Single lesson
Seven Helpers and Stephen's Witness
Acts 6:1–7; Acts 6:8–15; Acts 7:54–8:3
This lesson helps children follow two linked parts of Acts: the choosing of seven helpers and Stephen’s brave witness. Students will sequence what happened, notice key choices, and see how the church responded to both need and opposition.
Before you teach
In Jerusalem, the number of disciples was growing and a complaint arose because some widows were being neglected in the daily service. The apostles asked the believers to choose seven qualified men, and Stephen soon became a central figure when people began disputing with him and accusing him. Later, Stephen was killed and persecution spread.
Students will be able to retell the order of events in Acts 6:1–8:3 and identify at least two choices people made and their outcomes.
Welcome: A growing church with a real problem
5 minAsk children to listen for a problem, a plan, and what happened next. Explain that the disciples were multiplying, but a complaint arose because Hellenist widows were neglected in the daily service. The twelve did not ignore the problem. They gathered the disciples and proposed a wise way to care for people while continuing their own work.
Acts 6:1, Acts 6:2, Acts 6:4
Read and explain: Seven helpers are chosen
7 minRead Acts 6:3–7 aloud. Point out the qualities named in the passage: good report, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom. The whole group was pleased, and they chose seven men, including Stephen. The apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. After this, the word of God increased and the number of disciples greatly multiplied.
Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5, Acts 6:6, Acts 6:7
Discuss: Stephen stands firm under accusation
6 minRead Acts 6:8–15 and summarise carefully. Stephen did great wonders and signs, and some people disputed with him, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Instead, they secretly induced men, stirred up the people, and set up false witnesses. The council looked at Stephen and saw his face like an angel’s face.
Acts 6:8, Acts 6:10, Acts 6:11, Acts 6:12, Acts 6:13, Acts 6:15
Make and respond: Put the story in order
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards showing the main steps: complaint, seven chosen, Stephen disputed with, false witnesses, Stephen sees Jesus, Stephen prays, believers scattered. As they place the cards in order, ask them to name a choice in each part and what followed. Keep responses close to the verses, especially Stephen’s words and Saul’s actions.
Acts 6:1, Acts 6:5, Acts 6:13, Acts 7:55, Acts 7:59, Acts 7:60, Acts 8:1, Acts 8:3
Closing: What this passage teaches about God and people
4 minFinish by reviewing the sequence together. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, saw the glory of God, and saw Jesus at God’s right hand. People in the passage made very different choices: some served wisely, some lied and attacked, Stephen prayed, and Saul ravaged the assembly. Close with one sentence from each child about what they learned.
Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5, Acts 7:55, Acts 7:56, Acts 7:60, Acts 8:3
Questions to explore
Why did the disciples choose seven men in the first part of the passage?
Look for the complaint about neglected widows and the apostles’ plan to appoint others over that business while they continued in prayer and the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:1, Acts 6:3, Acts 6:4
What happened when people could not withstand Stephen’s wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke?
Trace the next actions in order: they secretly induced men, stirred up the people, seized Stephen, and set up false witnesses.
Acts 6:10, Acts 6:11, Acts 6:12, Acts 6:13
What did Stephen say at the end, and what does that show about his response?
Read his two prayers carefully and compare them with the violent actions happening around him.
Acts 7:58, Acts 7:59, Acts 7:60
Make, think or respond
Acts Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw seven story moments from the passage on separate cards: complaint, seven chosen, Stephen disputed with, false witnesses, Stephen sees Jesus, Stephen prays, believers scattered.
- Mix the cards and have children work alone or in pairs to place them in order using the Bible reading.
- Ask children to turn over one card at a time and say what choice was made in that part of the story.
- Finish by choosing one card and reading the matching verse aloud together.
The cards help children follow the sequence across Acts 6:1–8:3 and notice the different choices and outcomes named in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, reduce the sequence to four cards and use simple phrases from the text such as 'seven chosen' and 'Stephen prayed'.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add a short verse reference to each card and explain how the outcome connects to the choice in that scene.
An optional closing prayer
'Lord God, thank you for showing us people who served, spoke wisely, and stayed faithful. Please help us to care for others and speak truthfully. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 6
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5 These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
10 They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council,
13 and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Acts 7
54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord.
58 They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8
1 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.
3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.