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People of the Bible
Who Was Stephen?
In short
Stephen was one of the first deacons of the early church, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, chosen to serve. Falsely accused, he preached boldly about Jesus before his accusers.
He became the first Christian martyr, stoned to death, and even as he died he prayed for his killers, just as Jesus had done.
“And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:60 · King James Version (public domain)
Stephen at a glance
| Name | Stephen |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Acts |
| Key passage on this page | Acts 7:60 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Matthew 5:44
- Luke 23:34
- 1 Corinthians 15:20
- Romans 12:14-21
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
- Luke 6:28
- Acts 20:36
- Acts 9:40
- Acts 13:36
- 1 Corinthians 15:18
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Stephen in the Bible?
Stephen appears in Acts. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Acts 7:60?
Readers most often set it next to Matthew 5:44, Luke 23:34, 1 Corinthians 15:20, Romans 12:14-21.
Why does Stephen matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Stephen is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see Stephen and you know every person there by name. We bring you Stephen, Acts. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Take one step this week.
- Read the key passage, Acts 7:60, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Stephen's story says about God, not only about Stephen.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read the story of Stephen
You can read the story of Stephen in Acts on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
