Elder Goh Kee Tai

Stephen, the first Christian martyr

The first apostolic church was founded in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the Feast of the Passover and ten days after the ascension of Christ. Peter’s spirit-filled sermon convicted the hearts of many Jews gathered in the holy city from different parts of the Roman Empire for this thanksgiving Feast of Harvest (Ex23:16) and 3,000 were saved (Act 2:41). Another 5,000 were brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ after Peter delivered another soul-stirring sermon following the healing of a man crippled since birth at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (Act 4:4). The infant church grew rapidly but soon a serious social problem arose. Many destitute Greek-speaking Jewish widows were unhappy as their financial support had been neglected. The Apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, decided that the church should choose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and full of wisdom (Act 6:3), to look after the financial and social needs of these widows, while they continued to concentrate on spiritual responsibilities in the teaching and preaching of the Word, prayers, water baptism and the Lord’s supper.

By Divine providence, Stephen, a man ‘full of faith and of the Holy Ghost’ (Act 6:5) and ‘full of faith and power’ (Act 6:8) was one of the seven Greek-speaking Jews chosen by consensus and ordained by the Apostles.

His character
Stephen was God-fearing, trustworthy and of high moral integrity. He was well qualified as a faithful steward to be entrusted with public money and to dispose of it wisely, fairly and discreetly. He was a man of profound faith and endowed with much spiritual gifts and wisdom. He expounded the Scriptures, preached the gospel and performed ‘great wonders and miracles’ (Act 6:8) in the name of Jesus Christ (Act 6:8).

Opposition from Christ’s enemies
Such a mighty servant of the Lord inevitably incurred the displeasure of the enemies of Jesus Christ. He was confronted by some Greek-speaking Jews who vehemently opposed his Christian doctrine. As Stephen was empowered by the Holy Spirit, they were unable to refute his argument (Act 6:10). They then resorted to using false witnesses to instigate the Jewish religious leaders to arrest and charge him for speaking ‘blasphemous words against Moses, and against God’ (Act 6:11) and ‘against this holy place and the law’ (Act 6:13) and for teaching ‘this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us’ (Act 6:14). Stephen was considered an apostate and enemy of the Jewish religion.

His defence before the Sanhedrin Council (Act 7:2-53)
He was brought before the Sanhedrin Council to answer the charges brought against him. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he fearlessly defended and provided evidences based on the authority of the Scriptures to prove himself guiltless of blasphemy against God and Moses, and of preaching Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the Temple and change the ceremonial laws given by Moses. The prosecuting Council could sense that God was with him. His face radiated a holy serenity, devoid of any bitterness and anger, described ‘as it had been the face of an angel’ (Act 6:15).

Stephen traced the 2000-year history of Israel to illustrate the progressive revelation of God and His sovereign grace in dealing with His chosen people from the time of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the 12 patriarchs. He argued that God’s dealings with His people were not restricted to the Promised Land in Canaan. God was always present with them and dwelt among them as they served and worshipped Him even outside the Temple in Jerusalem. The ‘God of glory’ appeared to Abraham and called him out of obscurity from the pagan city of Ur of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia and was with him in Haran in Syria and later in Canaan. God was actively working among His people and the Abrahamic covenant was made before the law was given, the tabernacle was constructed and the Temple was built. God was with Joseph in Egypt; He delivered him from his troubles and promoted him. It was through Joseph that Jacob and his family were delivered from severe famine in Canaan. The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush in the desert of Midian and communed with him again in Mount Sinai where the law was given. It was by Divine providence that the people were delivered out of their 400-year bondage in Egypt.

Stephen highlighted the call of Moses and how God brought them out of Egypt through Moses. The tabernacle was a testimony of the presence of God in their midst while they were in the wilderness. It was subsequently brought by Joshua into the Promised Land occupied by the Gentiles. This temporary structure designed by God was replaced by the Temple which originated from David, but built by his son Solomon (2 Sam 7:1-13). God approved of the building and blessed David. However, Stephen quoting Solomon, asserted that ‘the Most High dwelleth not in temple made with hands’ (Act 7:48) and be confined in it, as if the people would have no communion with Him but in that building only. Solomon in the dedication of the Temple, acknowledged that: ‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded?’ (1 Ki 8:27).

The rebellious and ungrateful Jews, instead of keeping the law which they received from God, turned to idolatry (Act 7:40,43). They also did not offer any sacrifices to the Lord for 40 years in the wilderness (Act 7:42).

Stephen reiterated to show that despite all the privileges which God had showered on Israel, their forefathers rebelled repeatedly against His will, rejected His servants and prophets whom He graciously sent to them. Joseph who delivered the patriarchs from famine in Canaan, was sold into slavery in Egypt by his envious brothers. God was preparing Moses who was brought up as a prince of Pharaoh, to deliver the people out of the land of bondage in Egypt. After their deliverance, the people complained and murmured against Moses when he was late in coming down from Mt Sinai (Act 7:40). They wanted another leader to bring them back to Egypt: ‘To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt’ (Act 7:39). Moses was given the honour to announce to the children of Israel that ‘A Prophet shall the Lord your Lord raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear’ (Act 6:37). Sadly, the same rebellious spirit of their forefathers was also evident among the Jewish religious leaders. Instead of acknowledging that Prophet Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as One far greater than Moses and hearkening to the gospel of everlasting life authenticated by signs and wonders, they rejected the Promised Messiah outright.

