Be Like Stephen | Acts 6:8-7:60

Published July 23, 2026
Acts series graphic with world map background and mountains, titled ‘Be Like Stephen | Acts 6:8–7:60

Jesus shapes His people. Spend enough time with someone, and you start to reflect them—how they think, what they love, how they respond under pressure. The same is true spiritually. When we walk closely with Jesus, a family resemblance begins to show.

That is exactly what we see in Acts 6–7 through the life of Stephen.

Stephen was not introduced as a platform preacher or public leader. He first appears as a servant—one of seven men chosen to ensure overlooked widows were cared for (Acts 6:1–7). But as his story unfolds, we see something deeper than competence or character. We see a man whose life clearly reflects Jesus.

If we want to grow as disciples, the invitation is simple: be like Stephen.

Be Full of the Spirit

Luke emphasizes what filled Stephen’s life:

  • Full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5)

  • Full of God’s grace and power (Acts 6:8)

  • Full of wisdom (Acts 6:3)

What fills you will spill out when life presses in. Pressure reveals what is already inside.

Stephen faced opposition, false accusations, and arrest. Yet what came out of him was not anger or fear, but faith, grace, and wisdom. Why? Because he was not full of himself—he was full of the Spirit.

And notice where that fullness first showed up: in quiet, faithful service. Before Stephen preached publicly, he served practically. The Spirit fills us not to make us impressive, but to make us faithful.

Reflect God’s Presence

In a tense, hostile courtroom, Stephen stood out. Acts 6:15 says his face was “like the face of an angel.”

This echoes Moses, whose face reflected God’s glory after being in His presence (Exodus 34). Stephen had clearly been with God—and it showed.

The world does not need polished appearances. It needs people who have been with Jesus.

This kind of life is formed through what we might call holy habits: time in Scripture, prayer, worship, obedience, and daily surrender. Not as a checklist, but as a relationship. Over time, God’s presence becomes visible in us.

Know the Story You’re In

When questioned, Stephen responds with the longest sermon in Acts (Acts 7). He walks through Israel’s history—from Abraham to Jesus—showing God’s faithfulness across generations.

But he also exposes a pattern: God sends messengers, and people reject them. Joseph was rejected. Moses was rejected. The prophets were persecuted. And ultimately, Jesus was crucified.

Stephen understood something essential: his life was part of God’s bigger story.

When we forget that, we start treating our lives as the main storyline—centered on our comfort, success, and plans. But Scripture reminds us that Jesus is the center. We have been invited into His mission.

Knowing that changes how we face hardship. What feels unexpected to us is often part of a much larger pattern in God’s redemptive work.

Speak Truth with a Redemptive Aim

Stephen’s message ends with strong words (Acts 7:51–53). He confronts the leaders for resisting the Holy Spirit and rejecting Jesus.

But his boldness is not driven by anger or pride. He is described as full of grace and the Spirit. His goal is not to win an argument—it is to call people to repentance.

This is a critical distinction for disciples today. Truth is not a weapon to shame people; it is a means God uses to awaken hearts.

As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:25, we correct others “in the hope that God will grant them repentance.”

We speak clearly, but we also speak with humility, patience, and hope.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

As the crowd grows enraged, Stephen lifts his eyes and sees “the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).

There is a striking contrast:

  • On earth, Stephen is condemned; in heaven, he is seen and known.

  • On earth, lies are spoken; in heaven, truth reigns.

  • On earth, he appears defeated; in heaven, Jesus stands in victory.

Scripture often describes Jesus as seated at God’s right hand, ruling as King. Here, He is standing—a powerful reminder that Stephen is not alone.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus changes how we endure suffering, conflict, and uncertainty. When our focus stays only on what is happening around us, we become overwhelmed. But when we look up, we are anchored in what is eternally true.

Become Like Jesus

Everything in Stephen’s life culminates in his final moments (Acts 7:57–60).

As he is being stoned, he prays:
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

These words echo Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:34, 46).

Stephen did not just speak about Jesus—he reflected Him. Even in suffering, he responded with trust and forgiveness.

This is the clearest picture of spiritual maturity. It is not simply knowing more about Jesus, but becoming more like Him.

