Stephen (Acts)

Template:Acts 7:59 (WEB) Acts 7:59

---

Synopsis: Stephen was a Christian whose story is told in the Book of Acts. He was stoned to death for his beliefs, described in Acts 7.

---

Related topics

• Persecution
• Acts 7

Comments, Personal Articles, Studies and Sermons

Stephen (Acts) (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)

Easton's Bible Dictionary entry on Stephen

Main article

Stephen was a Christian whose story is told in the Book of Acts. He was stoned to death because of accusations of blasphemy, described in Acts 7. The apostle Paul (Saul) was present at Stephen's death, giving approval to it. Following his death, which probably occurred some time around 33 AD, the Jews of the early church became dispersed throughout Judea, Samaria and their Diaspora homelands, taking the gospel with them.

Theology of Stephen

In Acts 6 and 7 a picture emergences that shows Stephen questioning the importance of the Temple and the Mosaic Law. In his mind, Jesus fulfilled and superseded these.

Speech

After Stephen was accused of blasphemy he was brought before the Sanhedrin, where he gave a speech in his defence. Key features of this speech include the Jewish leaders' ongoing rejection of God's prophets throughout Israel's history, culminating now in their rejection of Jesus, God's righteous one. Stephen reveals in his speech his understanding that God does not live in man-made buildings, but

Quotes

Oscar Cullmann

Apart from Paul, Stephen was perhaps the most significant man in the early church. It seems he grasped what was new in Jesus’ thought better than almost anyone else.

Links

---

Return to Apostles