Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Gender: Male. 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. Thus in a masterful way Stephen converts the charge of Antinomianism and anti-Mosaism brought against him into a countercharge of disobedience to the divine revelation, of which his hearers stood guilty in the present as their fathers had in the past. His name suggests he was a Hellenistic Jew who spoke and preached in Greek, one of the common languages in Israel in that day. Since the name "Stephanos" is Greek, it has been assumed that he was one of these Hellenistic Jews. It is in reality a philosophy of Israels history and religion, and in so far it was a novum. Although we dont have much information presented about Stephen in the sixth chapter of Acts, we can derive the following from the text provided. He brought out the topic of Moses and their journey of meeting with God in a burning bush amidst the wilderness of Midian. [7] His defense of his faith before the rabbinic court enraged his Jewish audience, and he was taken out of the city and stoned to death. This allowed him to speak to both Jewish and Gentile audiences. Acts 7 is a beautiful example of telling the story of the whole Bible and tying it to Christ. ", "LXXXVIII. Saint Stephen is also commemorated on 4 January (Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles) in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Stephen was mentioned for the first time in Act 6:5 of the Bible. 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). Bible References: The apostle James is mentioned in all four Gospels and his martyrdom is cited in Acts 12:2. 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. 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. See 1 Timothy 5:1-16). Third, and most importantly, Stephen shows us the cost of faith. The true source of Stephens freer views of the Mosaic Law and the temple was Christs own teachings, Stephen showing a wonderfully ripened understanding of them, paralleled only by that of Paul some time later. This trivia book is perfect for people of all ages and is a great resource for families or church groups. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:60; compare1 Cor 15). [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. As they attacked him, they drug him outside the city and stoned him to death. 3:12 ). 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. [2] The full Bible has been translated into 532 languages. What it is Stephen himself shows unmistakenly in the second part of his defense. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. He said that the recently resurrected Jesus was standing by the side of God. He had the power of healing people, which is a gift bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit. Next post: Top 7 Bible Verses About Sowing And Reaping. "Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr." [7] Stephen denounces his listeners[6] as "stiff-necked" people who, just as their ancestors had done, resist the Holy Spirit. In accordance with the accusation against him, his defense was a twofold one: personal defense and defense of his teaching. Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of Gods promises. The main arguments of the speech may be summed up as follows: (a) Gods self-manifestation to Israel in revealing His covenant and His will, so far from being bound to one sanctuary and conveyed to one single person (Moses), began long before Moses and long before there was a temple. 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. God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. He was a deacon and is introduced in the Bible as a faithful man of God. Stephen was a great man of faith who came from nowhere, but because of his testimony, he was chosen by the church members to take on the role of a deacon. 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. Stephen Howard. 6. This group of Alexandrians and Cyreniansargue with Stephen, but when they cannot create counterarguments to Stephens wise retorts, they produce false witnesses who claim Stephen had blasphemed in order to dispose of him and the evidence of Gods work in him. Dr Michael L has written 155 articles on What Christians Want To Know! 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. Answer. 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. He showed that time and time again when it looked like the promise of coming of the Messiah would be prevented, God intervened. Stephen had a vision of Jesus and said he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 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). 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). [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]. [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. Still others interpret them as deliberate choices making theological points. 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. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? At this point he was attacked, and even the one who later became the apostle Paul was consenting to his death. Historically, the "Invention of the Relics of Saint Stephen" (i.e., their reputed discovery) was commemorated on 3 August. 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 asked for forgiveness as he fell asleep in his death. In addition, Stephen was also the first martyr of the church. 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 appeared to Moses in the burning bush,[Acts 7:3032] and inspired Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. 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. This sacrifice created turmoil in Jerusalem, where the Jewish Council was forcing Christians and persecuting them. This disposition of disobedience so characteristic of the race in its whole history, because, in spite of the divine revelation received, they remained unregenerate (Acts 7:51), reached its culmination in that awful crime of betrayal and murder committed by the present generation upon the Righteous One whose coming the prophets had predicted the rejection of Jesus of Nazareth, by which the Jews doomed not only their national existence, but also their temple-worship and the reign of the Law to destruction (Acts 6:14). Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. Due to his efforts, the gospel spread throughout the nation, thus infuriating the council of Sanhedrins. The first thing to note is that Acts 7:55 does not say that Stephen saw "the Father" or even that he "saw God.". According to the New Testament, the apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus. 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. St. Stephen the martyr church, Renton, Washington. Reaching the destination isn't important, but we must focus on the journey first. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, St. Stephen is often depicted with stones, a Gospel Book, a miniature church and a martyr's palm frond. 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. 1. Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. Scholars think these men were freed slaves from various parts of the Roman empire. Likewise, he contented for the faith with those who were ultra-liberal in their beliefs. The reliquary is likely a 9th-century creation. in such a way that they might better understand and judge the present and adjust their conduct to it accordingly. They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. 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. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. R. J. Knowling, Acts in Expositors Greek Testament ., 2 (1900); Feine, PRE 3 , 19 (1907); Pahncke in Studien u. Krit . Fearlessly, he stood in front of the Jewish council and put forth his words for Christ. As seen during Jesus ministry, whenever someone performs signs in Gods name, opposition often arises. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. 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. He was the first martyr who was condemned by the devout Jews. His sacrifice and sufferings taught us a very important lesson about the cost of faith. From that moment on, Saul's life was turned upside down. Bible Characters. They had a strong knowledge of the Scriptures, as seen in Stephens speech featured in Acts 7. Ironically, Paul's fire for Christ would mirror Stephen's. He concluded by charging them with the murder and betrayal of the Just One, or Messiah. These deacons had to be full of wisdom and the Spirit. These deacons would take charge of the distribution of food to the widows, among other duties. 