Stephen, First Martyr
Who was Stephen in the Bible?
Acts 6:5 introduces a faithful man of God named Stephen: "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit." Nothing is known about the personal life of Stephen—his parents, his siblings, or whether he had a wife or children; however, what is known about him is what is truly important. Notably, there have always been those faithful believers whose love for and commitment to the Lord seem to shine through so intensely that others around them noticed, and Stephen was such a man. He was faithful, even when faced with certain death.
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to distribute food to widows in the early church after a dispute arose and the apostles recognized they needed help. He was also "full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8 ). Opposition arose, but the men who argued with Stephen were no match for the wisdom given him by the Holy Spirit. So, the men decided to falsely accuse Stephen, labeling him a blasphemer and having him arrested, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops blaspheming GOD" 3.
The stoning of Stephen - Why were the Jews allowed to stone Stephen but had to go through Pilate to kill Jesus?
Acts 7 is the record of Stephen's testimony, perhaps the most detailed and concise history of Israel and their relationship to God of any in Scripture.
Stephen was not concerned about his earthly existence, determining instead to stand firmly on the side of Jesus Christ, no matter the consequences. God inspired him to speak boldly, rightly accusing Israel of their failure to recognize Jesus, their Messiah, rejecting and murdering Him, as they had murdered Zechariah and other prophets and faithful men throughout their generations. Stephen's speech was an indictment against Israel and their failure as the chosen people of God who had been given the law, the holy things, and the promise of the Messiah. Naturally, though true, these accusations were not well received by the Jews.
In his speech, Stephen reminded them of their faithful patriarch, Abraham, and how God had led him from a pagan land into the land of Israel, where He made a covenant with him. He spoke of the journey of his people through Joseph's sojourn in Egypt to their deliverance by Moses 400 years later. He brought to mind how Moses had met God in the wilderness of Midian in a burning bush, and he explained how God had empowered Moses to lead His people from idolatry and slavery to freedom and times of refreshing in the Promised Land. Throughout his speech, he repeatedly reminded them of their continual rebellion and idolatry, despite the mighty works of God to which they were eyewitnesses, thereby accusing them with their history, which only irritated them until they did not want to hear any more.
The law of Moses states that the sin of blasphemy deserves a death sentence, usually by stoning (Numbers 15:30-36). Just before these arrogant, unredeemed Jews followed the prescribed penalty and began stoning Stephen, Acts 7:55-56 records his final moments of earthly life, just before he stepped through the veil between heaven and earth: "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look,' he said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"
The words of Colossians 3:2-3 could have been written about the life of Stephen, even though they apply to all believers: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Stephen's life—and even more so his death—should be an example of how every believer should strive to live: committed to the Lord even in the face of death; faithful to preach the gospel boldly; knowledgeable of God's truth; and willing to be used by God for His plan and purpose. Stephen's testimony still stands as a beacon, a light to a lost and dying world, as well as an accurate history of the children of Abraham.
What does it mean that Stephen had the face of an angel (Acts 6:15)?
In the book of Acts, Luke tells the story of an early church hero Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stephen was one of seven leaders chosen to serve as deacons in Acts 6:1–7. Not long after that, Stephen was arrested and charged with blasphemy against Moses and God. As he is about to give his testimonial speech before the Jewish high court, Stephen stands, not trembling in fear or outrage but calm confidence, glowing with divine inspiration. Luke describes the remarkable scene: "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel" (Acts 6:154).
When Stephen was appointed to serve as a deacon, Luke described him as a man "of good repute, full of the Spirit of Wisdom" (Acts 6:3) and "full of faith and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5). Then he related the events leading to Stephen's martyrdom; Luke began, "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). The consistent portrait of Stephen's character is that he was an extraordinary disciple—the first New Testament believer apart from the apostles to perform miracles. He blazed a trail for God's glory and ran immediately into opposition from Hellenistic Jews (Greeks). However, his opponents could not "stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke" (Acts 6:10, NLT). In frustration, Stephen's critics cooked up a plan to have him arrested on the false charge of blasphemy.
When Luke depicted Stephen as having the face of an angel, he was setting the stage for Stephen's martyrdom. The terminology evokes awe. All those who looked upon Stephen were struck with awe and wonder at his appearance. Something about Stephen's countenance prompted comparisons to an angel who stands in God's presence and reflects His glory. Moments before Stephen was stoned to death, as the Jewish leaders were grinding their teeth and shaking their fists in rage, Luke observed, "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55).
Having an angel-like countenance was an expression frequently found in Judaism. It was used to illustrate a brightened, enlightened, spell-binding, or awe-inspiring appearance. After Moses spent time with the Lord in Exodus 34:29–35, his face shone with a radiant glow that the people were afraid to come near him. Whenever he returned to the people from being in God's presence, Moses covered his face with a veil.
The angel of the Lord that appeared to Samson's mother had such an imposing presence about him that she later told her husband, "His appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome" (Judges 13:6, ESV).
According to Ecclesiastes 8:1, "Wisdom lights up a person's face" (NLT). Describing the transfiguration of Jesus, Luke writes, "And as he [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white" (Luke 9:29, NLT).
When Stephen stood before his accusers, glowing with the face of an angel, he was radiating God's wisdom and heaven's glory. Without speaking a word, Stephen's countenance gave witness that he was the Lord's faithful servant. Indeed, those Sanhedrin members ought to have remembered Moses' shining face. It was as if God was saying, "This man is no blasphemer! He is like Moses, My loyal servant!" The implication of Stephen's having the face of an angel is that he, like Moses and Jesus, was a witness to and a reflection of the glory of God's presence.
