The $alpha$-L-arabinofuranosidase (Arfase) gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus No. 236 was cloned and sequenced. The ORF of the gene, designated arfA, encoded a 507 -residue polypeptide with calculated molecular mass of 57 kDa. The Arfase produced by a recombinant Escherichia coli strain containing the arfA gene was purified to apparent homogeneity and characterized. The molecular mass of the Arfase determined by SDS-PAGE was 60 kDa. However, according to gel filtration, it was estimated to be approximately 190 kDa. These results indicated that the functional form of the Arfase is trimeric. The optimal pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were pH 6.5 and $55^{circ}C$, respectively. The half-life of the enzyme at $60^{circ}C$ was about 6 h. Kinetic experiments at $45^{circ}C$ with pNPM (p-nitrophenyl $alpha$-L-arabinofuranoside) as a substrate gave the $K_m and V_{max}$ values of 1.19 mM and 26.1 U/ mg, respectively. When the enzyme was combined with Bacillus stearothermophilus No. 236 endoxylanase and $eta$-xylosidase, it hydrolyzed arabinoxylan into L-arabinose and xylose more efficiently than Arfase alone. This synergistic effect suggested that the complete hydrolysis of xylan with large amounts of arabinose side chains required Arfase as well as endoxylanase and $eta$-xylosidase.