Stephen's Defense

Illustration of Stephen's Defense

Brought before the Sanhedrin on false charges, Stephen delivered a sweeping survey of Israel's history, showing how the people had always resisted God's messengers - and now had betrayed and murdered the Righteous One himself. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he looked up and saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at God's right hand. His hearers, cut to the heart, stoned him, making him the first Christian martyr.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Acts 7

Key Passages

I See the Heavens Opened

Acts 7:51-56

Stephen indicts his hearers as resisting the Spirit, then sees heaven opened and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

Y51e stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Explore Related

Characters

Stephen Stephen was one of seven deacons appointed by the apostles in the early Jerusalem church to ensure fairโ€ฆ Paul Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a zealous Pharisee who actively persecuted early Christiansโ€ฆ Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ

Places

Jerusalem Jerusalem stands as the ancient capital of Israel and holds profound religious importance as a holy cityโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

It is the longest speech in the book of Acts.

2

Stephen surveys all of Israel's history to show they always resisted God's messengers.

3

As he finished, he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

4

His death made him the first Christian martyr - and Saul (Paul) stood watching.