Stephen's death taught us to speak boldly for our religion and not fear death, for it is the ultimate destination for all living souls. He showed firstly that God had never limited himself to one location (Acts 7:2;Acts 7:9;Acts 7:30;Acts 7:44;Acts 7:48), and secondly that the people of Israel had always rejected Gods messengers (Acts 7:9;Acts 7:25;Acts 7:35;Acts 7:40). St. Stephen the Martyr Church, Omaha, Nebraska, Saint Stephen is one of the sculptures on the side of the, Saint Stephen is featured as the eponymous subject of a song by the, This page was last edited on 30 March 2023, at 12:57. Answer. Learn Religions, Jan. 4, 2022, learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068. Reaching the destination isn't important, but we must focus on the journey first. Thus his teachings forecast that greatest controversy of the first Christian century, the controversy between Judaism and Christianity, which reached its culmination-point in the Council of Jerusalem, resulting in the independence of the Christian church from the fetters of Judaistic legalism. Likewise, he contented for the faith with those who were ultra-liberal in their beliefs. 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. Satan does not sit idly by when his realm is challenged. 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). What seems like a tragedy can somehow be part of God's great plan. He contributed majorly to the growth of the church and also helped the apostles in their work of spreading the Almighty's words, just like the patron saint. Stephen's preachings were of utmost importance to society, which led to a revolutionary consequence for the early Christians. Using the God given wisdom provided by the Holy Spirit, Stephen was able to cut through their weak arguments. ", "LXXXVIII. He was a man full of the Holy Spirit, strong in faith, gifted in the working of miracles and brilliant in debating with the opponents of Christianity ( Acts 6:1-10 ). It is our duty to make this journey memorable and not commit any sins. Your privacy is important to us. [15], Numerous parallels between the accounts of Stephen in Acts and the Jesus of the Gospels they both perform miracles, they are both tried by the Sanhedrin, they both pray for forgiveness for their killers, for instance have led to suspicions that the author of Acts has emphasised in order to show the recipient that people become holy when they follow the example of Christ or invented some (or all) of these. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and when he looked up into heaven, Stephen saw 'the glory of God' (no one is permitted to see God) and on the right side of God, Jesus was standing! Stephen is known for being the first Christian martyr. Known best as the proto-martyr of the Christian church, introducing the heroic period of persecutions. But instead, they turned against him (Acts 6:11). They had a strong knowledge of the Scriptures, as seen in Stephens speech featured in Acts 7. The contents of his speech are a recital of the most marked phases of Jewish history in the past, but as read from the point of view of its out-workings in the present old facts interpreted by a spirit-filled disciple of Christ. Acts 8:1-2. St. Stephen Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. [6] Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth, and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. Therefore, we cannot call Stephen an apostle. Preachers often will speak about Stephen because he was the first Christian to die for his beliefs. It is said that Stephen's life and death served as a catalyst in the spread of Christianity both directly and indirectly. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. The reliquary is likely a 9th-century creation. Nevertheless, the Israelites turned to other gods. The Old Testament is the first section of the Bible, covering the creation of Earth through Noah and the flood, Moses and more, finishing with the Jews being expelled to Babylon. He was also the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for preaching that Jesus was the Christ. The Jews of the Roman empire always questioned God's grace in terms of Christianity and whenever they failed to produce an argument, oppositions and false claims were put forth by them. This church was destroyed in the 12th century. 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. Many people who are familiar with the Bible are not familiar with Stephen who was one of the first deacons in the Bible. Before he died, Stephen said two things very similar to Jesus' last words from the cross: But Stephen's influence was even stronger after his death. And when he had said this, he . Devout men carried him to his grave ( 8:2 ). Though the name of Jesus was not uttered by Stephen in his speech and does not occur until in his dying prayer, his hearers could not fail to notice the hidden reference to Him throughout the entire speech and to draw parallels intended by Stephen: As Joseph and Moses, types of the Messiah, had been rejected, scorned and illtreated (Acts 7:9,Acts 7:27,Acts 7:39), before being raised to be ruler and deliverer, so Jesus had also been repulsed by them. In addition, Stephen was also the first martyr of the church. "[Acts 7:5153], Thus castigated, the account is that the crowd could contain their anger no longer. But, as the record says, his opponents were not able to withstand the wisdom, i.e. St. Stephen's knanaya Catholic Forane Church, Uzhavoor, kottayam, built 1631. The disciples chose Stephen, and six others, and prayed over them as they began their ministry. He was a deacon and is introduced in the Bible as a faithful man of God. In dioceses of the Armenian Church which use the Julian Calendar, Saint Stephen's Day falls on 7 January and Nativity/Theophany on 19 January (for the remainder of the 21st century Julian). He brought out the topic of Moses and their journey of meeting with God in a burning bush amidst the wilderness of Midian. better understanding, convincing knowledge, and the Spirit, i.e. As they attacked him, they drug him outside the city and stoned him to death. They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. Gender: Male. 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. However, other Orthodox churches, including the Oriental Orthodox, continue to use the original Julian calendar. 1. 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. 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. What it is Stephen himself shows unmistakenly in the second part of his defense. The Catholic churches, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Anglican, Lutheran, and Oriental Orthodox churches refer to Stephen as a saint who is much closer to God than the high priest, and therefore, he is often regarded as Saint Stephen. [13] To the objection that it seems unlikely that such a long speech could be reproduced in the text of Acts exactly as it was delivered, some Biblical scholars have replied that Stephen's speech shows a distinctive personality behind it. 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. Stephen's death sentence was rolled out by the Sanhedrin members, who couldn't tolerate the words of this gifted preacher. This allowed him to speak to both Jewish and Gentile audiences. 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. This does not influence our choices. 