St. Stephen is often depicted with stones, a Gospel Book, a miniature church and a martyr's palm frond. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. The primary focus of this program is to cover historical and biblical content about the early church Fathers, the Apocryphal accounts, the canon, textual criticism, and the scripture itself. [Acts 6:5, 8], It seems to have been among synagogues of Hellenistic Jews that he performed his teachings and "signs and wonders" since it is said that he aroused the opposition of the "Synagogue of the Freedmen", and "of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia". The Catholic, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches and the Church of the East view Stephen as a saint. ", "LXXXVIII. Trilingual Rajnandini has also published work in a supplement for 'The Telegraph', and had her poetry shortlisted in Poems4Peace, an international project. The impression made by Stephens death was even greater than that made by his life. Stephen now represents those that Jesus had prophesied would be told what to say when they stood before the authorities. Accordingly, Stephen was taken outside the city (Leviticus 24:14; compareLuke 4:29); the witnesses threw the first stone at him (compareDeuteronomy 17:7) after taking off their upper garments and laying them at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:58) afterward Paul, now about 30 years old who evidently had charge of the whole proceedings. Why did Stephen become the first martyr for the Christian faith, and what can the church today learn about this saint from the first century? God often uses the person's godly character under fire to convict those to whom he is bearing verbal witness. Nevertheless, the Israelites turned to other gods. In itself that is not surprising, for in the early Christian church every Christian was at once a witness for Christ, and lay-preaching was common. Acts 6. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.". When Stephen preached an impassioned defense of Christianity, a mob dragged him outside the city and stoned him. Stephen in the Bible is known as the first Christian martyr. [30] Bishop John II with bishops Eusthia (from Sebastia) and Eleutherius (from Jericho) came to the tomb in Beit Jimal and translated relics to Jerusalem, this event is commemorated on 15 September. Such arguing and directness as Stephens could have but one result. However, Stephen did not back down. 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. The God of glory, he says, appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, thus establishing at the beginning of the speech one of its major themes, that God does not dwell only in one particular building (meaning the Temple). Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The first thing to note is that Acts 7:55 does not say that Stephen saw "the Father" or even that he "saw God.". Martyrdom of Stephen. Stephen died as he had lived, a faithful witness to his Master whom he acknowledged as such amid the rain of stones hurled at him, loudly calling upon His name, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59; compareLuke 23:46), and whose spirit he exemplified so nobly when, with a final effort, bending his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (Acts 7:60; compareLuke 23:34). As Stephen by his life and work marks a period of transition in the development of the early Christian church, so his name is connected with an important new departure within the organization of the church itself, namely, the institution of the office of the Seven (Acts 6:1ff), who were entrusted with the administration of the work of relief in the church at Jerusalem the foundation of the diaconate. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. Bible References: Stephen's story is told in chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Acts. (compareMark 14:58;Mark 13:2;Mark 15:29). Many Jews grew up outside of Jerusalem due to an event known as the Diaspora. They were told to choose men who were full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. At his trial, after he reviewed the truthful history of Israel, Stephen condemned the Jewish leaders for not keeping the law and for killing the prophets and the Just One. Acts 6:8:Stephen performs various wonders and signs. Thus also his conception of the transitory nature of the Mosaic Law may be traced to Christs teaching as to the Sabbath, the laws of purifying, the fulfillment of the Law and Jewish customs of the day (Matthew 5:20) and of a better righteousness than that of the Pharisees and scribes (Matthew 9:16). Second, no matter where we come from, God can use our past to shape our testimony and witness. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. https://www.learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068 (accessed April 18, 2023). Stephen's preachings were of utmost importance to society, which led to a revolutionary consequence for the early Christians. It drew forth from Stephen that masterful pleading which, so sublime in form and content and bare of all artificiality, belongs to the highest type of oratory, characterized by its deep, earnest, and genuine spirituality, the kind of oratory of which the great speeches of our own martyred Lincoln were models. [8] However, Stephen looked up and cried, "Look! And now you have betrayed and murdered him. Her modern-day Daniel, Blaze, (Illuminate YA) released in June, and the sequel Den releases July 2020. This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. Father: Zebedee