We are now looking at the top ten characters in the New Testament ignoring Jesus and the disciples. At number 6 is Stephen.
Stephen in the bible
The Choosing of the Seven – Acts 6:1-6
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Stephen Seized – Acts 6:8-13
Now Stephen … performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue … Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” … They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
The Stoning of Stephen – Acts 7:54-59
When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. … they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Stephen is famous as he was the first Christian martyr.
But he is also famous as he was one of the first leaders of the church after the apostles. He was not a Jew but a Gentile.
Maybe it gives us an example for leadership – that someone is taken out of the ranks and promoted. He was a great success in his teaching and caused great problems for the leaders of the Synagogue. Maybe we should not be too narrow in our thinking on who can be a leader, also as a leader there are many roles that one can take.