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. 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. In the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Catholic Churches, Saint Stephen's Day falls on 25 December the day on which the feast of the Nativity of Jesus (Christmas) falls in all other churches. [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. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. Her modern-day Daniel, Blaze, (Illuminate YA) released in June, and the sequel Den releases July 2020. Only a few people were known to possess charismatic powers like the Lord Jesus Christ and Saint Stephen was one of them. 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. Salem Media Group. Stephen was the first Christian who was murdered for spreading the words of Christ. Zavada, Jack. 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 . Learn more about Dr. Mike at Christianity Every Day. As his name and his relations in the church at Jerusalem seem to imply (Acts 6:3ff), he was a Hellenist, i.e. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. 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. In those churches, then, the date the feast is observed is generally known as 27 December. But Stephen was especially qualified for this high work, having been endued by the Holy Spirit with apostolical gifts, not only that of preaching, but also that of working miracles (Acts 6:8). Seeing a need to delegate roles, the disciples elected the first seven deacons known to the Christian faith. He did not fear the consequences and decided to speak boldly against the failure of Israel to recognize their Messiah. He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. Known best as the proto-martyr of the Christian church, introducing the heroic period of persecutions. He also was one of the first deacons of the church. 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. These are some of the lessons Stephen's life left people with. Being a Greek-speaking Jew himself, Stephen went to the synagogue for Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem to try to turn his fellow Jews to Christ. Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin is the longest speech in Acts. There was no blasphemy on the part of Stephen, save by perversion of his words. 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. 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). LITERATURE. Of his conversion to Christianity we know nothing, though there is a tradition that he was among the Seventy. He relied on the Holy Spirit who showed him the right path. They then drove all the other Greek-speaking Jewish Christians out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3). They were told to choose men who were full of faith and the Holy Ghost. The name Stephen is taken from a Greek word, Stphanos, which means 'wreath, crown'. 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. But, as the record says, his opponents were not able to withstand the wisdom, i.e. Although we have only this two-chapter narrative of Stephens life, he has left a legacy that serves as something to consider by believers today. 1,000 Trivia Facts About the Bible?is a fun, informative, and entertaining way to see how well you know the Good Book. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. Martyrdom of Stephen. In 439, the relics were translated to a new church north of the Damascus Gate built by the empress Aelia Eudocia in honor of Saint Stephen. Acts 7:55New International Version. He applied these two points to the Jews of his time by saying that they were mistaken in thinking God dwelt in the Jerusalem temple, and that their rejection of Christ was in keeping with the stubbornness of their forefathers (Acts 7:48-53). Many people who are familiar with the Bible are not familiar with Stephen who was one of the first deacons in the Bible. Stephen is often shown as a young, beardless man with a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. Through Stephens example, we can learn to speak boldly for our faith, and know that our lives here on earth cannot compare with the joys well experience in heaven. Dr. Mike and his wife, Pamela Rose, live in Northeast Ohio and they have children and grandchildren that live in various states. It makes evident beyond doubt how not grounded the accusation of blasphemy against him was. 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. Photo credit:Wikimedia Commons-Public Domain/Annibale Carracci. He was extremely courageous to stand against the entire Jewish council and took this opportunity to reach out to a wider audience with his preachings. 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). 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. They dragged him to appear before the Sanhedrin, the supreme legal court of Jewish elders, accusing him of preaching against the Temple and the Mosaic Law. "Stephen in the Bible Was 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. 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. Read full chapter Acts 6 Acts 8 New International Version (NIV) Enroll in Online Course. 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. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. ( Mark 16:19) The men shouted out and plugged their ears! Acts 6:8:Stephen performs various wonders and signs. He also had Hellenistic roots: This articlefrom Encyclopedia Britannica says he was a Hellenistic Jew (a foreign-born Jew), which would make sense why the apostles would place him in charge of the distribution of food to the Hellenistic widows. Both our Blessed Lord and St. Stephen were treated as outcasts, and put to death outside the city. When Stephen preached an impassioned defense of Christianity, a mob dragged him outside the city and stoned him. Focus of love and hatred. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, [Acts 7:30-32] and inspired Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Some commentators suggest this means Christ's work was not yet done, while others say Jesus stood to welcome Stephen into heaven. Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen argued with Stephen. Stephen was a Greek-speaking Jew, called a Hellenist, and had ample knowledge about the Scriptures. Preachers often will speak about Stephen because he was the first Christian to die for his beliefs. Stephen provided a point-by-point explanation following the Old Testament and put forth the various examples angering those who condemned Jesus. Thus the new feature that it furnishes is its philosophy of this history which might be termed the Christian philosophy of Jewish history. 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 traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity. Martyrdom of Stephen. But rather than be silenced, Stephen spoke with even more boldness. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068. 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. This helped him to preach to multiple audiences. Find out more about her here. 9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and . Stephen the First Martyr", "Golden Legend Invention of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr", "Translation of the Relics of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr", " - ", " - ", " (415)", "Finding of the relics of Saint Gamaliel", "Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen", "THE TRANSFER FROM JERUSALEM TO CONSTANTINOPLE OF THE RELICS OF THE HOLY FIRSTMARTYR STEPHEN", "Orthodox Calendar. [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. The reminder of Jesus standing by us will surely guide our path to home. This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. Nevertheless, the Israelites turned to other gods. 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. Because wicked men are enemies of God, those who speak out boldly for God and against evil will suffer. 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). 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