Acts 8:2
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
God-fearing men
This phrase refers to devout Jewish individuals who were deeply committed to their faith and reverence for God. In the context of Acts, these men were likely part of the Jewish community in Jerusalem who had come to respect and follow the teachings of Jesus. The Greek term used here, "ἀνδρες εὐλαβεῖς" (andres eulabeis), suggests a deep piety and reverence, indicating that these men were not just casual followers but were sincerely devoted to honoring God in their actions and beliefs. Historically, "God-fearing" individuals were often those who, while not fully converted to Judaism, respected and adhered to many of its teachings, and in the early church, they played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity.

buried Stephen
The act of burial was significant in Jewish culture, as it was considered a sacred duty to ensure that the dead were treated with respect and dignity. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was given a proper burial by these devout men, which underscores the respect and honor they had for him. The Greek word for "buried" here is "συνεκόμισαν" (synekopsan), which implies a careful and respectful handling of Stephen's body. This act of burial also highlights the early Christian community's commitment to caring for one another, even in death, and their belief in the hope of resurrection.

and mourned deeply for him
Mourning in Jewish tradition was an expression of deep sorrow and loss, often involving specific rituals and periods of lamentation. The phrase "mourned deeply" in Greek is "ἐποίησαν κοπετὸν μέγαν" (epoiēsan kopeton megan), indicating an intense and profound expression of grief. This mourning was not only for the loss of Stephen as a beloved member of their community but also for the suffering and persecution that the early church was beginning to face. The depth of their mourning reflects the love and unity within the early Christian community, as well as their shared commitment to the faith despite the challenges they encountered.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Stephen
A deacon in the early church, known for his faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his bold proclamation of the Gospel.

2. God-fearing men
These were devout Jewish believers who respected and honored God. They took the responsibility to give Stephen a proper burial, showing their respect and love for him despite the risk of persecution.

3. Burial of Stephen
This event marks a significant moment in the early church, highlighting the persecution faced by believers and the courage of those who continued to honor God and His servants.

4. Mourning
The deep mourning over Stephen's death reflects the love and respect the early Christians had for one another, as well as the sorrow over the loss of a faithful servant of God.

5. Persecution of the Church
This event occurs in the context of increasing persecution against the early church, which led to the scattering of believers and the spread of the Gospel.
Teaching Points
The Cost of Discipleship
Stephen's death reminds us that following Christ may lead to persecution and sacrifice. Believers are called to remain faithful even in the face of adversity.

Community Support
The God-fearing men who buried Stephen exemplify the importance of community support and honoring those who have served faithfully. We are called to support and care for one another in times of loss.

Courage in Faith
The early Christians' willingness to mourn and bury Stephen despite the risk of persecution demonstrates courage. We are encouraged to stand firm in our faith and support others, even when it is difficult.

Hope in Mourning
While mourning is a natural response to loss, believers have hope in the resurrection and eternal life. This hope should comfort us and motivate us to live faithfully.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the burial of Stephen by God-fearing men demonstrate the early church's commitment to honoring their fellow believers?

2. In what ways can we support and honor those who have served faithfully in our own faith communities today?

3. How does Stephen's martyrdom challenge us to consider the cost of discipleship in our own lives?

4. What role does community play in helping believers navigate times of persecution and loss, as seen in the early church?

5. How can the hope of the resurrection and eternal life influence our perspective on mourning and loss?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 7:54-60
Provides the context of Stephen's martyrdom, showing his vision of Jesus and his forgiving spirit, which parallels Christ's own words on the cross.

