The Story of Stephen

This blog was written after many mornings spent in Acts 6-7. I would encourage you to dive into those chapters before, during, or after reading this. Writing is a spiritual practice for me, but truly no words need to be added to the original story to make it more true. However, I hope you’re encouraged by my thoughts on how the first Christian martyr, Stephen, paved the way for us to live in freedom, obedience, and abundance!

A story about a man named Stephen has taught me so much as of late.

How much it matters that we commit to our roles.

How important it is to walk closely with our creator.

How kind Christ is to meet us in suffering.

How Christ is made known in our obedience.

In the days after Jesus’s death and resurrection, those who followed him were spreading the good news of Jesus like wildfire. They were explaining how Christ died on behalf of our sins so we could live in freedom. The number of Christians was increasing by the day! However, that doesn’t mean things were *flawless* either.

A group of Hellenistic Jews started complaining that certain widows were being overlooked during the daily distribution. To come up with a solution, the disciples gathered and decided that it was their commitment to be immersed in scripture and ministry which allowed no time for them to lend a hand in the distribution. Instead, they chose to select seven men, filled with the spirit, to help distribute to the widows. Stephen was among the seven men chosen, because of his faithfulness and trust in the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5).

The disciples were so committed to the role God had given them, that they were willing to outsource work to others that would fill this role best. Their strength lay in their ability to know they couldn’t do it all. Isn’t it mind-blowing to think God could’ve easily made us all exactly the same, but instead he made us all completely unique? God uses different people for different roles all for one mission – to bring the gospel forward to others.

If we were all created to function in the same role dysfunction would be quick to follow. There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). Knowing this, it makes me wonder if we lose commitment to the roles we’re in by looking at roles others have and being envious of them. I wonder if there are some of us who miss the joy of knowing where God has us because we simply spend our lives chasing after things that weren’t meant for us.

After reading about the way Stephen assumed his position, it’s encouraged me to assume mine well.

It wasn’t long before Stephen faced opposition. He was performing great signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit among the people he was serving. This is the fulfillment of what Jesus said in John 14:12 just before he went to the cross, “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these.”

Continuing with the story, a crowd came against Stephen and bore false witness against him because he was sharing about Jesus. After a series of events, he was seized, and taken to the Sanhedrin (essentially court) to plead his case. When the priest asked Stephen if he truly believed what he was saying about Jesus, Stephen responded by reciting genealogies and explaining the word of God. 

If I was on trial for Christ, I don’t think I could begin to say the words Stephen did. His response was evidence of his rituals. He walked so closely with God that when the time came he was filled with the right words at the right time. Stephen was chosen for his role because the Holy Spirit was strong in him, but I have no doubt God knew that he would need reliance on the spirit during such a time as this.

After he finished pleading, explaining, and exhorting the elders, they still hated him. They were irate. They began shouting and moving to drag him out for stoning. Moments before though, Acts 55 says, “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55).

Gives me chills and makes me wonder if Jesus revealing himself to Stephen right before stones were thrown at him took some of the pain he was about to experience away from him. I wonder if seeing a glimpse of God’s glory affirmed Stephen in knowing that although he was facing death, he was on his way to eternal life.

As the stones were being thrown Stephen knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). Sounds a lot like what Jesus said just moments before his death by crucifixion, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

My initial response to a minor inconvenience caused by another person is often short-tempered. Yet at this unfair torturous death, Stephen responds full of grace and humility. In a time of death, Stephen was seeking the best interest of those who were throwing stones at him. He was not concerned about his future, but he was praying for theirs.

A note I couldn’t go on without mentioning is that one of the men throwing stones at Stephen, enraged by his faithfulness to the gospel, was Saul. Acts 8:3 says, “Saul was ravaging the Church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.” Saul later becomes known as Paul, a name you may recognize. Paul goes on to travel across the Eastern Roman Empire spreading the good news of the gospel and spent his life suffering on behalf of Christ. What he writes later in his life while on house arrest is just a glimpse of the transformative power in Jesus' name.

“I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content – whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or need. I am able to do all things through him that strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13

Let this all be our evidence that when we walk closely with Jesus we become more like him, we suffer with him, and we have peace in knowing that we will always be with him. Stephen’s life is not a story of failure because it ended with death, and God certainly did not fail Stephen. No, not in the least.

God used Stephen’s life to influence those around him. Stephen did not fail because he died, for his success was not dependent on the outcome but on his obedience.