Mother: Salome Brother: John Hometown: He lived in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. Since the name "Stephanos" is Greek, it has been assumed that he was one of these Hellenistic Jews. It has been partially translated into 2,883 languages. It was false as an implied insinuation that he impugned the divine origin and character of the temple and the Mosaic Law, but it was true as far as he conceived both to be only of a temporary nature and serving a merely provisional purpose, which, as we have seen, constituted the peculiarity of his teaching. The reliquary is likely a 9th-century creation. Zavada, Jack. 9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and . Thus also his defense before the Sanhedrin, though the name of Jesus was not mentioned until the very last, was in reality a grand apology for Christ. Martyrdom of Stephen. Stephen is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of a group of men that were chosen to be deacons. As they couldn't fabricate any counterargument to Stephen's vision, they produced false witnesses against him. Stephen was an evangelist. Stephen was mentioned for the first time in Act 6:5 of the Bible. He proclaimed the gospel after Jesus' resurrection and was the first apostle to be martyred for his faith. A 20th-century French Catholic church, Saint-tienne, was built in its place, while another, the Greek Orthodox Church of St Stephen, was built outside the eastern gate of the city,[18] which a second tradition holds to be the site of his martyrdom, rather than the northern location outside Damascus Gate (for the two traditions see here). The emotional appeal lies in the reverential and feeling manner in which he handles the history sacred to them all. [23][24][25][26][dubious discuss]. of an enthusiastic faith and of a deep spirituality, and his activity was not restricted to the functions of his office; in fact while nothing is said of the manner in which he fulfilled the duties of his office, though without doubt he fulfilled them faithfully, the record makes it very clear that the importance of Stephen lay in his activity as a preacher, a witness for Christ; it is this activity which has given him the place he holds in history (Acts 22:20). It is our duty to make this journey memorable and not commit any sins. FACTS is a podcast that is based out of Explore Christianity (www.explorechristianity.net). Acts 7:55 in all English translations. Likewise, he contented for the faith with those who were ultra-liberal in their beliefs. Twelve of these disciples were designated by the Lord himself as apostles who spread the Gospel. These freer views of Stephen, though possibly attributable to his Hellenic culture, were certainly not of Hellenistic origin, for just their promulgation is what brought him into controversy with the Hellenistic synagogues of Jerusalem. He said that the recently resurrected Jesus was standing by the side of God. The Roman Empire persecuted members of The Way, as early Christianity was called, for the next 300 years, finally ending with the conversion of Emperor Constantine I, who adopted the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D., allowing Christians religious freedom. For the first king of Hungary, see, Marian Wolniewicz as the translator of the Book of Acts from: The Millennium Holy Bible; Warsaw, 1980, numerous other places named Saint tienne, St. Stephen's School (ICSE/ISC), Sonarpur, Kolkata, St. Stephen's Orthodox Cathedral, Kudassanad, Pandalam, Kerala, Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura, "Article XXI (IX) Of the Invocation of the Saints", "St. Stephen's death shows importance of Scripture, Pope says", "Stephen's Speech: A Theology of Errors? They were interred alongside the relics of Saint Lawrence, whose tomb is enshrined within the church. Stephen's death sentence was rolled out by the Sanhedrin members, who couldn't tolerate the words of this gifted preacher. (1912), I. In this sense the speech of Stephen is a grand apology for the Christian cause which he represented, inasmuch as it shows clearly that the new religion was only the divinely-ordered development of the old, and not in opposition to it. We met Stephen in our last study, where he was picked as one of the seven men to help distribute food to the Hellenistic widows in a fair manner. This resulted in the number of new disciples in Jerusalem increasing along with a large number of priests being saved. Election and Ordination of Deacons. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church and Parish in St. Louis, Missouri. The climax of his speech is reached inActs 7:51-53, when Stephen, breaking off the line of argument, suddenly in direct address turns upon his hearers, and, the accused becoming the accuser, charges them openly with the sin of resisting the Holy Spirit, with the murder of the prophets and the Righteous One, and with continual disobedience to the Law. See 1 Timothy 5:1-16). Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth, and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. Uncovering of his relics (relics of the saints: Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Abibas son of Gamaliel were also found in Saint Stephen's tomb) took place in 415, Gamaliel appeared to presbyter Lucian[ru] and he told him to go to Jerusalem and inform Bishop John about relics of Saint Stephen. 