Matthew 5:4
Jesus' teaching on mourning, which promises comfort to those who mourn, can be seen in the context of the early church's grief over Stephen.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Offers hope in the face of death, reminding believers of the resurrection and the eternal life promised through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:35-40
Highlights the faith of those who suffered for their beliefs, including those who were martyred, like Stephen.
Stephen's FuneralB. D. Johns.Acts 8:2
The Burial of StephenJ. Marratt.Acts 8:2
The Burial of StephenP. C. Horton.Acts 8:2
The Grave Beside the ChurchR.A. Redford Acts 8:2
The Lamentation At Stephen's FuneralBp. H. C. Potter.Acts 8:2
The Enemy Coming in Like a FloodR.A. Redford Acts 8:1-3
Discordant Elements Obedient to the Accomplishing of One PurposeP.C. Barker Acts 8:1-4
Perversion and RestorationW. Clarkson Acts 8:1-4
Providence Making MissionariesR. Tuck Acts 8:1-4
After Stephen, PaulActs 8:1-8
Stephen and SaulCanon Liddon.Acts 8:1-8
Strong Contrasts of Moral CharacterJ. S. Exell, M. A.Acts 8:1-8
The Apostles Stayed Bravely in JerusalemS. G. Green, D. D.Acts 8:1-8
The DispersionDean Plumptre.Acts 8:1-8
The Effect of PersecutionArchdeacon Farrar.Acts 8:1-8
The Extension of the ChurchC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 8:1-8
The Persecution After StephenD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 8:1-8
The Scattered Church; or Good Out of EvilW. H. Davison.Acts 8:1-8
The Wonderful Ways of the Lord in the Propagation of His KingdomK. Gerok.Acts 8:1-8
Three Great Figures in the ChurchJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 8:1-8
Incidents of Persecution and DispersionE. Johnson Acts 8:1-13
People
Candace, Esaias, Ethiopians, Isaiah, John, Peter, Philip, Saul, Simon, Stephen
Places
Azotus, Caesarea, Gaza, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria
Topics
Body, Burial, Buried, Carried, Deeply, Devout, God-fearing, Greatly, However, Lamentation, Lamented, Loud, Making, Mourned, Party, Pious, Resting-place, Stephen, Stephen's, Weeping
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 8:2

     5241   burial
     5288   dead, the
     5419   mourning
     5796   bereavement, experience
     5952   sorrow
     8265   godliness
     8341   separation

Acts 8:1-3

     2426   gospel, responses
     8483   spiritual warfare, causes
     8739   evil, examples of

Acts 8:1-4

     8027   faith, testing of

Acts 8:1-5

     8498   witnessing, and Holy Spirit

Library
Simon the Sorcerer
'Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.'--ACTS viii. 21. The era of the birth of Christianity was one of fermenting opinion and decaying faith. Then, as now, men's minds were seething and unsettled, and that unrest which is the precursor of great changes in intellectual and spiritual habitudes affected the civilised world. Such a period is ever one of predisposition to superstition. The one true bond which unites God and man being obscured,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Philip the Evangelist
'But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.'--ACTS viii. 40. The little that is known about Philip, the deacon and evangelist, may very soon be told. His name suggests, though by no means conclusively, that he was probably one of the so-called Hellenists, or foreign-born and Greek-speaking Jews. This is made the more probable because he was one of the seven selected by the Church, and after that selection appointed by the Apostles,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Seed Scattered and Taking Root
'And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

A Meeting in the Desert
'And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet. 29. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The General Spread of the Gospel
"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters covers the sea." Isa. 11:9. 1. In what a condition is the world at present! How does darkness, intellectual darkness, ignorance, with vice and misery attendant upon it, cover the face of the earth! From the accurate inquiry made with indefatigable pains by our ingenious countryman, Mr. Brerewood; (who travelled himself over a great part of the known world, in order to form the more exact judgment;) supposing the world to be divided
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Twenty-Sixth Day for the Holy Spirit on Young Converts
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Holy Spirit on Young Converts "Peter and John prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus."--ACTS viii. 15, 16. "Now He which establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."--2 COR. i. 21, 22. How many new converts who remain feeble; how many who fall into sin; how many who backslide
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Period iii. The Critical Period: A. D. 140 to A. D. 200
The interval between the close of the post-apostolic age and the end of the second century, or from about 140 to 200, may be called the Critical Period of Ancient Christianity. In this period there grew up conceptions of Christianity which were felt by the Church, as a whole, to be fundamentally opposed to its essential spirit and to constitute a serious menace to the Christian faith as it had been commonly received. These conceptions, which grew up both alongside of, and within the Church, have
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History

