Canaanites.” Since the Bible record does not detail the manner in which the stars “fought,” it appears sufficient to regard the statement as showing some divine action of a miraculous nature taken on behalf of Israel’s army.—Gen. 18:14.

STATER

A silver coin with which the temple tax was paid for Jesus and his apostle Peter. Equivalent to four drachmas, it amounted to about four days’ wages at that time. (Matt. 17:24, 27) Many scholars view it as the tetradrachma minted at Antioch (Syria) or Tyre. The Tyrian tetradrachma, approximately the size of the United States half-dollar, bore the head of the god Melkarth on the obverse side, an eagle perched on a ship’s rudder on the reverse side, and an inscription reading “Tyre the Holy and Invincible.” A likeness of Emperor Augustus appeared on the tetradrachma of Antioch.

STATUTE

A formally established and recorded rule or law, divine or human. (Gen. 26:5; Ps. 89:30-32; Dan. 6:15) The Bible reveals Jehovah God to be the supreme Statute-giver.—Isa. 33:22; see LAW; LAWGIVER.

STATUTE-GIVER

See LAWGIVER.

STEALING

See THIEF.

STEEL

See IRON.

STEPHANAS

(Stephʹa·nas) [crowned].

One of the mature members of the congregation at Corinth, the capital of the Roman province of Achaia in southern Greece. Paul personally baptized Stephanas’ household as the “first fruits” of his ministry in that province. (1 Cor. 1:16; 16:15) Some five years later, about 55 C.E., Stephanas, together with two other brothers from Corinth, visited Paul in Ephesus, and it may have been through them that Paul learned of the distressing conditions about which he wrote in his first canonical letter to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 1:11; 5:1; 11:18) Also, it may have been by their hands that this letter was delivered to Corinth.—1 Cor. 16:17.

STEPHEN

(Steʹphen) [crown, wreath].

The first Christian martyr. Though his name is Greek, he was one of the faithful Jewish remnant that accepted and followed the Messiah.—Acts 7:2.

HIS APPOINTMENT TO A SPECIAL MINISTRY

Stephen’s name first appears in the Bible record in connection with the appointment of men to special service responsibilities in the Christian congregation at Jerusalem. The account reads: “Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing, a murmuring arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.” The apostles saw the need for special attention to this matter, and instructed the congregation: “So, brothers, search out for yourselves seven certified men from among you, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this necessary business.” These qualified men were then selected, and were appointed by the apostles.—Acts 6:1-4.

Stephen therefore received an appointment to a ministry in a special way. He may have already been an “older man” or “overseer,” along with the six others appointed over “this necessary business,” the distribution of food supplies. These men were men “full of spirit and wisdom,” which this particular emergency required, for it was, not only the mechanical distribution of food supplies (possibly in the form of grains and other staples), but also a matter of administration. The duties may have called for these men to handle buying, keeping of records, and so forth. So, although such work, if on a lesser scale or under other circumstances, might have been such as would be handled by a di·aʹko·nos, a “ministerial servant,” not an “overseer” or “older man,” the situation here was a sensitive one, difficulty and differences already existing in the congregation. Therefore it required men of notable judgment, discretion, understanding and experience. Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin indicates his qualifications.

While taking care of these appointed ministerial duties, Stephen vigorously continued his Christian preaching. The chronicler Luke reports that “Stephen, full of graciousness and power,” and “performing great portents and signs among the people,” was bitterly opposed by Jews of the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen and others from Asia and Africa. But Stephen spoke with such wisdom and spirit that they could not hold their own against him. As had been done in Jesus’ case, these enemies secretly secured false witnesses to accuse Stephen of blasphemy before the Sanhedrin.

HIS DEFENSE BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN

Stephen boldly recounted God’s dealings with the Jews from the time of their forefather Abraham, and concluded with powerful accusations against his own audience of religious leaders. As they were cut to the heart by the truth of the accusations and began to gnash their teeth at him, Stephen was favored by God with a vision of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand. At his description of the vision, the assembly shouted and rushed upon him with one accord and threw him outside the city. Then, laying their garments at the feet of Saul, they stoned Stephen to death. Just before ‘falling asleep in death’ Stephen prayed: “Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.” Certain reverent men came and gave him a burial and lamented his death. Great persecution then broke out against the Christians, scattering them (though the apostles remained in Jerusalem), and resulting in the spreading of the good news.—Acts 6:8–8:2; 11:19; 22:20; see FREEDMAN, FREEMAN.

Stephen’s account delivered before the Sanhedrin includes a number of facts concerning Jewish history that are not found in the Hebrew Scriptures: Moses’ Egyptian education, his age of forty when he fled Egypt, the forty-year duration of his stay in Midian before returning to Egypt, and the role of angels in giving the Mosaic law.—Acts 7:22, 23, 30, 32, 38.

Stephen was the first to bear witness that he had seen, in a special vision, Jesus returned to heaven and at the right hand of God, as prophesied at Psalm 110:1.—Acts 7:55, 56.

STEWARD

[Heb., so·khenʹ; Gr., oi·ko·noʹmos].

One placed in charge of the household or of certain property belonging to another. A steward might be a freeman or a trusted slave. The ‘unrighteous steward’ to whom Jesus referred in one of his illustrations seems to be pictured as a freeman. (Luke 16:1, 2, 4) Kings, and many other persons of wealth or distinction, had a steward, and men might vary as to the degree of authority they gave to their stewards. The Greek word e·piʹtro·pos, “man in charge,” is closely related in meaning, since a steward often had oversight of the house as well as the other servants and the property, and at times over business affairs.—Gal. 4:1-3; Luke 16:1-3.

Abraham had a faithful servant, Eliezer of Damascus as man in charge of his extensive belongings, consisting of great wealth of livestock and, at one time, many slaves, although Abraham held no land possessions other than a burial plot. (Gen. 13:2; 14:14; 15:2; 23:17-20; Acts 7:4, 5) Joseph, as a slave in Egypt, came to be in charge of Potiphar’s house. (Gen. 39:1-4, 8, 9) King Elah of Israel had a man over his household in Tirzah. This was likely a custom also of the other ancient kings. (1 Ki. 16:9) Shebna was steward over the king’s house in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, but he was unfaithful and was replaced by Eliakim the son of Hilkiah.—Isa. 22:15, 20, 21.