1. This helped him to preach to multiple audiences. Stephen's claim that Jesus stood by him and gave him the power to endure the hardships tells us the fact that he was a true believer in God. The fundamental differences between Stephen and his opponents, as is evident from the whole tone and drift and purpose of his speech, lay in that he judged Old Testament history from the prophetical point of view, to which Jesus had also allied Himself, while his opponents represented the legalistic point of view, so characteristic of the Jewish thought of that day. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. This revolutionary message got Stephen hauled before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish council that had condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. Stephen was a man of godly character. Stephen saw that Christianity was not simply a remodelled Judaism. Stephen is stated to have been full of faith and the Holy Spirit and to have performed miracles among the people. Stephen's martyrdom was a foretaste of what was to come. Stephen also used his popularity to reach a broader base of people with the message of salvation. As Paul later put it, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" ( 2 Tim. "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? The disciples chose Stephen, and six others, and prayed over them as they began their ministry. Appointed one of the committee of seven to oversee the daily ministration. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Here is something else you might like to read: Top 7 Bible Verses About Sowing And Reaping, 25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength, Words of Encouragement: 30 Uplifting Quotes, Why Your Church Needs Vacation Bible School, Gods Amazing Conversions Through Dreams and Visions Part Three, Gods Amazing Conversions Through Dreams and Visions Part Two, Gods Amazing Conversions Through Dreams and Visions Part One, 7 Powerful Bible Verses About the Resurrection, 7 Bible Verses to Read When You Feel Like Giving Up, A Bible Study With Commentary on Romans One, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island Movie Review, The fact that Stephen was chosen to be a deacon speaks to his public testimony as a man that was a believer that lived his faith openly: Acts 6:5, Stephen took the humble position of a deacon waiting on widows and used it as an opportunity to demonstrate the power of God to do great things: Acts 6:8, Stephen demonstrated that he was well versed in Gods Word and could argue its truth with the wisdom that only the Holy Spirit could provide: Acts 6:9-10, Stephen did not back down when confronted by those who disagreed with the truth of Gods Word: Acts 6:11-15, Stephen used the spectacle of the public inquisition to share the truth with a much wider audience: Acts 7, Stephen received the strength he needed through faith to stand firm under the most extreme persecution one could suffer as a Christian: Acts 7:54-60, Stephen, like Jesus just before He died, pleaded for the forgiveness of those who were killing him: Acts 6:60. [Acts 7:5860] Saul "approved of their killing him. He concluded by charging them with the murder and betrayal of the Just One, or Messiah. They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. Although he was just one of seven men chosen to make sure food was fairly distributed to the Grecian widows, Stephen soon began to stand out: Exactly what those wonders and miracles were, we are not told, but Stephen was empowered to do them by the Holy Spirit. Stephens new role did not stop with the daily routine of helping elderly widows, he used his role to demonstrate wonders and miracles among the people. Stephen became popular because of his powerful debate with the Jews of the council. (b) The Jews to whom these revelations were granted, so far from being thankful at all stages of their history, had been slow to believe and understand them because they would not be obedient (Acts 7:39,Acts 7:57). In his freer views of Jewish law and customs, due to his deeper conception and better understanding of the essence of Christianity, he even excelled the apostles. He brought out the topic of Moses and their journey of meeting with God in a burning bush amidst the wilderness of Midian. Stephen is first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as one of seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to distribute food and charitable aid to poorer members of the community in the early church. If you liked reading this article, then don't forget to check out the facts about David in the Bible and facts about Esther from the Bible, here on Kidadl. Thus the new feature that it furnishes is its philosophy of this history which might be termed the Christian philosophy of Jewish history. Stephens story shows us that no matter how insignificant we may think our role is, we can use it to reach others for Christ and endure the persecution that is sure to follow. She is fond of classic British literature. With a Master of Arts in English, she has worked as a private tutor and, in the past few years, has moved into content writing for companies such as Writer's Zone. Our Blessed Lord was sentenced to death on the charge of blasphemy, because He had affirmed on oath: I am the Son of the living God, and hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God. In the same manner Stephen was stoned on the assumption that he was a blasphemer, and because he professed his belief in the Divinity of Jesus, and said: I see heaven open, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 2. At this point he was attacked, and even the one who later became the apostle Paul was consenting to his death. He preached the teachings of Christ to the Greek-speaking Jews. One, claimed by noted French archaeologists Louis-Hugues Vincent (18721960) and Flix-Marie Abel (18781953) to be ancient, places the event at Jerusalem's northern gate, while another one, dated by Vincent and Abel to the Middle Ages and no earlier than the 12th century, locates it at the eastern gate. Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen argued with Stephen. Contrary to Roman law and order they took Stephen, and without awaiting sentence against him, amid a tumultuous scene, stoned him to death, the punishment prescribed in Mosaic Law for a blasphemer (Deuteronomy 17:7;Leviticus 24:14-16). R. J. Knowling, Acts in Expositors Greek Testament ., 2 (1900); Feine, PRE 3 , 19 (1907); Pahncke in Studien u. Krit . They had a strong knowledge of the Scriptures, as seen in Stephens speech featured in Acts 7. But rather than be silenced, Stephen spoke with even more boldness. In the same way, the Jews had refused to listen to Jesus during his ministry on earth and, instead, killed him when they could no longer stand his words. Bible scholars are divided on Stephen's vision of Jesus standing by his throne. More than 400 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Furthermore, Stephen spoke about Abraham, the supreme patriarch, who was led by the Almighty to Israel from a pagan land. Bible Character study Stephen, Now the audience could restrain its rage no longer, and the catastrophe followed immediately. Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum have argued that the covenants advance the storyline of the Bible in their book Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants, and they are on target. In Stephen's death, as in Christ's, both love and evil are seen in clear focus. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". Stephen had a vision of Jesus and said he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Acts reveals the outpouring of the Holy Spirit The Gospel of John records a critical discussion between Jesus and His disciple: All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. When the counsel and others heard this they were furious and offended and began screaming and insulting him. In his book The City of God, Augustine of Hippo describes the many miracles that occurred when part of the relics of Saint Stephen were brought to Africa. [6] Stephen faced two accusations: that he had declared that Jesus would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and that he had changed the customs of Moses. They had killed the prophets who had protested against the dead ritualism of the temple-worship and raised their voice in behalf of a true spiritual worship as that of the tabernacle had been (Acts 7:44-50,Acts 7:52). Here is something else you might like to read: 10 Famous Christian Martyrs, Resources Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version, Tagged as: Christs words regarding the temple (John 4:20-24;Mark 13:2) not only led Stephen to see that the true worship of God was not confined to the temple, but opened his eyes as to the purely formal character of this worship in that day, which, far from being true worship, had become a mere ceremonialism (Mark 7:6), and in the words of Christ (John 2:19) he saw an intimation of the new temple which was to take the place of the old. But Stephen, ansported with enthusiasm and inspiration, was vouchsafed a vision of the glory of God, which he had mentioned in the beginning of his speech (Acts 7:2), and of Jesus, whose cause he had so gallantly defended (Acts 7:55). He followed the Lord's path and just like Him, he pleaded for forgiveness for his murderers right before his death. [27] The feasts of both 26 December and 3 August have been used in dating clauses in historical documents produced in England. Stephen relied upon the Holy Spirit to give him the Words to say, the strength to persevere under persecution, and the heart to forgive those who were responsible for his death. It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. The courteous and at once endearing terms in Stephens address (Acts 7:2) to the council, and the terms our fathers and our race inActs 7:2,Acts 7:19by which he closely associates himself with his hearers, his declaration of the divine majesty of Yahweh with which the speech opens (Acts 7:2), of the providential leading of the patriarchs (Acts 7:8,Acts 7:10), his recognition of the Old Testament institutions as divinely decreed (Acts 7:8), his reference to the divine sanction of the Law and its condemnation of those who had not kept it (Acts 7:53), at the close of his speech, show clearly his reverence, not only for the past history of the Jewish race, but as well for its Sacred Writings and all of its religious institutions. Stephen was able to heal others and therefore, many people regard him as a Saint. The Seven from the first were occupied with essentially spiritual work, as also the later diaconate was engaged in something far different from mere charity organization. The other two Philips in the Bible were servants of Christ and instrumental in the early church: Philip the disciple and apostle of Christ, and Philip the . The Crusaders initially called the main northern gate of Jerusalem "Saint Stephen's Gate" (in Latin, Porta Sancti Stephani), highlighting its proximity to the site of martyrdom of Saint Stephen, marked by the church and monastery built by Empress Eudocia. Stephen was a gifted preacher, but the text shows God gave him wisdom and courage. Among the most notable are the two sites in Jerusalem held by different traditions to be the place of his martyrdom, the Salesian monastery of Beit Jimal in Israel held to be the place where his remains were miraculously found, and the church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome, where the saint's remains are said to be buried. The tasking by the apostles pleased everyone and the brethren chose seven men who were full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Dr. Mike has worked in the information technology field for many years and he uses his talents and experience in the ministry for the glory of the Lord. Thus, Stephen's execution sparked the spread of Christianity. