Stephen, is celebrated as the 1st martyr in the name of Christ. He appears only in the book of Acts, as one of 7 chosen to attend to the material needs of the widows, and is called “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). Stephen was possibly a Hellenist, a Greek-speaking Jew following Greek culture, with cultural roots in the Dispersion. If so, it is not surprising that, as a Christian, he was challenged particularly by fellow Hellenist Jews of the Dispersion (Acts 6:9) who wished to retain their association with the traditions of Israel. The Hellenist Jews provided strong opposition to the growing Christian church throughout the apostolic age.

Stephen was charged with speaking against the Temple and the Law, in order to secure his conviction by the Sanhedrin, which was dominated by conservative Sadducees (Acts 6:11-14). But in his speech (Acts 7:2-53) Stephen hardly addresses these charges, except to argue that the Temple should never have been built (Acts 7:44-50). Rather he shows that the Jews right through their history were disobedient to God’s law, just as they have now murdered the “righteous one” (Acts 7:52f.). Stephen’s speech is more a prosecution of the whole Jewish nation rather than a defence. An attack on “the people” not just the elders and scribes (Acts 6:12), anticipating the Jewish rejection of the gospel, prophesied by Jesus.

Stephen’s speech is followed by his martyrdom. As he dies, full of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1), Stephen sees the Son of Man at the right hand of God (Luke 22:69). Stephen had stones thrown at him until he died, Jesus indicated that this was the fate of those sent by God (Luke 13:34).

He commits his spirit to Jesus, just as Jesus commended his life to the Father (Luke 23:46). He kneels down as Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41), and like our Lord, prays forgiveness for his executioners (cf. Luke 23:34). Stephen becomes the first of the Christian martyrs to give his life for his Lord (cf. Acts 7:55).