“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.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.  Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.“
Acts 6:5b-10

–

This week, we meet Stephen. For someone who plays such an enormous role in the next few chapters of Acts—and in the trajectory of this Jesus community—Stephen seems to come out of nowhere. Who is this man?

Last week we saw the formation of what we now call the deacon ministry. If several thousand folks are going to live and eat together, share all their possessions, and ensure that no one goes without…well, that’s going to require some oversight. That’s not a small task. There’s plenty of nitty-gritty in communal living, plenty of reality in ministry that’s not flashy or exciting.

Stephen was one of the people chosen to oversee this work of administration and service, ensuring that (for example) all the widows had ample resources.

What do we know about Stephen specifically? The text tells us that any person considered for this role was to be “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (6:3b). Stephen is specifically described as “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (6:5b). and “a man full of God’s grace and power, [who] performed great wonders and signs among the people.” (6:8). Furthermore, as the story unfolds, we learn that Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria have engaged him in theological conflict, but could not “stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.” (6:10).

While Stephen was surely just as imperfect as any of us, we are offered a vivid picture of his faithful devotion and dedication, his commitment to be filled by the Holy Spirit and to engage with wisdom.

Another aspect of Stephen’s identity stands out to me. Stephen was likely a Hellenistic Jew of the diaspora—those who had lived for generations in the Greek world and culture because of the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. He, and his family before him, had been scattered. And as we shall see, his life and death will be the cause of yet another exile, another scattering of Jews around the known world.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • What does this passage show you about the early Christian community, and what it looks like to lead and serve in a Christian context?
  • Who do you know that is filled with the Spirit and with wisdom? What are the signs of such a thing?

 

Church Reading Plan: Hosea 10; Psalm 129-131