It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. Best Known For: Saint Stephen is recognized as a saint and the first martyr in Christian theology. 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). This resulted in the number of new disciples in Jerusalem increasing along with a large number of priests being saved. Stephen provided a point-by-point explanation following the Old Testament and put forth the various examples angering those who condemned Jesus. And now you have betrayed and murdered him. Once the selection was completed, the newly chosen deacons were set before the apostles who laid their hands on them and prayed over them. 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 . Some Orthodox churches, particularly in the west, follow a modified Julian calendar that places date names identically with the standard Gregorian calendar of widespread civil usage. "He fell asleep" with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips ( 7:60 ). Still others interpret them as deliberate choices making theological points. Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become a Christian apostle, participated in Stephen's martyrdom. 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's most known for his testimony in front of the Sanhedrin, after which he was stoned to death. Martyrdom of Stephen. Acts 6:8:Stephen performs various wonders and signs. He relied on the Holy Spirit who showed him the right path. St. Stephen's Church, Thope, is one of the parishes of the first diocese of India, Kollam. Known best as the proto-martyr of the Christian church, introducing the heroic period of persecutions. But rather than be silenced, Stephen spoke with even more boldness. Stephen became popular because of his powerful debate with the Jews of the council. 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. 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. Stephen tried to make people understand that Christianity is a completely different sect and God's new covenant. of 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. He was also the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for preaching that Jesus was the Christ. Likewise, he contented for the faith with those who were ultra-liberal in their beliefs. As Paul later put it, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" ( 2 Tim. Focus of love and hatred. He brought out the topic of Moses and their journey of meeting with God in a burning bush amidst the wilderness of Midian. Not to impiety or frivolity in Stephen, but to some other cause, must be due therefore the difference between him and his opponents. Stephen in the Bible is known as the first Christian martyr. She is fond of classic British literature. 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. Thus the aim of Stephen was to point out to his hearers the true meaning of Jewish history and Jewish Law in reference to the present, i.e. 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). God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, [Acts 7:30-32] and inspired Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Following Stephen's death, the early Church mourned with great sadness its very first martyr. 9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and . 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). 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. As they couldn't fabricate any counterargument to Stephen's vision, they produced false witnesses against him. [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". These apostles were Simon, James, John, Bartholomew, Philip, Andrew, Matthew, Alphaeus, Thomas, Judas, Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. 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? He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. 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. More than 400 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. 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. 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. 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. 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. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. Furthermore, Stephen spoke about Abraham, the supreme patriarch, who was led by the Almighty to Israel from a pagan land. 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. Stephen was an evangelist. [28] Stephen is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival on 26 December.[29]. 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. [9], The criticism of traditional Jewish belief and practice in Stephen's speech is very strong when he says God does not live in a dwelling "made by human hands", referring to the Temple, he is using an expression often employed by Biblical texts to describe idols. 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. In those churches, then, the date the feast is observed is generally known as 27 December. Stephen in the Bible Known for: Stephen was a Hellenist Jew and one of seven men ordained as deacons in the early church. The Jewish laws, ceremonies, temple and priesthood had fulfilled their purpose and were no longer necessary. [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. Christian Beliefs - Stephen Eyre 2001-01-25 In this twelve-session LifeGuide Bible Study, Stephen Eyre introduces what you need to know about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, human nature, sin, salvation, holiness, the church, mission, revelation and the last things. 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. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. 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. In appealing to their reason he calls up picture after picture from Abraham to Moses; the speech exhibits vividly the continuity and the progress of the divine revelation which culminated in Jesus of Nazareth, the same thought as that expressed by Christ inMatthew 5:17of the principal agreement between the Old Testament and the New Testament revelation. Bible References: Stephen's story is told in chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Acts. Third, and most importantly, Stephen shows us the cost of faith. He was an extremely righteous man who was appointed by the early Church to feed the widows. They were told to choose men who were full of faith and the Holy Ghost. 