Stephen is first mentioned in acts 6 verse 5 as one of the seven men who were chosen to distribute food while the apostles concentrated on preaching the gospel. In the northeastern united states, codfish are a big commercial business. Study the bible online using commentary on acts 6 and more. The acts of the apostles provides an advanced introduction to the study of acts, covering important questions about authorship, genre, history and theology. For my wednesday night bible study class for kindergarteners6th grade, i decided to do an overview of the life of stephen. This is a very popular question from the bible quiz trivia game. Let me read something to you from the book, acts of the apostles that talks about this. Osvaldo padilla explores fresh avenues of understanding by examining the text in light of the most recent research on the book of acts itself, philosophical hermeneutics, genre theory and. The conversion of paul the book of acts amazing facts. Read acts 6 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. This early christian deacon was a zealous defender of jesus christ and the way, as christianity was called in its first few years.
Like the other heroes in acts, he sets an example for all believers. Stephen is stoned acts 7 commentary stephen presents to the sanhedrin their history according to the scriptures. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Festuss perspective is displayed through his conversation with agrippa, as he describes paul and the accusations against him. When we see the martyrdom of stephen we dont see the pain and the suffering of stephen as the holy spirit doesnt tell us, however the holy spirit takes another line, that is to show the triumph of the martyr. On our website you will be able to find not only the answer for who is stephen in acts of the apostles but also thousands of other game answers, cheats and solutions. The book of acts is an eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the church. The hellenist converts, who probably formed a minority in the early christian community, complained that the care of their elderly widows was neglected by the hebrew. Stephen, who quotes the text, alters it, because he is not talking to. Chapterbychapter bible studies acts kathleendalton. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles associated with him to the message of repentance and proclamation of the kingdom. The book has been called the acts of the apostles, really a misnomer because acts has very little to say concerning most of the original twelve apostles. Acts 7 new international version niv stephen s speech to the sanhedrin.
Now, the testimony given to israel in the initial chapters of the book of acts is. In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation. The speeches in acts make the book interesting, because when people talk we learn something about their personalities. What position in the jerusalem church did philip and stephen hold. Was matthias or paul gods choice to replace judas as the 12th apostle. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1.
The book of acts is a key part of gods plan to reach the whole world. They chose stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, as well as philip, prochorus, nicanor, timon, parmenas, and nicolas from antioch, a convert to judaism. According to church tradition, luke wrote the book of acts. While his name implies he may have been greek, stephen was welleducated in the history of the jewish people. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. Saint stephen is a recognized saint in many christian theologies, and is considered to be the first christian martyr. In the book of acts, luke introduces saul dramatically as the someone who not only participated in the stoning of stephen, but as an authority who gave approval for the execution. The stoning of stephen 54 when the members of the sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen gets dragged before the sanhedrin the jewish tribunal for blasphemy against moses and yahweh. Book of acts bible survey who was theophilus at the beginning of luke and acts.
Acts 7 stephens speech to the sanhedrin bible gateway. If so, why does the paul of acts seem different from the paul of his letters. Stephen millers historical study of conversation, its development and decline, is one of the most provocative books ive read in a long time. This is the length you should be willing to go to for jesus. Now stephen, a man full of gods grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people acts 6. The holy spirit was always present, and israel had a. The name stephen is greek, and chapter 6 of the acts of the apostles 6 tells us that he was a hellenist a foreignborn jew who spoke greek.
But when luke tells gods version of the story, stephen is a man full of grace and power acts 6. Stephen, the first christian martyr, left us an example of a godly, courageous witness. Acts 7 is the seventh chapter of the acts of the apostles in the new testament of the christian bible. The god of glory appeared to our father abraham while he was in mesopotamia, before he had settled in haran, 3 and said to him, go forth from your land and from your kinsfolk to the land that i will show you. New testament scholarship has long debated the accuracy of the portrayal of the apostle paul in the book of acts.
Does acts relate what actually happened and paul as he actually was. The book of acts records the spread of the gospel, beginning in the city of and ending in the city of. The story of stephen, the first martyr the wonder book of bible stories logan marshall in the new testament, in the book of acts, you will learn how the members of the church in jerusalem gave their money freely to help the poor. Please find below all the answers for who is stephen in acts of the apostles. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named saul. The bible says he was filled with the holy spirit, who gave him wisdom and courage to preach despite fierce opposition.