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. 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. Whether we live in a country full of religious freedoms or in a restricted area, we may find ourselves in situations where we have the choice to renounce our faith or die for it. 1,000 Trivia Facts About the Bible?is a fun, informative, and entertaining way to see how well you know the Good Book. Stephen had both a Hellenistic and Jewish background. Customs of Moses (Acts 6:14) were the institutions that distinguished the Jews and that were derived from Moses. Phillip was the name of two of King Herod the Great's sons by different wives ( Luke 3:1 and Matthew 14:3 ). Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Stephen had preached blasphemy against Moses and God. See 1 Timothy 5:1-16). 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). In the current norms for the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the feast is celebrated at the Eucharist, but, for the Liturgy of the Hours, is restricted to the Hours during the day, with Evening Prayer being reserved to the celebration of the Octave of Christmas. In the eucharistic celebration on this feast day, it is traditional for all deacons serving at the altar to wear a liturgical crown (Armenian: khooyr), which is one of the vestments worn only by priests on all other days of the year, the crown being in this instance a symbol of martyrdom. Through this speech, he tried to enlighten the minds of everyone and reminded them of their continuous slavery in idolatry and their rebellion against God's will. He performed great wonders and miraculous signs, was known for his wisdom, and spoke with power (Acts 6:3-10). 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 . Local churches were beginning to be established and there arose some problems with Greek widows being neglected in their care. Only a few people were known to possess charismatic powers like the Lord Jesus Christ and Saint Stephen was one of them. This enraged some of the members of the local synagogues. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. He performed miracles. He accepted Christianity and became one of the seven deacons chosen by the disciples to take care of the widows and the needy people in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-5). 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 was a gifted preacher, but the text shows God gave him wisdom and courage. [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. The Arrest of Stephen 7 So the word of God continued to spread. He continued by telling them what he was seeing, which enraged them so much they attacked him. They responded by conspiring to lie about him in an effort to stir up the people and members of the local synagogue. Though the Hellenist dispensed himself from keeping all of the Pharisaic additions to the Law, he always regarded the Law of Moses and the temple at Jerusalem as highly as the Palestinian Jew. Stephen is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of a group of men that were chosen to be deacons. However, before he died, he called out to God, Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit. Immediately after this, he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge and then he died. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. 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. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. Third, and most importantly, Stephen shows us the cost of faith. 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. Historically, the "Invention of the Relics of Saint Stephen" (i.e., their reputed discovery) was commemorated on 3 August. He had the power of healing people, which is a gift bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit. [2] Stephen is mentioned in Acts 6 as one of the Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews selected to participate in a fairer distribution of welfare to the Greek-speaking widows.[3]. Now the audience could restrain its rage no longer, and the catastrophe followed immediately. Outside work, her interests include music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading. This trivia book is perfect for people of all ages and is a great resource for families or church groups. 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. At this point he was attacked, and even the one who later became the apostle Paul was consenting to his death. Dr. Michael L. Williams 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. [1] According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was a deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. This recourse to lynch law may have been connived at by the Roman authorities, since the act was without political significance. He was one of the first to conceive of the fact that Christianity represented a new order of things and as such would inevitably supersede the old order. Stephen is described as a man who was unusually full of faith and the Holy Spirit. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. Acts 6:8: Stephen performs various wonders and signs. [Acts 22:20], The only source for information about Stephen is the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles. Read full chapter Acts 6 Acts 8 New International Version (NIV) Due to his honesty and wisdom, he was chosen as one of the seven deacons by the young church members of early Christianity. The gospel spread far and wide as a result. Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of God's promises. [8] However, Stephen looked up and cried, "Look! The impression made by Stephens death was even greater than that made by his life. After their false testimony, the high priest asked Stephen if these things were true. Covenants are the backbone of the biblical story. Best Known For: Saint Stephen is recognized as a saint and the first martyr in Christian theology. According to Orthodox belief, he was the eldest and is therefore called "archdeacon". 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Stephen was an evangelist. The story of Saint Stephen's ordination as a deacon is found in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, which also recounts the plot against Stephen and the beginning of the trial that resulted in his martyrdom; the seventh chapter of Acts recounts Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin and his martyrdom. As in the trial of Christ, the judge, Pontius Pilate, read his true verdict, I find no guilt in him, written on His countenance and whole bearing, thus here the record tells us that the judges of Stephen, All that sat in the council saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Acts 6:15;2Corinthians 3:18); as if in refutation of the charge made against him, Stephen receives the same mark of divine favor which had been granted to Moses. Martyrdom of Stephen. Stephen standing there, his gaze piercing into heaven, while time and human limitations seemed effaced for him, marks one of the most historic moments in the history of Israel, as his words constitute the most memorable testimony ever uttered in behalf of Christ: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man the only place where this title is uttered by any other person than Jesus standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). 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