The name Stephen means “a crown,” and he won the crown of life because he was faithful unto death (Rev 2:10)

Arrest, Accusation, Address, Assault

Filled with the Holy Spirit to Serve
1. "honest report" good man
2. "full of the Spirit" godly man
3. "wisdom" gifted man

Filled with the Holy Spirit to Speak
1. Debating truth (Acts 6:9-15)
2. Defending truth (Acts 7:1-50)
3. Declaring truth (Acts 7:51-54)

Filled with the Holy Spirit to Suffer
1. He suffered voluntarily (Acts 7:55-56)
2. He suffered victoriously (Acts 7:57-60)

Look out for similarities between Stephen and his Lord.

Acts 7:2-8 Revelation to Abraham
- Call of Abraham (v2-4)
- Covenant of Circumcision (v5-8)

Acts 7:9-19 Rule of Joseph
- Promotion of Joseph (v9-10)
- Provision for the Famine (v11-13)
- Passage to Egypt  (v14-16)
- Persecution by Pharaoh (v17-19)

Acts 7:20-36 Record of Moses
- 1st 40 years: Moses was raised (v20-22)
- 2nd 40 years: Moses was rejected (v23-29)
- 3rd 40 years: Moses was ready (v30-36)

Acts 7:37-43 Rebellion against God
- Revelation of the Prophet (v37)
- Reception of the Lively Oracles (v38)
- Rejection of Moses (v39)
- Return to Egypt (v40-41)
- Relegation to Babylon (v42-43)

Acts 7:44-50 Residence of God
- Joshua brought in the Tabernacle (v44-45)
- David beget the Thought (v46)
- Solomon built the Temple (v47)
- God's being on His Throne (v48-50)

Acts 7:51-53 Resisting the Holy Spirit
- Defiance to the Holy Spirit (v51)
- Disdain of the Just One (v52)
- Disobedience to the Law (v53)

Acts 6:9-15 - The Slander of the Libertines (defamation and malice)
Acts 7:1-53 - The Sermon of Stephen (defense and message)
Acts 7:54-60 - The Stoning of Stephen (death and  martyrdom)

Acts 1-12 Operation Holy Land
- The Greater Jerusalem Crusade
- Headed up by Peter
- Assisted by John, Stephen and Philip

Acts 13-28 Operation Whole Earth
- The Global Crusade
- Headed up by Paul
- Assisted by Barnabas, Silas, Mark, Timothy and Luke

1. An Israelite (Num 15:36) - stoned because of profaning the Sabbath
2. Achan (Jos 7:25) - stoned because of  propensity (greed)
3. Adoram (1 Kgs 12:18, 2 Chr 10:18) - stoned because of politics
4. Naboth (1 Kgs 21:13) - stoned because of his vineyard possession
5. Zechariah (2 Chr 24:21) - stoned because of his prophecy
6. Lord Jesus  (John 8:59) - the Jews attempted to stone Him because His Pre-existence (Before Abraham was, I Am)
7. Lord Jesus (John 10:31) - the Jews attempted to stone Him because His Person (He claimed to be God)
8. Stephen (Acts 7:58) - stoned because their heart was pierced
9. Paul (Acts 14:19) - stoned because of the preaching of the Gospel

They spoke of stoning David but they did not do it.

Men that were filled with or full of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles

Three Groups
1. The Twelve (Acts 2:4) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in their speaking
2. The Early Church (Acts 4:31) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in their supplications
3. The Disciples (Acts 13:52) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in their strength

Four Individuals
1. Peter (Acts 4:8) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in his message
2. Stephen (Acts 6:5, 7:55) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in his martyrdom
3. Barnabas (Acts 11:24) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in his ministry
4. Paul (Acts 9:17, 13:9) - Filled with the Holy Spirit in his mission