Acts 6. The Sanhedrin feared this revolutionary message, which got Stephen hauled to the council. 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. Stephen Bohr: Secrets Unsealed: Happily Ever After: 2:00 AM: Last Sunday's Episode: Doug Batchelor and Jan Ross: Bible Answers LIVE- AF: RERUN Bible Answers Live: He was condemned for committing blasphemy against the . The impression made by Stephens death was even greater than that made by his life. Important churches and sites dedicated to Saint Stephen are: This article is about Deacon Stephen, the first martyred saint. More than 400 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. 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. One, claimed by noted French archaeologists Louis-Hugues Vincent (18721960) and Flix-Marie Abel (18781953) to be ancient, places the event at Jerusalem's northern gate, while another one, dated by Vincent and Abel to the Middle Ages and no earlier than the 12th century, locates it at the eastern gate. LITERATURE. 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. 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. Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin is the longest speech in Acts. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". [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. They resisted the purpose of God by obstinately and stiff-neckedly opposing those through whom God worked. 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. 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. As devout Jews, they would have been horrified at Stephen's claim that Jesus Christ was the much-awaited Messiah. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. The Catholic, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches and the Church of the East view Stephen as a 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. [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]. This also has the effect of pushing the Feast of the Holy Innocents to the 29 December. Stephens story shows us that no matter how insignificant we may think our role is, we can use it to reach others for Christ and endure the persecution that is sure to follow. [23][24][25][26][dubious discuss]. It says that he saw "the Glory of God.". 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. Second, no matter where we come from, God can use our past to shape our testimony and witness. of It's library of books The Bible is a library of 66 books, written by 44 authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit over a period of about 1,500 years. (b) The Jews to whom these revelations were granted, so far from being thankful at all stages of their history, had been slow to believe and understand them because they would not be obedient (Acts 7:39,Acts 7:57). [27] The feasts of both 26 December and 3 August have been used in dating clauses in historical documents produced in England. [6], There are at least five places where Stephen's re-telling of the stories of Israelite history diverges from the scriptures where these stories originated; for instance, Stephen says that Jacob's tomb was in Shechem,[Acts 7:16] but Genesis 50:13[Genesis 50:13] says Jacob's body was carried and buried in a cave in Machpelah at Hebron. Answer. Third, and most importantly, Stephen shows us the cost of faith. But rather than be silenced, Stephen spoke with even more boldness. Stephen's Testimony still enlightens souls all across the world to this day. According to the Golden Legend, the relics of Lawrence moved miraculously to one side to make room for those of Stephen.[21]. As Paul later put it, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" ( 2 Tim. 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. Customs of Moses (Acts 6:14) were the institutions that distinguished the Jews and that were derived from Moses. It may seem odd that a man who receives mention and dies within two chapters of the Bible has a great impact on believers today, but Christians can glean a lot of information from this saint. He preached the teachings of Christ to the Greek-speaking Jews. "He fell asleep" with a prayer for his persecutors on his lips ( 7:60 ). Email. This recourse to lynch law may have been connived at by the Roman authorities, since the act was without political significance. The tasking by the apostles pleased everyone and the brethren chose seven men who were full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. 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. Stephens new role did not stop with the daily routine of helping elderly widows, he used his role to demonstrate wonders and miracles among the people. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Stephen had preached blasphemy against Moses and God. Martyrdom of Stephen. 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. Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. He brought out the topic of Moses and their journey of meeting with God in a burning bush amidst the wilderness of Midian. [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. The Bible says that Stephen spoke with such spiritual wisdom that his Jewish opponents were unable to refute him (Acts 6:10). 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. 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. Take the encounter Israel . 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. Stephen was mentioned for the first time in Act 6:5 of the Bible. Dr. Mike has worked in the information technology field for many years and he uses his talents and experience in the ministry for the glory of the Lord. Once the selection was completed, the newly chosen deacons were set before the apostles who laid their hands on them and prayed over them. 