for the people stoning him (Acts 7:60).
• God uses suffering to spread the gospel. The persecution after his death sent believers into Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1-4; 11:19).

Where Stephen Appears in the Bible

• Acts 6: Chosen as one of the seven; wonders, debate, and arrest
• Acts 7: His speech to the Sanhedrin and his stoning
• Acts 8:1-2: Saul's approval and Stephen's burial
• Acts 11:19: The persecution after his death scatters believers
• Acts 22:20: Paul recalls Stephen's death

Stephen's story is a good source of clues for hard Bible trivia, since many readers remember his death but not the details of his speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Stephen in the Bible?

Stephen was one of seven men chosen by the Jerusalem church to oversee food distribution to widows, and he was described as full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5). He was stoned to death after speaking before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:57-60).

Why was Stephen stoned?

Stephen was accused by false witnesses of speaking against the temple and the law of Moses (Acts 6:13-14). After his speech accused the council of resisting the Holy Spirit, and after he said he saw Jesus at the right hand of God, they dragged him out of the city and stoned him (Acts 7:51-58).

Was Stephen the first Christian martyr?

Stephen's death is the first martyrdom of a follower of Jesus recorded in the Bible (Acts 7:57-60). Paul later called him the Lord's martyr (Acts 22:20).

Was Stephen a deacon?

Christian tradition calls Stephen one of the first deacons. Acts 6 describes the seven as chosen to serve tables but does not give them the title deacon (Acts 6:2-5).

What did Stephen say before he died?

Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," and then cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:59-60).