Stephen

Identity

Stephen is the first of the seven men chosen by the Jerusalem church 'to serve tables' (Acts 6:2-6), and the first Christian to die for the faith. Acts describes him as 'full of faith and power' (6:8) and 'full of the Holy Ghost' (7:55). His speech before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7) is the longest sermon recorded in Acts. He was stoned outside Jerusalem, forgiving his killers as he died — the first Christian to imitate the seven last words of the Cross.

Name and titles

'Stephen' — Stephanos in Greek — means 'crown' or 'wreath.' The name is echoed in the Christian phrase 'the crown of martyrdom.' Scripture calls him 'a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost' (Acts 6:5) and 'full of grace and power' (Acts 6:8).

Historical period

• c. AD 33-34 — Chosen with six others (Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas) as the first seven deacons (Acts 6:5).
• c. AD 33-34 — Performs great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8).
• c. AD 33-34 — Disputes with the Freedmen synagogue in Jerusalem; arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:9-15).
• c. AD 33-34 — Delivers the great speech of Acts 7 — a survey of salvation history from Abraham through Solomon.
• c. AD 33-34 — Stoned outside Jerusalem; 'young man' Saul (later Paul) is present, consenting to his death and keeping the coats of the witnesses (Acts 7:58-60; 8:1).

Scripture appearances

• Acts 6:1-6 (KJV) Chosen among the seven.
• Acts 6:8-15 (KJV) Wonders, arrest, arraignment; his face 'as it had been the face of an angel.'
• Acts 7 (KJV) The great speech.
• Acts 7:55-56 (KJV) 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.'
• Acts 7:59-60 (KJV) 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit… Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.'
• Acts 8:1 (KJV) Saul consents to his death; persecution begins.
• Acts 22:20 (KJV) Paul later recalls: 'when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death.'

Connected Places

• Jerusalem — the city of his life and death.
• St Stephen's Gate (Bab al-Asbat / Lions' Gate) in the Old City wall of Jerusalem — the traditional site of his martyrdom is just outside.

Connected People

• The other six deacons — Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas.
• Paul — then Saul of Tarsus, who witnessed and consented to his death.
• Peter — the leader of the Jerusalem church during his ministry.
• Christ Jesus — whom he saw standing at the right hand of God.

Salvation history role

• The first Christian martyr — the first-fruits of the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1).
• The immediate cause (humanly speaking) of the scattering of the Jerusalem church, which carried the Gospel outward (Acts 8:1-4).
• The witness at Paul's conscience whose blood, tradition holds, was the seed of Paul's conversion.
• The first to imitate Christ's two crucial words from the Cross: forgiveness of his killers, and commending his spirit.

Christian tradition

• Feast: 26 December (the day after Christmas — in most Christian calendars).
• Called 'the Protomartyr' (first martyr) in all Christian tradition.
• In Christian iconography Stephen is shown as a young deacon in vestments, holding stones and a palm.
• The old English carol 'Good King Wenceslas' is set on the feast of Stephen ('the feast of Stephen').

Household reflection

Stephen teaches the household that Christian courage begins in Christian sight. He saw Christ standing at the right hand of God. When we can see Christ, we can bear anything.

His last two prayers — 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit' and 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge' — are the household's death-prayer and forgiveness-prayer. Teach them to the children.

Room connections

Where this entry meets the household in the wider house of CrossAIHub.

• Read (Library) — Read Acts 6-7 aloud on 26 December (his feast) as a household.
• Pray (Chapel) — Pray his two last words in evening prayer.
• Family (Kitchen Table) — On St Stephen's Day (26 December), give from your Christmas plenty to a family in need — the old English custom.
• Sing (Choir Room) — Sing 'Good King Wenceslas' (John Mason Neale, 1853) on 26 December.
• Learn (Workshop) — Study Acts 7 as a survey of Old Testament salvation history.

Further reading

Acts 6-8 in the KJV.

Augustine, Sermons on St Stephen (early fifth century).

The Roman Martyrology, 26 December.

Elsewhere in the Atlas

• Paul
• Peter
• Christ Jesus
• Jerusalem
• Return to the atrium — the Atlas's main room.