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. For instance, Paul was a Jew with a Roman citizenship. The soul remains immortal and therefore, we must choose to stick to our faiths and beliefs. He's most known for his testimony in front of the Sanhedrin, after which he was stoned to death. Due to his efforts, the gospel spread throughout the nation, thus infuriating the council of Sanhedrins. The reminder of Jesus standing by us will surely guide our path to home. He performed great wonders and miraculous signs, was known for his wisdom, and spoke with power (Acts 6:3-10). Rajnandini is an art lover and enthusiastically likes to spread her knowledge. Jesus answered directly and clearly, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (verses 4-5). Appointed one of the committee of seven to oversee the daily ministration. The apostles addressed this need by tasking the local church members to choose seven men that could be appointed over the business of caring for the widows. It has been partially translated into 2,883 languages. Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth, and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. Stephen prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his killers be forgiven, sank to his knees, and "fell asleep". As seen during Jesus ministry, whenever someone performs signs in Gods name, opposition often arises. It harkens back to times when God's presence was visibly manifest before His people in the Old Testament. That was the only time in the New Testament anyone other than Jesus himself called him the Son of Man. 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. Enroll in Correspondence Course. The true source of Stephens freer views of the Mosaic Law and the temple was Christs own teachings, Stephen showing a wonderfully ripened understanding of them, paralleled only by that of Paul some time later. is a pastor, author, Christian educator and Biblical counselor who has served in ministry since 2001. 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. Such arguing and directness as Stephens could have but one result. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. He continued by telling them what he was seeing, which enraged them so much they attacked him. As they attacked him, they drug him outside the city and stoned him to death. the deep earnestness and spirituality, by which he spake so convincingly (Acts 6:10;Matthew 10:19,Matthew 10:20). 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. 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). Even before his death, he asked for forgiveness of his murderers, just like Jesus. During this inquisition, false witnesses were set up. Reaching the destination isn't important, but we must focus on the journey first. 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. Using the God given wisdom provided by the Holy Spirit, Stephen was able to cut through their weak arguments. These words which mark the climax, though probably not the close of the speech, pointed the moral in terms of the most cutting rebuke, and were at once prophetical as to the effect the speech would have upon his hearers and for him. Acts 8:1-2. Salem Media Group. Among the most notable are the two sites in Jerusalem held by different traditions to be the place of his martyrdom, the Salesian monastery of Beit Jimal in Israel held to be the place where his remains were miraculously found, and the church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome, where the saint's remains are said to be buried. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Stephen is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of a group of men that were chosen to be deacons. 3. Proud member Previous post: How Does The Bible Define Wickedness? 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. The main arguments of the speech may be summed up as follows: (a) Gods self-manifestation to Israel in revealing His covenant and His will, so far from being bound to one sanctuary and conveyed to one single person (Moses), began long before Moses and long before there was a temple. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Learn Religions, Jan. 4, 2022, learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068. First, Stephen shows believers they can have a powerful impact for the kingdom, if even for a short period of time. He was extremely courageous to stand against the entire Jewish council and took this opportunity to reach out to a wider audience with his preachings. [2], In a long speech to the Sanhedrin comprising almost the whole of Acts chapter 7, Stephen presents his view of the history of Israel. . 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. 8 Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. This revolutionary message got Stephen hauled before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish council that had condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. The Bible's. Many Jews grew up outside of Jerusalem due to an event known as the Diaspora. 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). If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. He was also "full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people" ( Acts 6:8 ). In defending his preaching, Stephen gave an outline of Israels history, his aim being to demonstrate two main points. 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 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). Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and when he looked up into heaven, Stephen saw 'the glory of God' (no one is permitted to see God) and on the right side of God, Jesus was standing! The gospel spread far and wide as a result. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. He was deeply influenced by Christianity and shared a strong connection with God himself. All rights reserved. Stephen had a vision of Jesus and said he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. In the way he lived and died, Stephen catapulted the early Christian church from its local Jerusalem roots to a cause that spread across the entire world. Dr Michael L has written 155 articles on What Christians Want To Know! [Acts 11:1920][11], The exact site of Stephen's stoning is not mentioned in Acts; instead there are two different traditions. 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