"Empowered Witness: The Legacy of Stephen Part 1: Stephen’s Ministry and Accusation

Foe 16 weeks now we have been unfolding the book of Acts verse by verse. At this point of our study we come to the first christian martyr Stephen. This is too important to rush through so we will take the time to break down the life of Stephen in to three parts.

Part 1: "Stephen’s Ministry and Accusation"Today, we will begin with Stephen’s character and ministry. We will see how his deep faith and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit enabled him to perform great wonders and signs among the people. We will also explore the opposition he faced and the false accusations that led to his arrest. Stephen’s life challenges us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to serve faithfully, and to stand firm in our faith despite opposition.

Part 2: "Stephen’s Defense and Message"Next week, we will move into Stephen’s powerful defense before the Sanhedrin. In his speech, Stephen recounts God’s faithfulness throughout Israel’s history and boldly calls out the hard hearts of the Jewish leaders. His message is a testament to the importance of knowing and proclaiming God’s Word, as well as the courage to speak the truth, even in the face of severe consequences.

Part 3: "The Beauty of Faithful Departure"In our final week, we will witness the culmination of Stephen’s faithful witness as he faces martyrdom. We will see the beauty of his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God, his grace to forgive his persecutors, and his ultimate sacrifice. Stephen’s departure from this world was not one of defeat but of triumphant faith and hope, offering us a profound example of the beauty and power in a faithful departure.

Purpose and Invitation:

Through this series, my prayer is that we will be inspired and challenged by Stephen’s life. May we seek to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, to serve our communities with grace and power, and to stand boldly for the truth of the Gospel. Let us open our hearts and minds to what God wants to teach us through the life of Stephen, and let us strive to be empowered witnesses for Christ in our daily lives.

Part 1: "Empowered Witness: Stephen’s Ministry and Accusation"

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Acts 6:8–15 ESV

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Series Overview:.

Purpose and Invitation:

Through this series, my prayer is that we will be inspired and challenged by Stephen’s life. May we seek to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, to serve our communities with grace and power, and to stand boldly for the truth of the Gospel. Let us open our hearts and minds to what God wants to teach us through the life of Stephen, and let us strive to be empowered witnesses for Christ in our daily lives.

Let’s begin this journey together by diving into Part 1: "Stephen’s Ministry and Accusation."

Who is Stephen?

There is little information about Stephen, most of all that we know is what we see in scripture in the book of Acts.

What we do know:

Church Tradition

Stephen is traditionally recognized as the first Christian martyr, and he holds a significant place in Christian tradition. His feast day is celebrated on December 26 in the Western Church (St. Stephen's Day) and on December 27 in the Eastern Church. This veneration highlights his importance in the early church.

Apocryphal Sources:

Apocryphal Acts: Some later apocryphal writings, which are non-canonical and often legendary in nature, mention Stephen. However, these texts do not provide historically reliable information and often embellish the accounts of early Christian figures.

Historical Context:

Hellenistic Background: Stephen is believed to have been a Hellenistic Jew, which means he was a Jew who had adopted the Greek language and some aspects of Greek culture. His name, Stephen, is Greek, and his interactions with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which included Jews from various Greek-speaking regions, suggest that he was part of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Jerusalem.

Early Church Writings:

Early Christian Writings: Some early church fathers, such as Augustine and Chrysostom, wrote about Stephen, often focusing on his role as the first martyr and his exemplary faith. However, these writings are theological reflections rather than historical records.

Relics and Archaeology:

Discovery of Relics: According to tradition, the relics of Stephen were discovered in the 5th century by a priest named Lucian in a village near Jerusalem. These relics were widely venerated and distributed across the Christian world, further enhancing Stephen's reputation. However, the historical accuracy of this discovery is debated, and it is often considered part of the later tradition rather than a reliable historical event.

1. Stephen's Character

a. Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit:

Acts 6:5 describes Stephen as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.”This indicates his deep trust in God and his empowerment by the Holy Spirit.

b. Full of Grace and Power:

Acts 6:8 states, “Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”His grace signifies his kind, compassionate nature, while his power indicates the Holy Spirit’s work through him.

c. Wise and Spirit-Filled Speech:

When Stephen spoke, his words were filled with wisdom and the Spirit, making his arguments irrefutable (Acts 6:10).His opponents couldn't withstand the wisdom and Spirit by which he was speaking.

2. Stephen's Ministry

a. Appointment as One of the Seven:

Stephen was chosen as one of the seven deacons to address the practical needs within the early church (Acts 6:1-7).This role was vital in ensuring fair distribution of food, especially to the widows, and maintaining unity in the early church.

b. Performing Miracles:

Acts 6:8 highlights Stephen’s ministry of performing “great wonders and signs among the people.”These miracles were a testament to God’s power working through him, attracting people to the faith.

3. Opposition and Accusation

a. Conflict with the Synagogue of the Freedmen:

Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia, disputed with Stephen

(Acts 6:9

Acts 6:9 ESV

9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.

Their inability to withstand Stephen’s wisdom and the Spirit’s power led them to take extreme measures against him.

b. False Accusations:

Unable to defeat Stephen in debate, his opponents resorted to deceit (Acts 6:11).They secretly instigated men to say that Stephen had spoken blasphemous words against Moses and God.They stirred up the people, elders, and scribes, and brought Stephen before the council (Sanhedrin) (Acts 6:12).False witnesses claimed Stephen said that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs Moses handed down (Acts 6:13-14).

4. Stephen’s Composure and Appearance

a. Peaceful and Radiant:

As Stephen stood before the council, all who sat in the Sanhedrin saw his face was like the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).This angelic appearance suggested divine approval and reflected his inner peace and confidence despite the false accusations.

Key Themes for Part 1:

Empowerment by the Holy Spirit:

Highlight how Stephen’s character and ministry were empowered by the Holy Spirit, enabling him to perform miracles and speak with wisdom.

Faithfulness in Service:

Emphasize Stephen’s faithfulness in both practical service (as a deacon) and spiritual ministry (performing miracles and proclaiming the Gospel).

Courage in the Face of Opposition:

Illustrate Stephen’s courage and composure when facing false accusations, trusting in God’s presence and purpose.

Focus:

Introduction to Stephen, his character, and his ministry.

The signs and wonders he performed.

The opposition he faced from the members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen.

The false accusations brought against him.