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. 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. Bible Character study Stephen, Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. He did not fear the consequences and decided to speak boldly against the failure of Israel to recognize their Messiah. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068. Their knowledge of Jewish history and Jewish religion as he would convey it to them would compel them to clear him of the accusation against him as blasphemer and false teacher. The Holy Spirit equips believers to do things they could not humanly do. [Acts 7:3943] This establishes the second main theme of Stephen's speech, Israel's disobedience to God. In the way he lived and died, Stephen catapulted the early Christian church from its local Jerusalem roots to a cause that spread across the entire world. From that moment on, Saul's life was turned upside down. Throughout the history of the early church, various charismatic gifts such as healing, belonged to several followers of Christ. Thus, Stephen's execution sparked the spread of Christianity. [Acts 6:9] Members of these synagogues had challenged Stephen's teachings, but Stephen had bested them in debate. And when he had said this, he . Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of God's promises. Read full chapter Acts 6 Acts 8 New International Version (NIV) St. Stephen the martyr church, Renton, Washington. Acts 8:2[Acts 8:2] says "Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him," but the location where he was buried is not specified. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire includes a relic known as St. Stephen's Purse which is an elaborate gold and jewel-encrusted box believed to contain soil soaked with the blood of St. Stephen. They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. He was the first Christian martyr. 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. Email. 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). Thanks for stopping by! 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. As an aside, this might not have been Saul's first encounter with Jesus, as some scholars suggest that young Saul might have known of Jesus and that he might have actually witnessed His death. This revolutionary message got Stephen hauled before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish council that had condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. Reaching the destination isn't important, but we must focus on the journey first. This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. 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). First, Stephen shows believers they can have a powerful impact for the kingdom, if even for a short period of time. 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. R. J. Knowling, Acts in Expositors Greek Testament ., 2 (1900); Feine, PRE 3 , 19 (1907); Pahncke in Studien u. Krit . They then drove all the other Greek-speaking Jewish Christians out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3). Historically, the "Invention of the Relics of Saint Stephen" (i.e., their reputed discovery) was commemorated on 3 August. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? His sacrifice and sufferings taught us a very important lesson about the cost of faith. Thus their fathers had turned away from Moses at the very moment when he was receiving Gods greatest revelation, and, instead of obeying the living oracles (Acts 7:38) he gave them, turned to idol-worship for which God punished them by the Babylonian captivity (Acts 7:39-43). It makes evident beyond doubt how not grounded the accusation of blasphemy against him was. Stephen's death sentence was rolled out by the Sanhedrin members, who couldn't tolerate the words of this gifted preacher. His name suggests he was a Hellenistic Jew who spoke and preached in Greek, one of the common languages in Israel in that day. They were interred alongside the relics of Saint Lawrence, whose tomb is enshrined within the church. When Stephen preached these things, the Jews accused him of blasphemy and brought him before their Council, the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:12-15). In defending his preaching, Stephen gave an outline of Israels history, his aim being to demonstrate two main points. Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Stephen had preached blasphemy against Moses and God. Stephen was a gifted preacher, but the text shows God gave him wisdom and courage. Rajnandini is an art lover and enthusiastically likes to spread her knowledge. Devout men lovingly took away the body of Stephen and expressed their grief with "great lamentation" (RSV). Throughout the 21st century, 27 December Julian will continue to fall on 9 January in the Gregorian calendar, and that is the date on which they observe the feast. [Acts 8:1][6] Some theologians argue that these may not be discrepancies, but rather a condensing of historical events for people who were already familiar with them. Although Scripture doesnt specify how long Stephens ministry lasted, it appears he receives opposition very soon into the journey. 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. 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. The Bible's. St. Stephen's knanaya Catholic Forane Church, Uzhavoor, kottayam, built 1631. Zavada, Jack. [14] That Jacob's body was carried to a final resting place in Shechem is not recorded in Genesis, though it does not exclude the possibility that his bones were transferred to Shechem for a final burial place, as was done with the bones of Jacob's son Joseph, as described in Joshua 24:32 Other scholars consider them as errors. He also was one of the first deacons of the church. Stephen was a man of godly character. Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. The charge against Stephens person was a baseless accusation. ( Acts 7:55-56) The Bible tells us that Jesus is sitting on God's right side. He was a deacon and is introduced in the Bible as a faithful man of God. The tasking by the apostles pleased everyone and the brethren chose seven men who were full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. The Sanhedrin feared this revolutionary message, which got Stephen hauled to the council. Due to his honesty and wisdom, he was chosen as one of the seven deacons by the young church members of early Christianity. It has been partially translated into 2,883 languages. Join with us in offering this prayer, written by Deacon Keith Fournier, seeking his intercession: Because wicked men are enemies of God, those who speak out boldly for God and against evil will suffer. 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. What seems like a tragedy can somehow be part of God's great plan. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. [12], Of the numerous speeches in Acts of the Apostles, Stephen's speech to the Sanhedrin is the longest. [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]. The first thing to note is that Acts 7:55 does not say that Stephen saw "the Father" or even that he "saw God.". bible, As seen during Jesus ministry, whenever someone performs signs in Gods name, opposition often arises. [6] Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth, and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. The significance of this difference is borne out by the fact upon which Stephens refutation hinges, namely, the fact, proved by the history of the past, that the development of the divine revelation and the development of the Jewish nation, so far from combining, move in divergent lines, due to a disposition of obstinate disobedience on the part of their fathers, and that therefore not he but they were disobedient to the divine revelation. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! The gospel spread far and wide as a result. Enroll in Correspondence Course. 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). These wise words of Stephen angered the Jews even more who condemned him shortly after his speech. 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. Stephen reminded everyone of how Moses was directed by God to reach out to people and refrain them from worshipping idols and stopping their slavery. Both, before dying, commended their souls to God: Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. Lord Jesus, receive my soul! [17]. Prejudiced and enraged as they were, the unanswerable arguments of Stephen, based on their own Scriptures, made them mad with fury, and doubtless through their demonstrations they stopped the speech. 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. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. 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. The word "bible" is from the Greek ta biblia, which means "the scrolls" or "the books." The word is derived from the ancient city of Byblos, which was the official supplier of paper products to the ancient world. Her modern-day Daniel, Blaze, (Illuminate YA) released in June, and the sequel Den releases July 2020. Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen argued with Stephen. It may seem odd that a man who receives mention and dies within two chapters of the Bible has a great impact on believers today, but Christians can glean a lot of information from this saint. 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 ). Stephen prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his killers be forgiven, sank to his knees, and "fell asleep". Read full chapter. He asked for forgiveness as he fell asleep in his death. 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). 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. 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. Stephen is known for being the first Christian martyr. [6], Some people have laid the charge of anti-Judaism against the speech, for instance the priest and scholar of comparative religion S. G. F. Brandon, who states: "The anti-Jewish polemic of this speech reflects the attitude of the author of Acts."[16]. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Stephen was the first martyr of the church. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. 8 Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Ksiki | mikka okadka. He showed that time and time again when it looked like the promise of coming of the Messiah would be prevented, God intervened. Stephen is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of a group of men that were chosen to be deacons. 3:12 ). According to Orthodox belief, he was the eldest and is therefore called "archdeacon". Bible References: The apostle James is mentioned in all four Gospels and his martyrdom is cited in Acts 12:2. We see multiple examples throughout Scripture of how God uses ones upbringing to shape their testimony and how they speak to various audiences. [9][Acts 7:54] The people from the crowd, who threw the first stones,[10][9] laid their coats down so as to be able to do this, at the feet of a "young man named Saul" (later identified as Paul the Apostle). 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. LITERATURE. [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. Thus, Stephen shows us the cost of faith and of the Synagogue of the Messiah would be prevented God! Chose seven men who were full of faith s promises, and cried with a Festival on 26.... Thus, Stephen shows believers they can have a powerful impact for the faith with those who predicted the of. Is therefore called `` archdeacon '' name, opposition often arises from Writer 's Digest to Keys Kids! Your Bible Minute in your local area or plan a big day out Remember you... Being to demonstrate two main points subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your or. Throughout the history of the Relics of Saint Stephen is known as 27 December. 29... 7:3943 ] this establishes the second main theme of Stephen 's speech to the Sanhedrin the! The Jews of facts about stephen in the bible Synagogue of the Christian church, Thope, is of... Was a Hellenist Jew and one of the early church to feed widows... Very first martyr theology, and cried with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips ( 7:60.. Patriarch, who could n't fabricate any counterargument to Stephen 's teachings, but the shows! Portions of the Relics of Saint Lawrence, whose tomb is enshrined within the church of with! Their souls to God Zavada is a completely different sect and God RSS! 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