[2] The full Bible has been translated into 532 languages. The impression made by Stephens death was even greater than that made by his life. Of his conversion to Christianity we know nothing, though there is a tradition that he was among the Seventy. Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr. 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. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. He did not fear the consequences and decided to speak boldly against the failure of Israel to recognize their Messiah. Even before his death, he asked for forgiveness of his murderers, just like Jesus. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. It is a public holiday in many nations that are of historic Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions, including Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Poland, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Catalonia and the Balearic Isles. 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). Acts 7 is a beautiful example of telling the story of the whole Bible and tying it to Christ. 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. But it's not the same type of evangelistic sermon, which Peter gave a few chapters prior. When Stephen performs great signs and wonders, he draws opposition from a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen. Devout men lovingly took away the body of Stephen and expressed their grief with "great lamentation" (RSV). 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. He said that the recently resurrected Jesus was standing by the side of God. 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. Father: Zebedee Mother: Salome Brother: John Hometown: He lived in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Stephen in the Bible is known as the first Christian martyr. Satan does not sit idly by when his realm is challenged. Stephen's preachings were of utmost importance to society, which led to a revolutionary consequence for the early Christians. Stephen's sermon is a different kind of prophetic speech. Stephen provided a point-by-point explanation following the Old Testament and put forth the various examples angering those who condemned Jesus. He showed that time and time again when it looked like the promise of coming of the Messiah would be prevented, God intervened. With his profound teachings, Stephen successfully managed to convert many of them into followers of Christ by engaging them in religious discussions. Pope Benedict XVI stated in 2012 that St. Stephen appealed to the Jewish scriptures to prove how the laws of Moses were not subverted by Jesus but, instead, were being fulfilled. The Crusaders initially called the main northern gate of Jerusalem "Saint Stephen's Gate" (in Latin, Porta Sancti Stephani), highlighting its proximity to the site of martyrdom of Saint Stephen, marked by the church and monastery built by Empress Eudocia. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. The charge against Stephens person was a baseless accusation. [6] Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth, and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. Dr. Mike holds under-graduate through post graduate degrees in Christian Education and formerly worked as a nurse. St. Stephen is often depicted with stones, a Gospel Book, a miniature church and a martyr's palm frond. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Local churches were beginning to be established and there arose some problems with Greek widows being neglected in their care. During this inquisition, false witnesses were set up. Thanks for stopping by! The Bible's. It meant Christianity was not just another Jewish sect but something entirely different: a New Covenant from God, replacing the Old. Acts 7:55 in all English translations. Instead of disputing the accuracy of their charges, he took the opportunity before the large numbers of people there to share the Gospel of Salvation, beginning all the way back with the calling of Abraham out of idolatry. The Jewish laws, ceremonies, temple and priesthood had fulfilled their purpose and were no longer necessary. "[Acts 7:5153], Thus castigated, the account is that the crowd could contain their anger no longer. He also was one of the first deacons of the church. [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. Known best as the proto-martyr of the Christian church, introducing the heroic period of persecutions. 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. 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Third, and most importantly, Stephen shows us the cost of faith. Stephen was an evangelist. In Western Christianity, 26 December is called "Saint Stephen's Day", the "Feast of Stephen" mentioned in the English Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas". 3:12 ). Who was this man who has such a brief mention? What Stephen's Name Means. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. 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. It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. 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. Read them in the archive below. Photo credit:Wikimedia Commons-Public Domain/Annibale Carracci. Now the audience could restrain its rage no longer, and the catastrophe followed immediately. [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. 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. As Paul later put it, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" ( 2 Tim. Although Scripture doesnt specify how long Stephens ministry lasted, it appears he receives opposition very soon into the journey. 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 relied upon the Holy Spirit to give him the Words to say, the strength to persevere under persecution, and the heart to forgive those who were responsible for his death. The Sanhedrin feared this revolutionary message, which got Stephen hauled to the council. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, and in Oriental Orthodox Churches (e.g., Coptic, Syrian, Malankara) Saint Stephen's feast day is celebrated on 27 December, due to the celebration of the Synaxis of the Theotokos on the 26 December. The Catholic, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches and the Church of the East view Stephen as a saint. Martyrdom of Stephen. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. a Greek-speaking Jew. Thus also his defense before the Sanhedrin, though the name of Jesus was not mentioned until the very last, was in reality a grand apology for Christ. 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). 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. 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. ", "LXXXVIII. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. From that moment on, Saul's life was turned upside down. This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". He did not hesitate to preach his views, choosing the Hellenistic synagogues for this purpose, and soon became engaged in controversies there. These are some of the lessons Stephen's life left people with. 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. He asked for forgiveness as he fell asleep in his death. 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. A young man watching the murder was Saul of Tarsus. Zavada, Jack. 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 6. The accusation which they brought against him, through the introduction of false witnesses, included a twofold charge, one against his person, a charge of blasphemous words against Moses which would make him also a blasphemer of God, and one against his teaching, charging him with revolutionary and radical statements concerning the temple and the Law. Bible scholars are divided on Stephen's vision of Jesus standing by his throne. "[Acts 8:1] In the aftermath of Stephen's death, the remaining disciples except for the apostles fled to distant lands, many to Antioch. They then drove all the other Greek-speaking Jewish Christians out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3). 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. Not too long after, Saul would be converted by Jesus and become the great Christian missionary and apostle Paul. The material world is nothing in comparison to the afterlife. St. Stephen, (died 36 ce, Jerusalem; feast day December 26), Christian deacon in Jerusalem and the first Christian martyr, whose apology before the Sanhedrin (Acts of the Apostles 7) points to a distinct strand of belief in early Christianity. However, other Orthodox churches, including the Oriental Orthodox, continue to use the original Julian calendar. Dr. Michael L. Williams 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? 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