Saint
Stephen
Deacon and Martyr
And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the
people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen
(as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those
from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not
withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they
secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous
words against Moses and God." And thy stirred up the people and the
elders and the scribes, and thy came upon him and seized him and brought him
before the council, and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never
ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him
say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the
customs which Moses delivered us." And gazing at him, all who sat in
the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
(Acts 6:8-15)
What we know of Stephen comes directly from the Acts of the
Apostles, and the writings of the Church Fathers. Stephen, one of the
seven men chosen by the Apostles as a Deacon, was the first martyr of the
Church, giving his life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His trial and
death is very similar in literary structure to the death of Jesus.
Feast Day: December 26