Stephen

Stephen was the first Christian martyr — a man "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 6:5) whose Spirit-filled witness and death marked a turning point for the early church and, indirectly, for the conversion of the man who became the apostle Paul.

Chosen to serve

As the church in Jerusalem grew, Stephen was chosen as one of the first seven deacons to oversee the care of widows, freeing the apostles for prayer and preaching (Acts 6:1–6). "Full of faith and power, [he] did great wonders and miracles among the people" (Acts 6:8).

Bold witness before the council

Opponents could not resist "the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake," so they brought false charges and dragged him before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:10–12). Stephen answered with a sweeping survey of Israel's history, climaxing in a fearless rebuke of their resistance to the Holy Ghost and their betrayal of "the Just One" (Acts 7).

The first martyr

As they gnashed their teeth, Stephen looked up and saw "the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). They stoned him, and he died praying for his killers — "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60) — echoing his Lord. At his feet stood a young man named Saul, consenting to his death, who would himself one day proclaim the same gospel.