And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.
στεφανος δε πληρης πιστεως και δυναμεως εποιει τερατα και σημεια μεγαλα εν τω λαω
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
See how even among the seven one was chief and held primacy. Although the ordination was common to all, he nevertheless received greater grace. He did not work signs before this, but only after he had become known. This made clear that grace alone was not sufficient for this, but ordination was also needed, for it increased the gifts of the Spirit. They had already been full of the Spirit before this, but that was from the laver of Baptism.
See how one of the seven was preferred above the others. Although the ordination was common, this one acquired greater grace. Notice also that before this time he did not work miracles. He began to work miracles when he became known as chosen and ordained, in order to show that grace alone is not sufficient, but ordination is also necessary. Thus, through the laying on of hands, an increase of the Spirit was communicated. Even before ordination, at his election, he had been attested as full of the Spirit. Yet the gifts of the Spirit are diverse.
In Greek, Stephen means "crowned." In a most beautiful way, by a kind of foreshadowing, he anticipated in his name what he was to receive in deed: humbly stoned, yet exaltedly crowned.
In the Hebrew language his name means "your example." For whom did he become a witness, if not for those who followed? For them he became an example, being the first to suffer and die for Christ.
Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum libri 7.11.3. Augustine of Hippo, Enarrationes in psalmos 58.1.5. Jerome of Stridon, Liber de nominibus Hebraicis. Probably this means that, as a Jew of the diaspora, Stephen also had a Hebrew name.
In the time of the Apostles the Jews were scattered throughout all the countries of the then known world. Born and raised far from Palestine among foreigners, they often did not know the language of their people, but spoke the language of the country where they were born and lived permanently.
Meanwhile, they all continued to regard Jerusalem as their common sacred city, from which they had to expect salvation for Israel. Therefore both commercial affairs and especially religious needs always attracted to Jerusalem a great multitude of Jews scattered among the Gentiles.
As a result, there were then a great many synagogues in Jerusalem, or places for Jewish prayer assemblies. Every city or region with a more or less considerable number of Jewish inhabitants had its own synagogue in Jerusalem.
Before his conversion to Christ, Stephen, one of the seven deacons, probably belonged to one of the synagogues mentioned here. Therefore he probably also had many acquaintances among the foreign Jews.
When Stephen walked through the city to carry out his duty of serving poor Christians, he also performed great wonders and signs among the people. He drew universal attention, especially from his acquaintances belonging to the foreign synagogues.
The latter could not forgive the very apostasy of a brother who had once been of one mind with them. Their agitation against him increased still more because, whenever they entered public disputations with Stephen on matters of faith, they always suffered defeat and disgrace.
Enlightened by the Spirit of God, Stephen always spoke with irresistible conviction. This decisively armed his brethren against him, and they resolved to destroy Stephen.
The chosen deacons, having taken upon themselves the administration of charitable affairs, not only gave the Apostles greater freedom in the work of preaching. At the same time, they proved worthy helpers to them in this great work.
Especially remarkable in this respect was Stephen, who represents one of the notable figures in the earliest Church.
Having been chosen among the seven deacons, Saint Stephen, "full of faith and power," at once became the most prominent of them. He "performed great wonders and signs among the people," so that in this respect he seemed to stand on the same level as the Apostles.
Possessing extraordinary gifts and also a high education, he of course could not limit his ministry to the distribution of alms.
The apostolic activity and martyric death of the Archdeacon and Protomartyr Stephen had such important significance in the life of the first Christian Church that the writer of Acts narrates them in greater detail than other events of that time.
This activity and death were the starting point for the development of many later events in apostolic history. They seem to have had a special influence on Saul, the future great Apostle to the Gentiles.
The writer of Acts, companion of the Apostle Paul in his journeys, later shows quite clearly the connection between Saul's further activity and Stephen's death (Acts 7:58; 8:1; 8:3; 9:1 and following).
First the writer of Acts briefly characterizes Stephen's activity. "Full of faith" means, more properly, full of grace, χάριτος, that is, of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 4:33), or generally of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This expression indicates the abundance and variety of the spiritual gifts active in Stephen. "And power" means wonder-working power, as is clear from the subsequent indication of the signs and wonders performed by him among the people.
This indication of Stephen's miracles is noteworthy. Until now signs and wonders had been performed only by the Apostles. From this time, the gift of miracles is communicated by the Holy Spirit also to other believers for the good of Christ's Church, spreading ever more widely in the world.
"He performed great wonders and signs among the people." Serving in his new office especially among the poor, widows, and infirm, Stephen could have had many occasions to benefit the people by miraculous healing of illnesses and infirmities.
He also benefited them by spiritual consolation, encouragement, strengthening, help, prayer, and the like. Thus, as everything shows, Stephen's name enjoyed special respect and love among the people.
The activity of Archdeacon Stephen was the most outstanding among all the deacons. Being especially filled with gracious gifts through the great power of faith in Jesus Christ, he performed great wonders and signs.
These showed that Jesus, whom he glorified, is the true Messiah, Christ the Savior. The people believed him and turned to Christ in that great multitude of which the writer of Acts had just spoken.
"Serving in his new office, especially among the poor, widows, and infirm, Stephen could have had very many occasions to benefit the people by miraculous healings of diseases, as well as by spiritual consolation, encouragement, strengthening, help, prayer, and the like."
"See," writes blessed Theophylact, "how one of the seven was preferred above the others. Although the ordination was common, this one acquired greater grace.
Turn your attention also to the fact that before this time he does not work miracles. He began to work miracles when he became known as chosen and ordained, to show that grace alone is not enough, but ordination is also necessary.
Thus through the laying on of hands an increase of the Spirit was communicated. Before ordination, at his election, he had been testified to as full of the Spirit. But the gifts of the Spirit are diverse."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 14 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS