The Bible's. 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. But it's not the same type of evangelistic sermon, which Peter gave a few chapters prior. 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). The charge against Stephens person was a baseless accusation. Psalm 82:3 New Living Translation (NLT) 3 "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Stephen is known for being the first Christian martyr. 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. The Catholic, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches and the Church of the East view Stephen as a saint. Bible scholars are divided on Stephen's vision of Jesus standing by his throne. Martyrdom of Stephen. St. Stephen's knanaya Catholic Forane Church, Uzhavoor, kottayam, built 1631. "Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr." Stephen was able to heal others and therefore, many people regard him as a Saint. Focus of love and hatred. 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. 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. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. 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 sacrifice created turmoil in Jerusalem, where the Jewish Council was forcing Christians and persecuting them. 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 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. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Many early Christians were martyred in the time after Christ. 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. Stephen more than met the requirements of the office to which he was elected (Acts 6:3); the record characterizes him as a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), i.e. Election and Ordination of Deacons. Even before his death, he asked for forgiveness of his murderers, just like Jesus. This revolutionary message got Stephen hauled before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish council that had condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. The charge against his teaching was both false and true. 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. It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. Once the selection was completed, the newly chosen deacons were set before the apostles who laid their hands on them and prayed over them. 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Enroll in Online Course. He has a short introduction in Acts 6:5 and becomes the first martyr for the Christian faith just one chapter later. The article above also shows how his Hellenistic and Hebrew upbringing influenced the Apology-like speech he gives to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council. Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of God's promises. In accordance with the accusation against him, his defense was a twofold one: personal defense and defense of his teaching. Take the encounter Israel . 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 reminder of Jesus standing by us will surely guide our path to home. Stephen was the first martyr of the church. Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of Gods promises. 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. Bible References: Stephen's story is told in chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Acts. 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. Join with us in offering this prayer, written by Deacon Keith Fournier, seeking his intercession: [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. Acts 6:1-7:As the Apostles numbers grew, because of the size, certain people became overlooked, such as the Gentile widows (opposed to the Hebraic widows). Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr. is a pastor, author, Christian educator and Biblical counselor who has served in ministry since 2001. Your privacy is important to us. [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. 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. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. [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]. Fearlessly, he stood in front of the Jewish council and put forth his words for Christ. 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. 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. First, Stephen shows believers they can have a powerful impact for the kingdom, if even for a short period of time. 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 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 was also the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for preaching that Jesus was the Christ. All rights reserved. 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. Using the God given wisdom provided by the Holy Spirit, Stephen was able to cut through their weak arguments. He was a deacon and is introduced in the Bible as a faithful man of God. [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. 8 Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. He showed that time and time again when it looked like the promise of coming of the Messiah would be prevented, God intervened. (2022, January 4). Saint Stephen is also commemorated on 4 January (Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles) in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Stephen in the Bible Known for: Stephen was a Hellenist Jew and one of seven men ordained as deacons in the early church. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? He was not at all worried about his earthly existence and stood firm in his belief in Christ. Answer. 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. 6. Many Jews grew up outside of Jerusalem due to an event known as the Diaspora. Man can only kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. 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. 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). Bible Characters. What it is Stephen himself shows unmistakenly in the second part of his defense. She is fond of classic British literature. 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. Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Stephen had preached blasphemy against Moses and God. Seeing a need to delegate roles, the disciples elected the first seven deacons known to the Christian faith. It is said that Stephen's life and death served as a catalyst in the spread of Christianity both directly and indirectly. Both our Blessed Lord and St. Stephen were treated as outcasts, and put to death outside the city. 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). Many people who are familiar with the Bible are not familiar with Stephen who was one of the first deacons in the Bible. 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. [13] Another possibility is that the discrepancies come from an ancient Jewish tradition which was not included in the scriptures or may have been popular among people of Jerusalem who were not scribes. This trivia book is perfect for people of all ages and is a great resource for families or church groups. Their conspiracy resulted in Stephen being taken into custody, brought before the council of the synagogue, and charged with blasphemy. 3. 6. Throughout the history of the early church, various charismatic gifts such as healing, belonged to several followers of Christ. With his profound teachings, Stephen successfully managed to convert many of them into followers of Christ by engaging them in religious discussions. [2] The full Bible has been translated into 532 languages. 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. 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. Satan does not sit idly by when his realm is challenged. Copyright 2010-2023 Telling Ministries LLC. There was no blasphemy on the part of Stephen, save by perversion of his words. Still others interpret them as deliberate choices making theological points. Though it marks the beginning of the first great persecution of Christians, the death of the first Christian martyr resulted in the greatest acquisition Christianity has probably ever made, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. By his reference to this place and these customs Stephen was understood to imply the destruction of the temple and the change of the Law, Christianity thus aiming not only at the overthrow of the Jews religion but the very termination of their national existence. [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]. God often uses the person's godly character under fire to convict those to whom he is bearing verbal witness. 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. Quick Facts 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). 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). [Acts 11:1920][11], The exact site of Stephen's stoning is not mentioned in Acts; instead there are two different traditions. The reliquary is likely a 9th-century creation. 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. Acts 7:55 in all English translations. 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. God's work is constantly unfolding and goes forth on his timetable. He uses very Jewish examples, but his argument follows a Greek-like argument, similar to the ones used by Plato and Socrates. Stephen is described as a man who was unusually full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Stephen's martyrdom was a foretaste of what was to come. It has been partially translated into 2,883 languages. Find out more about her here. They resisted the purpose of God by obstinately and stiff-neckedly opposing those through whom God worked. This resulted in the number of new disciples in Jerusalem increasing along with a large number of priests being saved. According to Orthodox belief, he was the eldest and is therefore called "archdeacon". All Rights Reserved. "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen argued with Stephen. Stephen had a vision of Jesus and said he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 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). 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. Acts 6. [Acts 6:9] Members of these synagogues had challenged Stephen's teachings, but Stephen had bested them in debate. It makes evident beyond doubt how not grounded the accusation of blasphemy against him was. Next post: Top 7 Bible Verses About Sowing And Reaping. Not too long after, Saul would be converted by Jesus and become the great Christian missionary and apostle Paul. 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. St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church and Parish in St. Louis, Missouri. 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. Likewise, he contented for the faith with those who were ultra-liberal in their beliefs. Dr. Michael L. Williams The Jewish laws, ceremonies, temple and priesthood had fulfilled their purpose and were no longer necessary. This enraged some of the members of the local synagogues. St. Stephen's Church, Thope, is one of the parishes of the first diocese of India, Kollam. He continued by telling them what he was seeing, which enraged them so much they attacked him. St. Stephen Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". a Greek-speaking Jew. 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. Both, before dying, commended their souls to God: Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. Lord Jesus, receive my soul! [17]. Dr. Mike and his wife, Pamela Rose, live in Northeast Ohio and they have children and grandchildren that live in various states. He said that the recently resurrected Jesus was standing by the side of God. Zavada, Jack. And when he had said this, he . However, Stephen did not back down. He is the patron saint of Altar Servers, bricklayers, casket makers and deacons and his feast day is celebrated on December 26. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. The Bible says that Stephen spoke with such spiritual wisdom that his Jewish opponents were unable to refute him (Acts 6:10). [8] However, Stephen looked up and cried, "Look! This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. [Acts 22:20], The only source for information about Stephen is the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles. Thanks for stopping by! 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. "He fell asleep" with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips ( 7:60 ). 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. [19] A different tradition is documented from the end of the Crusader period, after the disappearance of the Byzantine church: as Christian pilgrims were prohibited from approaching the militarily exposed northern city wall, the name "Saint Stephen's Gate" was transferred to the still accessible eastern gate, which bears this name until this day. Her column "Hope's Hacks," tips and tricks to avoid writer's block, reaches 6,000+ readers weekly and is featured monthly on Cyle Young's blog, which receives 63,000+ monthly hits. In Acts, after the early church begins to convert thousands of people to the Christian faith in a matter of days, we meet for a brief time a man by the name of Stephen. Devout men lovingly took away the body of Stephen and expressed their grief with "great lamentation" (RSV). 9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and . 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. 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. 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. [7] Stephen denounces his listeners[6] as "stiff-necked" people who, just as their ancestors had done, resist the Holy Spirit. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, 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. 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