Acts 6:8
BeginnerActs 6:8 · World English Bible (WEB)
“Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.”
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Overview
God’s grace and power working through Stephen beyond his appointed service role.
Stephen had just been chosen to help oversee the daily distribution to widows, yet the Holy Spirit also worked through him in mighty public ministry. The verse shows that Spirit-filled service is not “lesser” ministry; God’s power may rest richly on those serving faithfully in practical ways.
What Makes This Verse Confusing?
Some manuscripts and translations read “full of grace and power” rather than “full of faith and power.” The difference is not a contradiction in meaning: Stephen is already described in Acts 6:5 as “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,” while here the emphasis is likely on the grace of God resting upon him and the power of God working through him.
The underlying Greek textual tradition contains a variation between “faith” and “grace,” and English translations may reflect different manuscript readings.
This keeps the focus where Luke places it: Stephen’s wonders were not the product of personal greatness, but of God’s gracious presence and divine power filling him.
Original Language
grace — χάρις, -ιτος, ἡ Abbott-Smith does not include the article here. , accusative, χάριν (χάριτα in Act.24:27 , Ju 4 ; see WH, App. , 157), [in LXX chiefly for חֵן ;] __1. objectively, that which causes favourable regard, gracefulness, grace, loveliness of form, graciousness of speech (cl.; Ecc.10:12 , Sir.21:16 , al.): Col.4:6 ; λόγοι τ. χάριτος (genitive qual.), Luk.4:22. __2. Subjectively, __(a) on…
If the reading “grace” is followed, it highlights divine favor and enablement resting on Stephen. The point is not merely that Stephen possessed strong inward confidence, but that God’s gracious activity was upon him in visible power.
sign — σημεῖον , -ου, τό [in LXX chiefly for אוֹת ;] a sign, mark, token ; __(a) of that which distinguishes a person or thing from others : Mat.26:48 Luk.2:12 , 2Th.3:17 (cf. Deiss., LAE , 153.2); before genitive epexeg., Rom.4:11; with genitive obj., Mat.24:8, 30 , 2Co.12:12 ; with genitive subj., Mat.16:3; __(b) a sign of warning or admonition : Mat.12:39 16:4 , Luk.2:34 11:29-30 , 1Co.14:22 ; __(with…
“Signs” are not miracles as spectacle; they point beyond themselves to God’s saving work and to the truth of the gospel being proclaimed. Stephen’s works were divine testimony, not personal display.
Lexicon & word tagging: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0)
Related Passages
Acts 4:29-30
fulfillmentThe church prayed that God would grant boldness while stretching out His hand to heal and perform signs and wonders.
Acts 6:5
backgroundStephen is first introduced as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 7:55
BackgroundActs 6:10
parallelSoon after this, Stephen’s opponents cannot withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he speaks.
1 Timothy 3:13
BackgroundActs 2:17-18
BackgroundActs 6:15
BackgroundActs 6:3
BackgroundCross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · openbible.info (CC-BY)
Key Takeaway
Stephen’s miracles reveal God’s grace and power working through a Spirit-filled servant whose faithfulness began in humble service.
In the kingdom of God, a table-servant full of the Spirit may shine with apostolic power.“
Analysis generated on August 30, 2026 · version 2.0
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