Gaza
After very many histories of this place in the Holy Bible, which there is no need to repeat here,--in this city did Alexander the Great, at length, besiege Babemeses the Persian, by the space of two months. "And that city, which before-time was most famous, was laid waste by him, and rendered desert." Not that he had destroyed the building of the city, or consumed it with fire; for presently after his death, Antigonus and Ptolemy, his captains, fighting, it had walls, gates, and fortifications: but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

And on the Day Following He Went Forth Still More Eagerly Bent on The...
11. And on the day following he went forth still more eagerly bent on the service of God and having fallen in with the old man he had met previously, he asked him to dwell with him in the desert. But when the other declined on account of his great age, and because as yet there was no such custom, Antony himself set off forthwith to the mountain. And yet again the enemy seeing his zeal and wishing to hinder it, cast in his way what seemed to be a great silver dish. But Antony, seeing the guile of
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Whether Baptism Can be Conferred in the Name of Christ?
Objection 1: It seems that Baptism can be conferred in the name of Christ. For just as there is "one Faith," so is there "one Baptism" (Eph. 4:5). But it is related (Acts 8:12) that "in the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized, both men and women." Therefore now also can Baptism be conferred in the name of Christ. Objection 2: Further, Ambrose says (De Spir. Sanct. i): "If you mention Christ, you designate both the Father by Whom He was anointed, and the Son Himself, Who was anointed, and the
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Chrism is a Fitting Matter for this Sacrament?
Objection 1: It seems that chrism is not a fitting matter for this sacrament. For this sacrament, as stated above (A[1], ad 1), was instituted by Christ when He promised His disciples the Holy Ghost. But He sent them the Holy Ghost without their being anointed with chrism. Moreover, the apostles themselves bestowed this sacrament without chrism, by the mere imposition of hands: for it is written (Acts 8:17) that the apostles "laid their hands upon" those who were baptized, "and they received the
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Imposition of the Priest's Hands is Necessary for this Sacrament?
Objection 1: It would seem that the imposition of the priest's hands is necessary for this sacrament. For it is written (Mk. 16:18): "They shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall recover." Now sinners are sick spiritually, and obtain recovery through this sacrament. Therefore an imposition of hands should be made in this sacrament. Objection 2: Further, in this sacrament man regains the Holy Ghost Whom he had lost, wherefore it is said in the person of the penitent (Ps. 1:14): "Restore unto
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Penance is a Sacrament?
Objection 1: It would seem that Penance is not a sacrament. For Gregory [*Cf. Isidore, Etym. vi, ch. 19] says: "The sacraments are Baptism, Chrism, and the Body and Blood of Christ; which are called sacraments because under the veil of corporeal things the Divine power works out salvation in a hidden manner." But this does not happen in Penance, because therein corporeal things are not employed that, under them, the power of God may work our salvation. Therefore Penance is not a sacrament. Objection
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Baptism Should be Deferred?
Objection 1: It seems that Baptism should be deferred. For Pope Leo says (Epist. xvi): "Two seasons," i.e. Easter and Whitsuntide, "are fixed by the Roman Pontiff for the celebration of Baptism. Wherefore we admonish your Beatitude not to add any other days to this custom." Therefore it seems that Baptism should be conferred not at once, but delayed until the aforesaid seasons. Objection 2: Further, we read in the decrees of the Council of Agde (Can. xxxiv): "If Jews whose bad faith often "returns
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether those who had Been Baptized with John's Baptism had to be Baptized with the Baptism of Christ?
Objection 1: It would seem that those who had been baptized with John's baptism had not to be baptized with the baptism of Christ. For John was not less than the apostles, since of him is it written (Mat. 11:11): "There hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist." But those who were baptized by the apostles were not baptized again, but only received the imposition of hands; for it is written (Acts 8:16,17) that some were "only baptized" by Philip "in the name
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Simony is an Intentional Will to Buy or Sell Something Spiritual or Connected with a Spiritual Thing?
Objection 1: It would seem that simony is not "an express will to buy or sell something spiritual or connected with a spiritual thing." Simony is heresy, since it is written (I, qu. i [*Can. Eos qui per pecunias.]): "The impious heresy of Macedonius and of those who with him impugned the Holy Ghost, is more endurable than that of those who are guilty of simony: since the former in their ravings maintained that the Holy Spirit of Father and Son is a creature and the slave of God, whereas the latter
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Holy Spirit Sending Men Forth to Definite Lines of Work.
We read in Acts xiii. 2-4, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed into Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus." It is evident from this passage that the Holy Spirit calls men into definite lines of work and sends them forth into the work. He not
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Preventive against Backsliding.
It is most instructive to note how exceedingly anxious the early Christians were, that, as soon as a man was converted, he should be "filled with the Holy Ghost." They knew no reason why weary wastes of disappointing years should stretch between Bethel and Peniel, between the Cross and Pentecost. They knew it was not God's will that forty years of wilderness wanderings should lie between Egypt and the Promised Land (Deut. i. 2). When Peter and John came to the Samaritans, and found that they were
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

