The Martyrdom of Stephen

Aim: To be like Stephen—through a bold faith in and love for Christ.

Doctrine: Stephen's martyrdom led to a great expansion of the church. The gospel was witnessed in Stephen's faith, and was proliferated through one of Stephen's persecutors.

Exegesis: How the martyrdom of Stephen wondrously blessed the church and the world: it represented a clear distinction between true and false religion (vv. 54-56); it manifested the power of God in saving (elect) fanatical sinners (vv. 57-58); it characterized the miraculous nature of true Christian faith (vv. 59-60).

Further application: How Stephen inspires us in the faithful church today: he teaches us how to be courageous Christians, who put Jesus before anyone and anything else.

Key verses: vv. 57-58 ''Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at [Stephen] with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.''