In the book of acts, chapter 6, stephen was chosen to provide caring ministry to those in need. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. Thus when we talk to people about the lord, we must pray that he. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. Stephen is the first in a long line of christians who are put to death for sticking firm to their faith in jesus. After stephen delivers a prophetic speech in acts 7 and describes his fellow jews as a stiffnecked generation, like the tribes of israel in the wilderness. Together with the gospel of luke and the letter to the. Strange details in stephens defense xenos christian fellowship. When he spoke his final words that enraged the council, luke says he was filled with the holy spirit acts 7. Most of the book of acts is concerned with gods efforts to overcome the inertia. If he did, the book is a sequel to the gospel of luke.
Stephen in the bible first christian martyr learn religions. Stephen is mentioned in acts 6 as one of the greekspeaking hellenistic jews selected to participate in a. Just as his gospel opens with a dedication to theophilus, so also does acts. The story of philip and the ethiopian eunuch takes place in acts 8. The god of glory appeared to our father abraham while he was still in mesopotamia, before he lived in harran. Chuck swindoll shared this story in one of his messages. In his book the city of god, augustine of hippo describes the many miracles that occurred when part of the. Stephen is mentioned in acts 6 as one of the greekspeaking hellenistic jews selected to participate in a fairer distribution of welfare to the greekspeaking widows. Its very likely that saul ordered stephen to be stoned.
Little is known about stephen in the bible before he was ordained a deacon in the young church, as described in acts 6. Stephen will argue that the notion of sacred land, used by god in the past for. Ad 34 traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of. We learn that opposition can work to strengthen and guide the church. Acts stephen manley 37 50 minute sessions through saturation bible study we will look into the book of acts. Peter and his mission to the jews is the main focus in this first part of the book of acts. Conversing is something we spend a good part of our life doing, yet how many of us think consciously of what it really is and was or how we might better our understanding and practice of it. Saint lukes recording of this story in his book of acts is not merely an historical account. Stephen was chosen to be a deacon because he was full of what two things. The only primary source for information about stephen is the new testament book of the acts of the apostles. Since the days of the apostles, caring ministry has been a hallmark of the christian faith communityand is at the heart of all we do at stephen ministries. People from many nations were beside themselves with wonder at hearing gods amazing acts in their own languages. Stephen now proceeds to answer these charges, not as one defending himself but as a witness to the gospel lk 21.
Who is stephen in acts of the apostles answers king. Philip, peter and johns ministry to the samaritans as well as peters vision at joppa made it clear that they needed to take the gospel to the gentiles. It is noteworthy that there have always been those faithful believers whose love for and commitment to the lord seem to shine through so greatly that others around them notice, and stephen was such a man. Peters activities are described at some length, and john and philip are mentioned, but more than half of the book is about paul and his connection with the christian movement. According to the fifth book of the bibles new testament, the acts. When asked if the charges were true, stephen gave a beautiful and impassioned defense of christianity acts 7. Most of us know that he was the first christian killed for his faith, but do we know what led up to that. Philip and the ethiopian eunuch bible story study guide. What did stephen ask god to do concerning his murderers. First, we need to talk about the word full so that we understand what it means. Church persecution at the hand of saul of tarsus acts 8. Stephen quoted from the septuagint version of the old testament, which says 75.
Acts 6 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Luke notes pauls thoughts, as well as his conversation. Were the seven first deacons in the book of acts married. Philip and the ethiopian eunuch story summary after the stoning of stephen, the disciples left jerusalem, with philip going down to samaria. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. There is a market for eastern cod all over, especially in the sections farthest removed from the northeastern coastline.
This is because he says that pauls accusers did not speak of the crimes he had expected but instead they spoke of matters such as paul teaching a dead man was alive acts 25. It records the address of stephen before the sanhedrin and his execution. When the holy spirit overpowered the upper room with the sound like a roaring windstorm, history changed forever. David guzik commentary on acts 7 describes the martyr death of stephen.