How Long Between?
It is often asked what time must elapse between the regenerating by the Spirit and the filling with the Spirit? for be it remembered the Filling is as real and distinct and definite a blessing as the regenerating. Many people know the moment of their new birth; they were conscious of the change; so also many know when they were "filled with the Holy Ghost;" it was a blessed, bright, conscious experience, and it is as impossible to argue them out of the one experience as out of the other. On the other
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

The Early History of Particular Churches.
A.D. 67-A.D. 500 Section 1. The Church of England. [Sidenote: St. Paul's visit to England.] The CHURCH OF ENGLAND is believed, with good reason, to owe its foundation to the Apostle St. Paul, who probably came to this country after his first imprisonment at Rome. The writings of Tertullian, and others in the second and third centuries speak of Christianity as having spread as far as the islands of Britain, and a British king named Lucius is known to have embraced the Faith about the middle of
John Henry Blunt—A Key to the Knowledge of Church History

Philip, the Evangelist
BY REV. GEORGE MILLIGAN, M.A., D.D. Philip the Evangelist must be carefully distinguished from Philip the Apostle. And though it is little that we are told regarding him in Scripture, that little is very significant. He first comes before us as one of the seven chosen by the early Church at Jerusalem to take charge of the daily ministration of charity to the poor widows (Acts vi. I ff.). And when this work is hindered by the outbreak of persecution following on the death of Stephen, we find him
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Whether Sanctifying Grace is Bestowed in this Sacrament?
Objection 1: It seems that sanctifying grace is not bestowed in this sacrament. For sanctifying grace is ordained against sin. But this sacrament, as stated above [4492](A[6]) is given only to the baptized, who are cleansed from sin. Therefore sanctifying grace is not bestowed in this sacrament. Objection 2: Further, sinners especially need sanctifying grace, by which alone can they be justified. If, therefore, sanctifying grace is bestowed in this sacrament, it seems that it should be given to those
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Only a Bishop Can Confer this Sacrament?
Objection 1: It seems that not only a bishop can confer this sacrament. For Gregory (Regist. iv), writing to Bishop Januarius, says: "We hear that some were scandalized because we forbade priests to anoint with chrism those who have been baptized. Yet in doing this we followed the ancient custom of our Church: but if this trouble some so very much we permit priests, where no bishop is to be had, to anoint the baptized on the forehead with chrism." But that which is essential to the sacraments should
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called. Their Spuriousness Proved, and their True Character Explained.
1. Connection of the present discussion with that concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Impiety of the popish teachers in attributing more to human rites than to the ordinances of God. 2. Men cannot institute sacraments. Necessary to keep up a distinction between sacraments and other ceremonies. 3. Seven sacraments not to be found in ecclesiastical writers. Augustine, who may represent all the others, acknowledged two sacraments only. 4. Nature of confirmation in ancient times. The laying on
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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