The Martyrdom of Stephen

Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit who performed great wonders and signs among the people in Jerusalem. Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen and others rose up to dispute with him, but they were unable to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:8-10). These opponents secretly instigated men to claim that Stephen had spoken blasphemous words against Moses and God. The text does not say how many men were involved in this subornation. He was subsequently seized and brought before the council, where false witnesses testified that he spoke against the holy place and the law, claiming Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple and change the customs delivered by Moses (Acts 6:11-14).

When the high priest asked if these charges were true, Stephen delivered a lengthy discourse recounting the history of Israel from Abraham through the building of Solomon's temple. He concluded by accusing his listeners of resisting the Holy Spirit and murdering the Righteous One. Upon hearing this, the council members were enraged. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and stated that he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:51-56). The observers cried out with loud voices, stopped their ears, and rushed at him together.

They cast Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul, who the text says was consenting to Stephen's death (Acts 7:58; 8:1). As they stoned him, Stephen called out for the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. He then knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, asking that this sin not be held against his executioners. After saying this, the text states he fell asleep (Acts 7:59-60). The text does not say exactly where outside the city gates this occurred.