And there is one more detail worth noticing: a young man named Saul is present, approving of Stephen’s death (Acts 7:58; 8:1). That same Saul will later become Paul, a key leader in spreading the gospel.

Stephen never saw that outcome. But his Christ-like witness was part of God’s larger work.

We should not underestimate what God can do through a life marked by grace and forgiveness.

Practice This Week

Stephen’s story is not just inspiring; it is invitational. Whether you are already following Jesus or just exploring faith, you can start with simple steps like these:

  1. Start each day with Scripture and surrender. Read Acts 6–7 once this week. Before you check your phone or start your tasks, pray, “Jesus, fill me and form me,” and ask Him to lead your day.

  2. Choose one holy habit. Commit to 10 minutes a day in one of Stephen’s “holy habits” from the blog: Scripture, prayer, worship, obedience, or daily surrender. Set a reminder so it actually happens.

  3. Serve someone quietly. Look for one overlooked person or need at home, work, or church and meet it without drawing attention to yourself, just as Stephen first served widows in simple, practical ways.

  4. Stay gentle in one hard moment. When you face criticism, conflict, or frustration this week, pause and ask the Spirit to help you respond with grace instead of defensiveness, letting pressure reveal Jesus rather than just your preferences.

  5. Invite someone into hope. Think of one person who may feel discouraged or far from God and invite them to join you at The Crossing or online this Sunday, or share this message with them.

As you take these small steps, carry a simple prayer into your week:

Jesus, fill me and form me.

Pray it in the morning.
Pray it before difficult conversations.
Pray it when you are hurt, frustrated, or overwhelmed.

Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit and form you into His likeness.

Because the goal is not for people to see how impressive we are. The goal is for them to recognize the family resemblance—that we have been with Jesus.

And as that happens, our lives begin to echo the same invitation:

Be like Stephen.
Become like Jesus.

-Post contributed & edited by Dave, one of our amazing volunteers!

Stephen was one of seven servants chosen to make sure overlooked widows in the early church were cared for. He wasn’t introduced as a platform preacher or public leader, but as a man full of faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, power, and wisdom. As his story unfolds in Acts 6–7, we see a life that clearly reflects Jesus in both everyday service and intense suffering.

From Stephen, we learn that spiritual maturity is not about impressing people but about becoming more like Jesus, responding with trust, forgiveness, and faithfulness even when life is hard.

In Stephen’s life, being full of the Holy Spirit meant that what came out of him under pressure was faith, grace, wisdom, and courage instead of anger or fear. Luke highlights that he was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, full of God’s grace and power, and full of wisdom.

This fullness didn’t start on a stage but in quiet, faithful service, as he cared practically for widows. To be full of the Spirit today is to let God shape what fills our minds, hearts, and habits so that, when life presses in, Jesus is what spills out.

Stephen faced opposition, false accusations, arrest, and eventually death, yet he remained faithful by keeping his eyes on Jesus and remembering the bigger story he was part of. He saw “the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” which anchored him in what was eternally true even as chaos swirled around him.

We stay faithful under pressure by fixing our focus on Jesus, practicing “holy habits” like Scripture, prayer, worship, obedience, and daily surrender, and remembering that our lives are part of God’s larger redemptive work, not just our comfort or plans.

As Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” echoing Jesus’ words on the cross. He did not just talk about Jesus; he reflected Him, responding to deep injustice with trust and forgiveness.

Forgiving like Stephen and Jesus starts with seeing forgiveness as part of God’s bigger story, not just our feelings in the moment. It means asking Jesus to help us release revenge, pray for those who have hurt us, and trust God to bring justice and redemption in ways we may never see on this side of eternity.

Your blog already outlines practical steps: start each day with Scripture and surrender, read Acts 6–7, and pray, “Jesus, fill me and form me,” before you dive into your tasks. Choose one holy habit—Scripture, prayer, worship, obedience, or daily surrender—for 10 minutes a day, and set a reminder so it actually happens.

You can also serve someone quietly, respond with gentleness in one hard moment, and invite someone into hope by pointing them to Jesus or welcoming them to church or online. Becoming more like Jesus is less about a dramatic moment and more about small, faithful choices that, over time, make His presence visible in our lives.