SUMMARY
StephenThe first Christian martyr. is chosen as one of seven servants (diakanoi), often called “deacons,” to oversee the ministry of food-service among Greek-speaking members of the Jerusalem congregation. He is singled out by opponents of the JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. movement, framed as a blasphemer, and martyred.
ANALYSIS
This passage gives a glimpse of additional internal community struggles that spill over into wider public life. The group of Hellenist widows in the Jerusalem assembly were somehow not receiving their fair share of daily food. The “Hellenist” or Greek-speaking Jewish wing of the community was culturally distinct from the “Hebraic” or Aramaic-speaking group.
To address the problem of neglecting the Hellenist widows the whole community chooses seven men of “good standing,” full of the HolyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine Spirit, and all with Hellenist-Jewish backgrounds to oversee the daily food ministry, with special attention to caring for all widows. It is the first experience of expanding community leadership to meet the needs of the growing diverse constituents.
Stephen heads the list of this seven-member “diaconal” benevolence committee. His ministry, however, extends beyond food service, as important as that work is in itself. Stephen is also empowered by the Spirit to work signs and wonders and speak with wisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the... about Christ. As a result, he draws the attention of some antagonists who falsely accuse him of blasphemyBlasphemy is disrespecting or dishonoring of something held sacred. To use the name of God in swearing or to commit a profane act is to commit blasphemy. against God, MosesProphet who led Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land and received the law at Sinai., and the templeThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged.... After a mock trial before the high priestThe high priest was the most powerful priest in the temple in Jerusalem. The high priest Caiaphas held the office during the trial of Jesus. Later, in the New Testament book of Hebrews, the role of merciful high priest is ascribed to the resurrected Jesus. and a lengthy defense speech from Stephen (7:2‒53—the longest speech in Acts), a mob drags him away and stones him to death. Stephen thus becomes the first martyrTo be a martyr originally meant to be a witness in the legal sense - that is, to bear witness in legal proceedings. In the context of Christianity martyrdom indicates a person, like Stephen in the book of Acts, who was killed for maintaining his... for Christ. This terrible act introduces the persecution carried out against followers of Jesus in various localized areas. In Luke’s two-volume narrative, Stephen acts in parallel with Jesus (LukeThe "beloved physician" and companion of Paul. 23:34) by calling upon God to forgive his persecutors, even as he dies at their hands (Acts 7:60). The Spirit’s power flowed through Jesus and now flows in the same way through his followers.