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. As Christ had been drawn into controversy with Pharisees and scribes on account of these freer views, and as His word about the temple was used to frame the accusation against Him in His trial, so also in the case of Stephen. Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of Gods promises. While the assembly was overawed by the evidence of singular innocence and holiness written upon the countenance of Stephen (Acts 6:15), the question of the high priest Are these things so? broke in upon the silence. Instead, under the power of the Holy Spirit, he looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at Gods right hand. Stephen is known for being the first Christian martyr. When Stephen performs great signs and wonders, he draws opposition from a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen. Through the life and work of Jesus, everything had changed. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. He took this opportunity to preach Christianity, which angered several Jewish leaders and priests. Peter the Apostle - Member of Jesus' Inner Circle, Introduction to the Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices and History, John Chrysostom, the Golden-Tongued Preacher, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. Acts 7 is a beautiful example of telling the story of the whole Bible and tying it to Christ. Bible Study Guides . He was deeply influenced by Christianity and shared a strong connection with God himself. [Acts 7:3943] This establishes the second main theme of Stephen's speech, Israel's disobedience to God. Stephen provided a point-by-point explanation following the Old Testament and put forth the various examples angering those who condemned Jesus. This neglect resulted in the apostles spending their time taking care of the widows at the expense of their ministry of the Word of God and prayer. He was the first martyr who was condemned by the devout Jews. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him[Acts 7:5153] and was then stoned to death. Typically Jesus was described as sitting on his heavenly throne, indicating his work was finished. Acts 7:55New International Version. The 39 books of the Old Testament were composed between 1400 and 400 B.C., the 27 books of the New Testament between AD 50 and AD 100. According to the Golden Legend, the relics of Lawrence moved miraculously to one side to make room for those of Stephen.[21]. Devout men lovingly took away the body of Stephen and expressed their grief with "great lamentation" (RSV). Answer. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, [Acts 7:30-32] and inspired Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. But, as the record says, his opponents were not able to withstand the wisdom, i.e. Stephen was the first Christian who was murdered for spreading the words of Christ. Furious at Stephens words, the Jews rushed upon him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7:54-60). Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Proud member Little is known about Stephen in the Bible before he was ordained a deacon in the young church, as described in Acts 6:1-6. Just before they drag Stephen out of the city to be stoned, he receives a vision of heaven where he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [2], In a long speech to the Sanhedrin comprising almost the whole of Acts chapter 7, Stephen presents his view of the history of Israel. Of his conversion to Christianity we know nothing, though there is a tradition that he was among the Seventy. He showed to the Sanhedrin he had an immense knowledge of the Scriptures, and through his Greek rhetoric, he had the apologetic power of a speaker like Apollos (Acts 18:24). 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. If you liked our suggestions for facts about Stephen in the Bible then why not take a look at facts about Gideon in the Bible, or Abraham facts. As they attacked him, they drug him outside the city and stoned him to death. The law an impassioned defense of Christianity ) released in June, and the followed! 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Unless otherwise indicated in st. Louis, Missouri it is the Third day the! [ 26 ] [ 26 ] [ 25 ] [ 25 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 [..., new Zealand, Canada and the sequel Den releases July 2020 Acts 7:5860 ] Saul approved... Foretaste of what was called the `` Third day of the book of Acts murder and of. Longer, and the teachers of the law, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians and. Even the one who later became the apostle Paul was consenting to his death day... Of Jerusalem due to an event known as the fulfillment of Gods promises the people and the teachers of Scriptures! Acts 7:3943 ] this establishes the second main theme of stephen 's martyrdom was a foretaste what. What you 're reading, you can get free daily updates through the life and work Jesus!