Ep. #03 "Stephen" [Series: Acts]

Rating: All Ages

Characters: Stephen

Primary Scriptures: Acts 6-7

Story Summary: Stephen as one of the Seven; Stephen’s trial and death

Location: Roman Empire; Tetrarchy of Judea; Jerusalem

Time: 30 AD. Death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Pentecost. 32 AD (?) Trial and death of Stephen


For the first few years after Pentecost, the apostles and believers in Jerusalem continued to practice Judaism while teaching about Jesus. This allowed them to meet and teach in the synagogues and in the Temple, but as the early Church grew, so did the conflict between Christians and the Jewish leaders.

As the Christians became excluded from Jerusalem’s Jewish society, they began replicating the social services inherent in the Jewish culture, including the feeding of widows and orphans. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to help equitably distribute food and other services. This allowed the apostles to continue spending all of their time in preaching, teaching, and in prayer.

It is quite interesting that the apostles let the people choose among themselves who would be responsible for the food distribution. The people wisely chose men who were among those who felt mistreated.

Stephen’s preaching was so effective that the Jewish leaders put him on trial. Stephen began his defense by recounting the history of the Jews. His words were so articulate and accurate that they had no cause to argue against him. But when he compared them to their ancestors, the leaders exploded and had him put him to death. Apparently, something had changed since the trial of Jesus, when the leaders could not sentence Jesus to death. Whatever changed appears to have been permanent, since it inaugurated a wave of capital punishment by the leaders.


Eyewitness Bible Series

Eyewitness Bible

40 Followers
Follow
Ep. #03 "Stephen" [Series: Acts] | FaithChannel Characters: Stephen Primary Scriptures: Acts 6-7 Story Summary: Stephen as one of the Seven; Stephen’s trial and death Location: Roman Empire; Tetrarchy of Judea; Jerusalem Time: 30 AD. Death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Pentecost. 32 AD (?) Trial and death of Stephen For the first few years after Pentecost, the apostles and believers in Jerusalem continued to practice Judaism while teaching about Jesus. This allowed them to meet and teach in the synagogues and in the Temple, but as the early Church grew, so did the conflict between Christians and the Jewish leaders. As the Christians became excluded from Jerusalem’s Jewish society, they began replicating the social services inherent in the Jewish culture, including the feeding of widows and orphans. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to help equitably distribute food and other services. This allowed the apostles to continue spending all of their time in preaching, teaching, and in prayer. It is quite interesting that the apostles let the people choose among themselves who would be responsible for the food distribution. The people wisely chose men who were among those who felt mistreated. Stephen’s preaching was so effective that the Jewish leaders put him on trial. Stephen began his defense by recounting the history of the Jews. His words were so articulate and accurate that they had no cause to argue against him. But when he compared them to their ancestors, the leaders exploded and had him put him to death. Apparently, something had changed since the trial of Jesus, when the leaders could not sentence Jesus to death. Whatever changed appears to have been permanent, since it inaugurated a wave of capital punishment by the leaders. Eyewitness Bible Series

You May Also Like...

Ep. #09 “ISAAC” [Series: GENESIS & JOB]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #09 “ISAAC” [Series: GENESIS & JOB]

Cowboy Church @ the Prayer Barn 2025-02-02
Christian Horse Show Association
Cowboy Church @ the Prayer Barn 2025-02-02

Ep. #07 "FIRST JOHN" [Series: OTHER LETTERS]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #07 "FIRST JOHN" [Series: OTHER LETTERS]

Ep. #14 “SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM SURE VICTORY” [Series: PROMISED LAND]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #14 “SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM SURE VICTORY” [Series: PROMISED LAND]

Ep. #03 "HEBREWS 7-13" [Series: OTHER LETTERS]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #03 "HEBREWS 7-13" [Series: OTHER LETTERS]

Ep. #08 "SECOND & THIRD JOHN" [Series: OTHER LETTERS]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #08 "SECOND & THIRD JOHN" [Series: OTHER LETTERS]

Ep. #01 “MOSES BEFORE THE PLAGUES” [Series: PROMISED LAND]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #01 “MOSES BEFORE THE PLAGUES” [Series: PROMISED LAND]

Topics 10 - Small Things
Eyewitness Bible
Topics 10 - Small Things

Ep. #06 “JOB: PART FOUR” [Series: GENESIS & JOB]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #06 “JOB: PART FOUR” [Series: GENESIS & JOB]

Cowboy Church @ the Prayer Barn 2022-09-17
Christian Horse Show Association
Cowboy Church @ the Prayer Barn 2022-09-17

Cowboy Church @ the Prayer Barn 2024-10-19
Christian Horse Show Association
Cowboy Church @ the Prayer Barn 2024-10-19

Ep. #1 “Palm Sunday - The Need ” [Series: OHW]
Eyewitness Bible
Ep. #1 “Palm Sunday - The Need ” [Series: OHW]