Stephen's Crown

A man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Acts 6:5

Stephen: The First Martyr

Saturday, August 14, 2010
Acts 7 records the preaching of Deacon Stephen. In this chapter, Stephen reminds the Jews of their faithful patriarch, Abraham, and how God had led him from a pagan land into the land of Israel, where He made a covenant with him that was still in effect. He preached of the journey of his people, through Joseph’s sojourn in Egypt to their deliverance by Moses 400 years later. He brought to mind how Moses had met God in the wilderness of Midian in a burning bush, and Deacon Stephen explained how God had empowered Moses to lead His people from idolatry and slavery to freedom and times of refreshing in the Promised Land. Throughout Deacon Stephen's preaching, he repeatedly reminded the Jews of their continual rebellion and idolatry, in spite of the mighty works of God to which they were eyewitnesses. Instead of returning to God, the Jews, who were blinded by their arrogance, got so irritated to the point where they were now accusing Deacon Stephen of blasphemy.