Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to be responsible over the distribution of food to widows in the early church after a dispute arose and the apostles recognized they needed help. He was thus prosecuted and stoned to death. As they attacked him, they drug him outside the city and stoned him to death. Both, when dying, prayed for their enemies: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Lay not this sin to their charge. 4. 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? Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. For instance, Paul was a Jew with a Roman citizenship. They had a strong knowledge of the Scriptures, as seen in Stephens speech featured in Acts 7. "He fell asleep" with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips ( 7:60 ). Stephen was the first martyr of the church. It is noteworthy, however, that the Jewish legal forms were observed, as if to give to the violence the appearance of legality. It is said that Stephen's life and death served as a catalyst in the spread of Christianity both directly and indirectly. First, Stephen shows believers they can have a powerful impact for the kingdom, if even for a short period of time. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". Learn Religions. Beginning by mentioning the God of glory and ending with a vision of that glory itself, the speech is a wonderful apotheosis of the humble cause of the Nazarene, the enthusiastic tribute of its first great martyr delivered in the face of death. Important churches and sites dedicated to Saint Stephen are: This article is about Deacon Stephen, the first martyred saint. [4] Artistic representations often show Stephen with a crown symbolising martyrdom, three stones, martyr's palm frond, censer, and often holding a miniature church building. God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. 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). St. Stephen the martyr church, Renton, Washington. Before he converted, however, Saul would persecute other Christians in the name of the Sanhedrin, causing early church members to flee Jerusalem, taking the gospel wherever they went. Stephen provided a point-by-point explanation following the Old Testament and put forth the various examples angering those who condemned Jesus. This trivia book is perfect for people of all ages and is a great resource for families or church groups. [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". Bible Study Guides . Rajnandini is an art lover and enthusiastically likes to spread her knowledge. Third, and most importantly, Stephen shows us the cost of faith. Many Jews grew up outside of Jerusalem due to an event known as the Diaspora. The vision of the risen and exalted Jesus vouchsafed to the dying Stephen presented Christianity to Saul of Tarsus in a new light, tending to remove what had been its greatest stumbling-block to him in the Crucified One. These apostles were Simon, James, John, Bartholomew, Philip, Andrew, Matthew, Alphaeus, Thomas, Judas, Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith. 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. Learn Religions, Jan. 4, 2022, learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068. Phillip was the name of two of King Herod the Great's sons by different wives ( Luke 3:1 and Matthew 14:3 ). 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. Just like they had murdered several other prophets including Zechariah, the Jews rejected and murdered Christ as well and disregarded the holy beliefs of Christianity. [7] Stephen denounces his listeners[6] as "stiff-necked" people who, just as their ancestors had done, resist the Holy Spirit. Throughout the history of the early church, various charismatic gifts such as healing, belonged to several followers of Christ. LITERATURE. In Western Christianity, 26 December is called "Saint Stephen's Day", the "Feast of Stephen" mentioned in the English Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas". There was no blasphemy on the part of Stephen, save by perversion of his words. It is a significant fact that Stephen was not arraigned before the Sanhedrin as being a Nazarene though at bottom it was the real cause of his arraignment. The tasking by the apostles pleased everyone and the brethren chose seven men who were full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Covenants are the backbone of the biblical story. Stephen's name is derived from the Greek name "Stfanos" and means "honor," "wreath" or "crown" and Stephen may have been the first Christian martyr . The emotional appeal lies in the reverential and feeling manner in which he handles the history sacred to them all. 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. Martyrdom of Stephen. Thus he belonged to that class of Jews usually residing outside of Palestine who, though distinguished from the orthodox Palestinian Jew by a broader outlook on life due to a more liberal education, were Jews none the less, the original Jewish element predominating in their character, and who might be true Israelites indeed, as Stephen was. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. The council members refused to listen to him, and even then, he kept his calm and said with a smiling face that he could see heaven open for the man standing on the right hand of God. He used his role to minister both personally in ways that not only help the apostles, but was directly responsible for the growth in the church. Stephen(Greek:Stphanos, meaning wreath, crown and by extension reward, honor, renown, fame, often given as a title rather than as a name; c. 5 c. 34 AD) is one of the seven first deacons, and the proto-martyr or first martyr of the Christian church. One of the seven men chosen by the early Church, Stephen was responsible for distributing food to the Grecian widows, who had been overlooked by the church. This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. 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. Furious at Stephens words, the Jews rushed upon him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7:54-60). in such a way that they might better understand and judge the present and adjust their conduct to it accordingly. Friedrich Justus Knecht lists the similarities of the martyrdom of Stephen to Jesus' death on the cross: 1. [28] Stephen is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival on 26 December.[29]. [5] As another deacon, Nicholas of Antioch, is specifically stated to have been a convert to Judaism, it may be assumed that Stephen was born Jewish, but nothing more is known about his previous life. Stephen relied on God's messages and according to many Bible scholars, he left a powerful impact on the minds of the people worldwide. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. The result, however, was that Christianity spread throughout the region, as the expelled Christians preached the gospel wherever they went (Acts 8:4;Acts 11:19). The disciples chose Stephen, and six others, and prayed over them as they began their ministry. He deserves as well to be called the first great apologist for Christianity, since it was this that brought on his death as a martyr (circa 36 or 37 AD). Seeing a need to delegate roles, the disciples elected the first seven deacons known to the Christian faith. 3. 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. [31][32][33], In 428 (when Saint Theodosius II the Younger Roman Emperor) relics of saint: Stephen, Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Abibas were translated from Jerusalem to Constantinople and relics have been placed in Saint Lawrence church, and after preparations were made relics were moved to specially prepared Saint Stephen church in Constantinople, this event took place on 2 August.[34][32][33]. Stephen in the Bible is known as the first Christian martyr. God's work is constantly unfolding and goes forth on his timetable. 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). 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. Hope Bolingeris a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. But it's not the same type of evangelistic sermon, which Peter gave a few chapters prior. 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. [6], There are at least five places where Stephen's re-telling of the stories of Israelite history diverges from the scriptures where these stories originated; for instance, Stephen says that Jacob's tomb was in Shechem,[Acts 7:16] but Genesis 50:13[Genesis 50:13] says Jacob's body was carried and buried in a cave in Machpelah at Hebron. 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