The year is AD 34. Jesus had just been crucified… but the story wasn’t over. Not even close!
One by one, people saw Jesus alive. Groups of friends. Even 500 people at once! Imagine that—500 people staring at Jesus, alive, just like before. For 40 days, Jesus taught his disciples, ate with them and helped them understand God’s plan. Then, one day, something amazing happened—they watched Him rise into the clouds and disappear into heaven.
The disciples were amazed, but also nervous. Jesus had left them with a big mission to tell everyone about Him. How could they do it? They would need courage—and God gave it to them through the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever wondered how the Holy Spirit gives us courage? Or what that actually looks like? Today, we’re going to explore the story of Stephen – the first martyr. A martyr is someone who suffers or dies because they choose to stay faithful to Jesus and God. Now, I’ll bet we all agree it must take an incredible amount of courage for someone to give their life for Christ. But here’s the amazing part: even if we’re not naturally brave, it’s the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be brave.
After Jesus’ resurrection, the early church began to grow rapidly. Thousands were coming to faith in a matter of days — which was exciting, but also created new challenges.
Many believers were poor, and some were widows who had no way to provide for themselves. The apostles were distributing food to share with everyone, but the work quickly became overwhelming.
So they sought God’s wisdom. The apostles said, “It’s better for you to choose seven men who are full of the Spirit and wisdom to take care of this work, while we focus on teaching and prayer.”
The church chose seven faithful men — and one of them was Stephen, described as “full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” The apostles prayed for them and laid their hands on them, setting them apart for this special role.
Because the church worked together in unity, it kept growing. But as God’s work grew stronger, so did the opposition. The enemy always tries to divide God’s people and silence their witness — and that’s exactly what started to happen next.
Stephen’s Courage and Wisdom
Stephen wasn’t just a man who served food. He also shared the gospel boldly and performed miracles by God’s power. People could see that God’s Spirit was alive in him.
But not everyone liked what Stephen was saying. Some religious leaders started arguing with him, trying to trap him with their words. But no matter what they said, Stephen answered with such wisdom that they couldn’t prove him wrong.
Frustrated, they came up with a plan. They secretly convinced people to tell lies about Stephen — saying he was speaking against Moses and the temple. Soon, a crowd was stirred up, and Stephen was dragged before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin.
Even in that tense, intimidating courtroom, the Bible says something amazing: Stephen’s face looked like the face of an angel. In other words, his peace and joy came straight from God.
Stephen’s Message to the Council
Instead of defending himself, Stephen told a story — God’s story.
He reminded them how God had worked through Abraham, Joseph, and Moses — and how again and again, God’s people had rejected His messengers. They resisted God in the wilderness, they built idols, and they ignored the prophets who warned them to turn back to God.
Then Stephen explained that the temple — the very thing they were trying to protect — was never meant to be the only place God could dwell. God’s presence was never limited to a building. His throne is in heaven itself.
You see, Stephen wanted everyone to understand that God was doing something new through Jesus. Stephen wanted people to see that God wasn’t in just one building anymore. Through Jesus, God’s presence could be with anyone who believed — even in their hearts.
For hundreds of years, God’s people had to offer animal sacrifices and go to the temple to be close to Him. That’s just how things worked back then. But now, everything had changed.
When Jesus came, He became the perfect sacrifice — the one that never needed to be repeated. He took care of our sin once and for all! No more animals, no more waiting for a priest to talk to God for us. Jesus became our forever High Priest — the one who opens the way for us to come straight to God anytime, anywhere. Jesus fulfills the old covenant, the temple, and the sacrifices—He is God’s presence, our priest, and our perfect offering. That was something completely new and amazing!
But the leaders couldn’t see it. They were clinging to their traditions and power. Stephen looked at them and said, “You stubborn people! You always resist the Holy Spirit — just like your ancestors did. They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the Righteous One — and now you’ve betrayed and murdered Him.” (Acts 7:51–53)
That was the breaking point. The council was furious. The Bible says they gnashed their teeth in rage — literally grinding their teeth because they couldn’t handle the truth.