Finally, Stephen rebuked the Council: ‘Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?’ He charged his persecutors for being ‘the betrayers and murderers of the Just One’ (Act 7:51), Jesus Christ.

His death
The Sanhedrin Council was frenzied with rage and ‘cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth’ (Act 7:54) when Stephen charged them for their guilt in crucifying Jesus Christ. The Council members cried with a loud voice and covered their ears and ran upon Stephen in unison and cast him out of the city and stoned him.

Stephen, under immense persecution, remained calm and looked steadfastly into heaven. He was filled with spiritual grace and strength as he focussed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He saw the glory of God and Jesus, his supreme Judge seated on the right hand of God, rose from the heavenly throne to vindicate His suffering saint. Stephen described what he saw: ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God’ (Act 7:55). On hearing this, his persecutors could not tolerate it any more. Stephen knelt down and uttered two short prayers with his last breath before he gave up the ghost; one for himself: ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ (Act 7:59) and the other for his persecutors. He cried out with a loud voice: ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge’ (Act 7:60). He died while praying for his persecutors.

Devout Christians took his body and gave him a proper burial. There was great mourning in the Christian community (Act 8:2).

Impact of his martydom
The persecution and martyrdom of Stephen instead led to more widespread preaching of the gospel throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, and even as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch (Act 8:1; 11:19). One of those who consented to his death was Saul, the greatest persecutor of the infant church. Stephen’s stirring defence before the Sanhedrin Council and his prayer for his persecutors pierced the conscience of Saul who regretted later, for he ‘kept the raiment of them that slewed him’ (Act 22:20). Stephen’s martyrdom had indirectly contributed to global evangelism through Paul’s missionary trips to the ‘uttermost parts of the world’.

Conclusion
Stephen was a role model for Christians suffering persecution for their faith. Every aspect of his life typically overflowed with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. His faith was matched by his action. He sealed his faith with his blood for Christ’s sake. His faith in his Saviour and Redeemer was demonstrated by serenity, hope and courage before the Sanhedrin Council. He was Christ-like in every area of his life and his last prayer for his persecutors was similar to what Christ had uttered at Calvary: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ (Lk 23:34). God’s strength and grace were manifested in his death. His name ’Stephanos’ which signifies a crown is most appropriate for he was martyred to receive the crown of glory from the Lord.

Stephen was an extraordinary faithful witness of the Lord, kind, patient, cheerful, and pious. He was diligent in the discharge of all the responsibilities entrusted on him. He did more than the specific ministry assigned to him in the distribution of funds to the Greek-speaking Jewish widows. Undoubtedly, his faithful service and leadership had contributed to the preservation of peace and harmony and growth of the infant church.

He knew the Scripture well and applied it effectively in his defence before the Sanhedrin Council. His exposition of the Scripture was profound. In fact, he was conducting an apologetic discourse on the Christian faith and against the Jewish religion (Judaism). Christianity is solely based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Jewish religious leaders were spiritually blind to the prophecies of the Old Testament prophets regarding the first coming of the Messiah and His works and ministry. Christ came to show His people better things to come, for He ‘hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light by the gospel’ (2 Tim 1:10). 

Stephen provided spiritual insight concerning the law and the Temple. These Christian doctrines were later expounded by the Apostles in their epistles to the apostolic churches. Jesus Christ was the One who gave the law to Moses. He therefore has the authority to change the ceremonial laws and customs for the spiritual benefits of His people. While the law of Moses showed the way to life, the gospel gives life everlasting. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not the law or circumcision. Circumcision, a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham, has been replaced by water baptism, the spiritual circumcision made without hands by Christ (Col 2:11). The ceremonial law prescribing the Levitical sacrificial system which looked to Christ was replaced by the Lord’s supper which looked back to His death and forward to His second coming (1 Cor 11:24,26). The dietary prohibition of certain ‘unclean’ foods has also been abolished (1 Tim 4:4).

God’s presence among His people is not localised in one specific locality in His temple in Jerusalem. The tabernacle in the wilderness was a testimony of God’s presence in the midst of His chosen people among the heathen Gentile nations (Act 7: 44). The tabernacle itself was a temporary structure. Even the magnificent Temple which Solomon built in Jerusalem was not a permanent structure. The Temple made with hands was destroyed. Today’s witness is through the local church of which Jerusalem church that was born during Pentecost was the first. Christ is the Chief Corner Stone, the Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Apostles are the foundations and each believer is a lively stone of this spiritual house (Eph 2:20,21; 1 Pet 2:5). God dwells in the heart of every born-again believer, the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16).

Stephen’s shining example as a Christian motivates us to emulate him. His spirit-filled life serves to remind us of the mark of a real Christian. His exceptional grace under persecution demonstrates his intimate walk with the Lord. His focus was always on the Lord despite his torment. His deep knowledge of the Scriptures inspires us to love reading and studying the Bible and applying the truth learnt: ‘But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear’ (1Pet 3:15). Amen.