Stephen: Full Of Grace And Power Series

STEPHEN, FULL OF GRACE & POWER

Acts 6:8-15

(Antioch Baptist Church: Wednesday, January 28th, 2026)

David Brainerd was an American colonial missionary to the Indians who died at the age of twenty-nine. His diary reveals a young man intensely committed to God. Brainerd once said to Jonathan Edwards: “I do not go to heaven to be advanced but to give honor to God. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high seat or a low seat there...My heaven is to please God and glorify Him, and give all to Him, and to be wholly devoted to His glory.”(Source: Today in the Word, November 19, 1997)

There is no way for us to know this side of Heaven all that God did through David Brainerd in his short life, but his service to the Lord has inspired multitudes of Christian servants for generations. Like many of the heroes of the Bible, Brainerd was not concerned with the things of this life, nor was he fearful of losing his life; his heart’s desire was to please the Lord.

Our selected text tells of another man who had a similar perspective. Stephen’s life and ministry was relatively short, but the legacy that he left behind serves as an example for us today. I would like to examine his powerful biography and consider the thought “Stephen, Full Of Grace And Power”.

Stephen was a bold and fearless evangelist and God used him to do “great wonders and signs among the people”. It is interesting to note that he is the first man apart from the Lord’s Apostles to have performed miracles in the Book of Acts.

Though he was clearly chosen to take part in the ministry of service described in the previous passage, it is apparent that like the Apostles, prayer and the ministry of the Word was a priority for Stephen. He preached the Gospel in the Greek speaking synagogues in Jerusalem. His preaching was not received well by certain Jews; especially some from what is called the “Synagogue of the Freedmen”. They disputed with him, set up false witnesses against him “stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.”

Stephen would use this opportunity to defend his faith and preach Christ to his accusers. After delivering one of the greatest sermons in the history of the Church, Stephen became the first Christian martyr. As we consider his biography, let’s begin by examining:

STEPHEN’S ASSIGNMENT

We were introduced to this man in the previous verses of this chapter. In an effort to address the important needs as a result of the rapid growth of the Church, the Apostles instructed the members of the Church in Jerusalem to select 7 men that they could appoint over the business of ministering to the widows. One of those 7 men was Stephen.

“Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit…” (v3-5).

After selecting Stephen and the others “they had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” (v6) Stephen met the qualifications that had been set forth by the Apostles. He was a man “of good reputation and full of the Spirit and wisdom”. As a result he was selected by the church and commissioned by the Apostles.

It is important to note that even before he was chosen by the Church, Stephen was chosen by God. He was a born-again servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was apparent before his selection and it would become even more apparent after he began to serve the church.

- As we move further let’s examine:

STEPHEN’S ACTIVITY

v8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen had it all; he was full of faith, power, wisdom, and the Spirit of God. He was bold and Biblical, yet the enemies of Christ still rejected his testimony. His ministry is proof that it is not the gifts, talents, abilities, or even the spirituality of the Christian servant that changes lives. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts men’s hearts and draws them to salvation.

Stephen’s ministry was brief, but in a short span of time God used Him in a mighty way. In fact, God is still using Stephens’s life, testimony and ministry to reach lost souls and to advance His Kingdom. His story of courage in the face of certain death has been preached all over the world for two millennia and his faithfulness to Christ is still bearing fruit today.