facts about stephen in the bible
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. Stephen is known for being the first Christian martyr. He preached the teachings of Christ to the Greek-speaking Jews. 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. A young man watching the murder was Saul of Tarsus. [6] Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth, and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. 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. Stephen is described as a man who was unusually full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Ksiki | mikka okadka. His testimony began with Abraham and ended with the exile by way of a quote from Isaiah 66. He also was one of the first deacons of the church. It is noteworthy, however, that the Jewish legal forms were observed, as if to give to the violence the appearance of legality. QUICK FACTS. "Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr." They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. Stephen is known for being the first Christian martyr. Stephen was mentioned for the first time in Act 6:5 of the Bible. 9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and . Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum have argued that the covenants advance the storyline of the Bible in their book Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants, and they are on target. Christs words regarding the temple (John 4:20-24;Mark 13:2) not only led Stephen to see that the true worship of God was not confined to the temple, but opened his eyes as to the purely formal character of this worship in that day, which, far from being true worship, had become a mere ceremonialism (Mark 7:6), and in the words of Christ (John 2:19) he saw an intimation of the new temple which was to take the place of the old. [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". He said that the recently resurrected Jesus was standing by the side of God. This church was destroyed in the 12th century. He has a short introduction in Acts 6:5 and becomes the first martyr for the Christian faith just one chapter later. 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. 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. 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). The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith. Stephen is stated to have been full of faith and the Holy Spirit and to have performed miracles among the people. He was the first Christian martyr. According to the New Testament, the apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus. (Unfortunately, today, most churches continue to neglect widows that are the responsibility of the church. (2022, January 4). 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. 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. Stephen provided a point-by-point explanation following the Old Testament and put forth the various examples angering those who condemned Jesus. What seems like a tragedy can somehow be part of God's great plan. Acts 6:8: Stephen performs various wonders and signs. 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. He showed that time and time again when it looked like the promise of coming of the Messiah would be prevented, God intervened. Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin is the longest speech in Acts. 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. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Stephen was a gifted preacher, but the text shows God gave him wisdom and courage. ", "LXXXVIII. 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. Enroll in Correspondence Course. Both, before dying, commended their souls to God: Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. Lord Jesus, receive my soul! [17]. Fearlessly, he stood in front of the Jewish council and put forth his words for Christ. [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. 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. He held the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death and saw the victorious way Stephen died. 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. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". Join with us in offering this prayer, written by Deacon Keith Fournier, seeking his intercession: 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. 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. Salem Media Group. [22], Part of the right arm of Saint Stephen is enshrined at Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in Russia. 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. This day is also called the "Third Day of the Nativity" because it is the third day of the Christmas season. 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. 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. Furthermore, Stephen spoke about Abraham, the supreme patriarch, who was led by the Almighty to Israel from a pagan land. He was not at all worried about his earthly existence and stood firm in his belief in Christ. 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. 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. 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. His story is wholly contained in two chapters in the book of Acts, but it provides a glimpse into life in the early church and serves as an example of how our faith in Christ can lead to great things. All rights reserved. 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. better understanding, convincing knowledge, and the Spirit, i.e. The Arrest of Stephen 7 So the word of God continued to spread. 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. Not too long after, Saul would be converted by Jesus and become the great Christian missionary and apostle Paul. As they couldn't fabricate any counterargument to Stephen's vision, they produced false witnesses against him. [Acts 7:3943] This establishes the second main theme of Stephen's speech, Israel's disobedience to God. 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. 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. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. As Christ had been drawn into controversy with Pharisees and scribes on account of these freer views, and as His word about the temple was used to frame the accusation against Him in His trial, so also in the case of Stephen. For instance, Paul was a Jew with a Roman citizenship. She is fond of classic British literature. According to Orthodox belief, he was the eldest and is therefore called "archdeacon". They then drove all the other Greek-speaking Jewish Christians out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3). 1. The strong appeal to the will is made by holding up the figure of Moses type of the Law, in its vital significance, in such a way as passionately to apply it to the fundamental relation of divine plan and human conduct. 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 brought out the topic of Moses and their journey of meeting with God in a burning bush amidst the wilderness of Midian. and graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. 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. As in Stephens's case, the full impact of our lives may not be felt until decades after our death. Thus the new feature that it furnishes is its philosophy of this history which might be termed the Christian philosophy of Jewish history. Copyright 2010-2023 Telling Ministries LLC. 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. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. This trivia book is perfect for people of all ages and is a great resource for families or church groups. Rajnandini is an art lover and enthusiastically likes to spread her knowledge. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Ironically, Paul's fire for Christ would mirror Stephen's. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. As his name and his relations in the church at Jerusalem seem to imply (Acts 6:3ff), he was a Hellenist, i.e. Stephen is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of a group of men that were chosen to be deacons. The impression made by Stephens death was even greater than that made by his life. Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Stephen had preached blasphemy against Moses and God. 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. No matter how many challenges come in the course of our life, we must not lose hope in fate. [Acts 6:9] Members of these synagogues had challenged Stephen's teachings, but Stephen had bested them in debate. For instance, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jews seek to kill Lazarus as to dispose of the evidence of Gods work (John 12:9-11). 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. 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). The charge against Stephens person was a baseless accusation. It says that he saw "the Glory of God.". 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. It is mostly used as a title instead of a name, and is variously described as 'fame, reward, honor, or renown'. 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. He was also "full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people" ( Acts 6:8 ). Phillip was the name of two of King Herod the Great's sons by different wives ( Luke 3:1 and Matthew 14:3 ). There are four different men named Philip mentioned in the Bible. What it is Stephen himself shows unmistakenly in the second part of his defense. 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. After that, the relics of the protomartyr were taken in procession to the Church of Hagia Sion on 26 December 415, making it the date for the feast of Saint Stephen. 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 ). A 20th-century French Catholic church, Saint-tienne, was built in its place, while another, the Greek Orthodox Church of St Stephen, was built outside the eastern gate of the city,[18] which a second tradition holds to be the site of his martyrdom, rather than the northern location outside Damascus Gate (for the two traditions see here). Acts 8:1-2. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. Therefore, we cannot call Stephen an apostle. 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. 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Seeing themselves beaten, they took recourse to the ignoble method of declaring him a blasphemer and a heretic, by using the same foul means that the enemies of Jesus had resorted to, by suborning false witnesses to the plot, by stirring up the people against him, by appealing to their Jewish prejudices and to the scribes and elders, members of the Sanhedrin, and thus eventually brought about his arraignment. [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. Quick Facts 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. During this inquisition, false witnesses were set up. Although Scripture doesnt specify how long Stephens ministry lasted, it appears he receives opposition very soon into the journey. Since the name "Stephanos" is Greek, it has been assumed that he was one of these Hellenistic Jews. Devout men carried him to his grave ( 8:2 ). The result of these deacons being ordained over the care of the widows was the Word of God increasing as the apostles had more time available for their ministry work. Read them in the archive below. He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. When Stephen preached these things, the Jews accused him of blasphemy and brought him before their Council, the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:12-15). 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). The Jewish laws, ceremonies, temple and priesthood had fulfilled their purpose and were no longer necessary. Stephen then told how they, being set in their stiff-necked unbelieving ways, resisted the Holy Spirits conviction just as their fathers before them had resisted the preaching of the prophets who told of Jesus coming. The result, however, was that Christianity spread throughout the region, as the expelled Christians preached the gospel wherever they went (Acts 8:4;Acts 11:19). Of the seven men, all Hellenists, elected to this office at the occasion of a grievance of the Hellenistic Christians in the Jerusalem church against the Hebrew Christians, to the effect that in the distribution of alms their widows were being discriminated against, Stephen, who heads the list, is by far the most distinguished. 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). According to the Golden Legend, the relics of Lawrence moved miraculously to one side to make room for those of Stephen.[21]. When Stephen performs great signs and wonders, he draws opposition from a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen. 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. Twelve of these disciples were designated by the Lord himself as apostles who spread the Gospel. He's most known for his testimony in front of the Sanhedrin, after which he was stoned to death. However, Stephen did not back down. They had a strong knowledge of the Scriptures, as seen in Stephens speech featured in Acts 7. Reaching the destination isn't important, but we must focus on the journey first. Eventually, Stephen told how Jesus was the one who came as the fulfillment of Gods promises. 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). 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). Here is something else you might like to read: 10 Famous Christian Martyrs, Resources Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version, Tagged as: (compareMark 14:58;Mark 13:2;Mark 15:29). We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. 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. [20], The relics of the protomartyr were later translated to Rome by Pope Pelagius II during the construction of the basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. In a similar fashion to Socrates on trial, Stephen gives a point-by-point rendering of the Old Testament and how it related to Jesus work through his death and resurrection. The Bible's. 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 stood by the words of Jesus Christ, and so he was opposed by the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which involved the Alexandrians and the Cyrenians. 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. Bible scholars are divided on Stephen's vision of Jesus standing by his throne. [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. This helped him to preach to multiple audiences. 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. Nevertheless, the Israelites turned to other gods. 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. So at their own risk and we can not call Stephen an apostle he has a short introduction Acts. Earn a small commission its philosophy of this history which might be termed the Christian philosophy of history. Into the journey first, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit with God in burning! Can get free daily updates through the link at the foot of each newsletter, most churches to. Death was even greater than that made by his life many challenges come in second. They even killed those who stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord,... 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