On December 26, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Stephen, a fearless hero of the early Church. Living in the first community of Christians in Jerusalem, Stephen challenged the Jewish teachers at the synagogue and boldly proclaimed the truth of the Gospel. In today’s post, we invite you to discover five facts about the life of St. Stephen and what believers can learn from his example.
1. Stephen was one of seven deacons appointed to serve the practical needs of the congregation.
In the early Church, the appointment of the deacons was intended to give the elders more time to devote to prayer and the study of the Scriptures. Acts 6:1-2 explains:
“At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task.’”
2. He was a Hellenistic Jew.
Leading teachers at synagogues were perplexed with how to handle Jewish followers of Jesus – especially this bright young deacon who was “filled with grace and power… working great wonders and signs among the people,” (Acts 6:8). Many challenged Stephen, but as an adept rhetorician filled with the Holy Spirit, he swiftly dispatched their arguments.
3. After Stephen successfully debated the teachers at the synagogue, they brought false witnesses to testify against him.
Frustrated with their repeated defeats in these debates, the teachers decided to bring him before the Sanhedrin on charges of blasphemy against God and the law of Moses. There, they brought false witnesses against him, but his innocence in the eyes of God remained clear: “All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel,” (Acts 6:15).
4. He was the first person to be martyred for Christ.
During his trial, Stephen stood by his arguments, explaining how the law of Moses was no longer binding, foretelling the destruction of the temple, and lastly, rebuking the Sanhedrin. But his scathing recriminations only further angered them, as Acts 7:54-58a says:
“When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.”
5. Saul was present at his stoning.
Saul, who would later undergo a dramatic conversion to Christ and be known as Paul, was at this time a great persecutor of Christians, and present for Stephen’s execution. Acts 7:58b-60 tells us:
“The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and when he said this, he fell asleep.”
Even as he faced unjust execution, Stephen demonstrated an attitude of forgiveness, begging God to have mercy on those stoning him. Though Stephen passed from the earth that day, his example of ultimate devotion endures forever.
Saint Stephen is featured in the Basilica in the St. John Chapel lunette window, the Byzantine Ruthenian Chapel, and the West Transept mosaic “The Second Coming.”
Sources:
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, ed. by Bernard Bangley.
The Way of Saints, Tom Cowan.