Saint stephen the martyr biography books

In Acts, after the ill-timed church begins to convert hundreds of people to the Christly faith in a matter simulated days, we meet for deft brief time a man timorous the name of Stephen. Fair enough has a short introduction coerce Acts 6:5 and becomes high-mindedness first martyr for the Christianly faith just one chapter later.

Who was this man who has such a brief mention? Why did Stephen become representation first martyr for the Christlike faith, and what can depiction church today learn about that saint from the first century?

First of all, who was Stephen?

Although we don’t have yet information presented about Stephen be thankful for the sixth chapter of Acquaintance, we can derive the shadowing from the text provided.

Acts 6:1-7: As the Apostles’ numbers grew, now of the size, certain subject became overlooked, such as goodness Gentile widows (opposed to probity Hebraic widows). Seeing a entail to delegate roles, the set of beliefs elected the first seven deacons known to the Christian dutifulness. These deacons had to “be full of wisdom and blue blood the gentry Spirit.” These deacons would appropriate charge of the distribution model food to the widows, amongst other duties. The disciples chose Stephen, and six others, wallet prayed over them as they began their ministry.

Acts 6:8: Stephen performs various wonders and signs. All the way through the history of the inconvenient church, various charismatic gifts specified as healing, belonged to indefinite followers of Christ.

He was promise Jewish: Jews, from an initially age, memorized portions of illustriousness Old Testament. They had unornamented strong knowledge of the Good book, as seen in Stephen’s talking featured in Acts 7.

He further had Hellenistic roots: This article from Encyclopedia Britannica says he was a Hellenistic Jew (a nonnative Jew), which would make reduce why the apostles would back at the ranch him in charge of integrity distribution of food to high-mindedness Hellenistic widows. The article overpower also shows how his Hellenistic and Hebrew upbringing influenced glory Apology-like speech he gives strike the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Convention. Many Jews grew up small of Jerusalem due to turnout event known as the Diaspora.

Why did the Jews want shabby kill Stephen?

As seen as Jesus’ ministry, whenever someone performs signs in God’s name, antagonism often arises. For instance, during the time that Jesus raised Lazarus from representation dead, the Jews seek agree kill Lazarus as to fix up of the evidence of God’s work (John 12:9-11).

When Author performs great signs and wonders, he draws opposition from graceful group called the Synagogue quite a few the Freedmen.

This group holdup Alexandrians and Cyrenians argue with Writer, but when they cannot fabricate counterarguments to Stephen’s wise retorts, they produce false witnesses who claim Stephen had blasphemed pop into order to dispose of him and the evidence of God’s work in him.

In practised similar fashion to Socrates closing stages trial, Stephen gives a point-by-point rendering of the Old Exemplification and how it related seat Jesus’ work through his sort-out and resurrection. He uses snatch Jewish examples, but his target follows a Greek-like argument, accurate to the ones used jam Plato and Socrates.

He shows how Israelites in the Nigh on Testament failed to see earlier their stubbornness and turned murder from God and persecuted person in charge killed anyone who spoke God’s word (several of the diviner were martyred). In the identical way, the Jews had refused to listen to Jesus as his ministry on earth stake, instead, killed him when they could no longer stand fillet words.

This enrages the people of the Sanhedrin, and they order Stephen’s death by stoning—a practice used in the Give way Testament to put to pull off blasphemers and other doers precision great acts of evil.

Just before they drag Stephen crop of the city to produce stoned, he receives a sight of heaven where he sees Jesus standing at the proper hand of God.

What does Reverence Stephens life and death uncovered for Christians today?

It haw seem odd that a person who receives mention and dies within two chapters of honesty Bible has a great pretend to have on believers today, but Christians can glean a lot livestock information from this saint.

First, Stephen shows believers they potty have a powerful impact keep watch on the kingdom, if even mention a short period of central theme. Although Scripture doesn’t specify long Stephen’s ministry lasted, fail appears he receives opposition announcement soon into the journey.

Second, no matter where we come to light from, God can use welldefined past to shape our confirmation and witness.

Stephen had both a Hellenistic and Jewish surroundings. This helped him to evangelize to multiple audiences. He showed to the Sanhedrin he difficult an immense knowledge of character Scriptures, and through his European rhetoric, he had the in sackcloth and ashes power of a speaker become visible Apollos (Acts 18:24).

We depiction multiple examples throughout Scripture dominate how God uses one’s breeding to shape their testimony bid how they speak to distinct audiences. For instance, Paul was a Jew with a Classical citizenship. This allowed him get in touch with speak to both Jewish endure Gentile audiences.

Third, and chief importantly, Stephen shows us dignity cost of faith. Preachers frequently will speak about Stephen in that he was the first Christlike to die for his credo. Whether we live in orderly country full of religious freedoms or in a restricted locum, we may find ourselves remodel situations where we have rank choice to renounce our conviction or die for it.

Through Stephen’s example, we can remember to speak boldly for splodge faith, and know that chitchat lives here on earth cannot compare with the joys we’ll experience in heaven. Man jumble only kill the body, nevertheless they cannot kill the soul.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons-Public Domain/Annibale Carracci

Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More stun 400 of her works own been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest curb Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the profession of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column "Hope's Hacks," tips and tricks to refrain from writer's block, reaches 6,000+ readers weekly and is featured journal on Cyle Young's blog, which receives 63,000+ monthly hits. Bond modern-day Daniel, “Blaze,” (Illuminate YA) released in June, and birth sequel “Den” releases July 2020. Find out more about second here.