A Glimpse of Heaven
In that moment of chaos, Stephen stayed calm. He lifted his eyes toward heaven — and what he saw took everyone by surprise.
He said, “Look! I see heaven open, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
It’s interesting that Jesus is described as standing, not sitting. It’s as if Jesus Himself stood up to welcome Stephen home — to honor his faithfulness.
But that vision enraged the crowd even more. They shouted, covered their ears, and rushed at him. They dragged Stephen outside the city and began throwing stones.
And Stephen did something amazing — he prayed for the people hurting him:
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60)
Think about that for a second. How often do we get upset when people are mean to us? How often do we want revenge or to fight back? Stephen shows that true courage includes forgiveness, even in the hardest moments.
Another fascinating detail: The people who were throwing the stones took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul — the same Saul who would later meet Jesus and become the Apostle Paul.
As the church father Augustine once said, “If Stephen had not prayed, the Church would not have Paul.”
And then Stephen fell asleep — a gentle way of saying he died — and woke up in heaven with Jesus.
Why Stephen’s Story Matters
Now let’s talk about why Stephen’s story still matters today.
1. Courage
Standing for your beliefs isn’t always easy. Like Stephen, we might face peer pressure, criticism, or people who don’t understand what we believe. But God equips us with boldness and wisdom through His Word. Stephen wasn’t just brave — he was prepared. The Bible says he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” and that his wisdom was something even his opponents couldn’t stand up against (Acts 6:10).
How did he get that way? Stephen spent time learning Scripture and letting the Holy Spirit teach him. So when the moment came to speak up, he didn’t panic or back down — he spoke truth with confidence and peace that came from God, not from himself.
That same power is available to us. The more we know God’s Word, the more the Holy Spirit can fill us with wisdom and courage to stand firm in our faith.
2. Forgiveness
Stephen’s response to his enemies was shocking — instead of anger, he chose love. As he was being stoned, he prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” That kind of forgiveness only comes from a heart completely changed by Jesus.
When we face conflict, criticism, or even betrayal, Stephen’s example shows us another way — to respond with compassion instead of revenge. True strength isn’t about fighting back; it’s about letting God’s love flow through us even when it’s hard.
3. Focus on Heaven
Even in the middle of danger, Stephen’s eyes were fixed on Jesus. The Bible says he looked up and saw heaven open, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. That moment reminds us that when life gets tough, we can keep our focus on what’s eternal.
When we remember that Jesus is with us and that God promises one day everything will be made new, it changes how we see our struggles here on earth. Like Stephen, we can face challenges with peace because we know who’s waiting for us at the finish line.
4. Ripple Effect
Stephen’s courage didn’t end with his life — it created a ripple that reached far beyond him. One of the men who witnessed his death was Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. Stephen’s bold stand for truth planted seeds that God used to transform the early church.
Our lives can have that same kind of ripple effect. When we live with courage, forgiveness, and faith, we may never fully see how God uses it — but He does. One faithful life can inspire many others.
Scripture Reflection:
As Jesus said in Matthew 5:11–12,
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
Stephen looked to Jesus — and that made all the difference.
Takeaway
Stephen’s story reminds us that following Jesus isn’t always easy — but it’s always worth it. He lived with courage, spoke with wisdom, forgave with love, and kept his eyes on heaven. And even though his time on earth was short, his faith made a lasting impact that still inspires believers today.
When we face pressure to fit in, or moments where standing for our faith feels awkward or risky, we can remember Stephen. His strength didn’t come from being tough — it came from being close to Jesus. The same Holy Spirit who gave Stephen boldness and peace lives in every believer today.
So this week, take time to read God’s Word, listen to His Spirit, and choose courage in small moments. You never know — your faith could be the spark that strengthens someone else’s.
Remember — when we stand firm for Jesus, we never stand alone.
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