The Life and Ministry of the First Martyr Stephen
Stephen was the first Christian martyr, chosen as the chief among seven deacons appointed to address complaints in the early Jerusalem church between Hellenistic and Hebrew Christians [1, 2]. His Greek name indicates his Hellenistic origin [2], and the narrative in Acts 6–7 describes him with emphatic, almost superlative phrases: "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," "full of grace and power," possessing irresistible "spirit and wisdom" [2, 10].
Ministry and Witness
Though appointed to oversee the distribution of charity, Stephen proved faithful in this administrative role while demonstrating uncommon gifts that fitted him for broader ministry [9]. He performed great wonders and signs among the people [4], and his preaching became a powerful testimony to Christ. The early church recognized that being faithful in a lesser office led to his being entrusted with more [9], and though not formally commissioned as an apostle, he became a preacher of the gospel [1].
Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, recorded in Acts 7, provoked violent opposition. When he was stoned to death, he "fell asleep" with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips [1]. Devout men carried him to his grave [1], honoring the first to follow in the footsteps of the Lord's martyrdom [7]. The Greek word martyr originally meant "witness"—one who bears testimony to truth in a court of justice or to what he has seen and known [3]. Stephen embodied both meanings: he witnessed to Christ and sealed that testimony with his blood [5].
Historical Significance
The scene of Stephen's death left a profound impression on Saul of Tarsus, at whose feet the executioners laid their clothes before stoning Stephen [1, 5]. Paul later acknowledged his presence and consent to Stephen's death [5], and the words he heard appear to have made a lasting impact on his mind [1]. Early Christian writers honored Stephen's primacy: Irenaeus noted that Stephen "was the first to follow the footsteps of the martyrdom of the Lord, being the first that was slain for confessing Christ" [7]. The Apostolic Constitutions placed him alongside James the bishop as one "honoured by holy men, who were pure from all transgressions" [8]. Matthew Henry observed that Stephen and Paul, both late converts compared to the apostles, nevertheless "got the start of them both in services and sufferings" [6], demonstrating how God often crosses hands in conferring honors.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Stephen — One of the seven deacons, who became a preacher of the gospel. He was the first Christian martyr. His personal character and history are recorded in Acts 6. "He fell asleep" with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips (7:60). Devout men carried him to his grave (8:2). It was at the feet of the young Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, that those who stoned him laid their clothes (comp. Deut. 17:5-7) before they began their cruel work. The scene which Saul then witnessed and the words he heard appear to have made a deep and lasting impression on his mind (Acts 22:19”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Stephen — the first Christian martyr, was the chief of the seven (commonly called Deacons) appointed to rectify the complaints in the early Church of Jerusalem, made by the Hellenistic against the hebrew Christians. His Greek name indicates his own Hellenistic origin. His importance is stamped on the narrative by a reiteration of emphatic, almost superlative, phrases: "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," (Acts 6:5) "full of grace and power," ibid. (Acts 6:8) irresistible "spirit and wisdom," ibid (Acts 6:10) "full of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 7:55) He shot far ahead of”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Martyr — One who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Acts 22:20; Rev. 2:13; 17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated "witness." (1.) In a court of justice (Matt. 18:16; 26:65; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Heb. 10:28; 1 Tim. 5:19). (2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; Rom. 1:9; 1 Thess. 2:5, 10; 1 John 1:2).”
- Acts “Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. -- Acts 6:8”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 22:18: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed,.... Stephen was a martyr for Christ, both by confession with his mouth, and by the effusion of his blood; he was the proto-martyr, or "the first martyr" that suffered for Christ; and there are copies, as one of Stephens's, and the Complutensian edition, which so read in this place; his blood was shed by stoning: I also was standing by; to see the inhuman action performed; nor was he an idle and indifferent spectator: and consenting unto his death; being pleased and delighted with it, and rejoicing at it; see Act 8:”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 7 (introduction): When our Lord Jesus called his apostles out to be employed in services and sufferings for him, he told them that yet the last should be first, and the first last, which was remarkably fulfilled in St. Stephen and St. Paul, who were both of them late converts, in comparison of the apostles, and yet got the start of them both in services and sufferings; for God, in conferring honours and favours, often crosses hands. In this chapter we have the martyrdom of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, who led the van in the noble army. And therefore ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XII. --DOCTRINE OF THE REST OF THE (part 11): patience, and not deem them prolix; taking this into account, that proofs [of the things which are] contained in the Scriptures cannot be shown except from the Scriptures themselves. 10. And still further, Stephen, who was chosen the first deacon by the apostles, and who, of all men, was the first to follow the footsteps of the martyrdom of the Lord, being the first that was slain for confessing Christ, speaking boldly among the people, and teaching them, say”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — CONCERNING JAMES THE BROTHER OF THE LORD, AND STEPHEN THE FIRST MARTYR.: VIII. Now concerning the martyrs, we say to you that they are to be had in all honour with you, as we honour the blessed James the bishop, and the holy Stephen our fellow-servant. For these are reckoned blessed by God, and are honoured by holy men, who were pure from all transgressions, immoveable when tempted to sin, or persuaded from good works, without dispute deserving encomiums: of whom also David speaks, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the dea”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 6:8: Stephen, no doubt was diligent and faithful in the discharge of his office as distributor of the church's charity, and laid out himself to put that affair in a good method, which he did to universal satisfaction; and though it appears here that he was a man of uncommon gifts, and fitted for a higher station, yet, being called to that office, he did not think it below him to do the duty of it. And, being faithful in a little, he was entrusted with more; and, though we do not find him propagating the gospel by preaching and baptizing, yet we find him here called out to”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 6:8: And Stephen, full of faith and power,.... The historian proceeds to give a narrative of Stephen particularly, the first of the seven deacons; of his faith and miracles, of his elocution and wisdom, of his courage and intrepidity, of his constancy, and of his suffering martyrdom. He is said to be full of faith, as before, Act 6:5 the Alexandrian copy, and four of Beza's copies read, "full of grace"; and so do the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; the Ethiopic version reads, "full of the grace of God": he had an uncommon share of it; it was exceeding abundant in him; he h”