Who was Stephen in the Bible?

Last updated Jul 15, 2026

Published by Bible Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0

Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the early Jerusalem church to help distribute food (Acts 6); Acts 7 records his speech before the Sanhedrin and his death by stoning.

Acts 6:5 in the King James Version reads:

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

The verse appears in Acts 6, in the account of the choosing of the seven. Read it in context at Acts 6:5, or the full chapter at Acts 6. Encyclopedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen.

Also asked as

  • · Stephen Bible martyr
  • · Stephen first martyr Acts

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