Saint Stephen

Who they were

Stephen was among the first followers of the apostles in Jerusalem, perhaps a Greek or a Jew of Greek culture, and so respected that he is named first of the seven chosen to help the apostles. The Acts of the Apostles call him 'a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' who worked wonders and signs.

Accused by false witnesses of blasphemy against Moses and God, he was brought before the Sanhedrin, where he gave the longest speech in Acts, retelling the history of salvation. When he cried out 'I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God', they dragged him out of the city and stoned him. Kneeling, he prayed, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' Among those present was the young Saul, the future St Paul.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Stephen is honoured as the first martyr (protomartyr) from the Acts of the Apostles. His feast is 26 December.

Why that counted as sanctity

Stephen was the first to give his life for Christ, and he died as Christ did, forgiving those who killed him. His prayer for his persecutors was answered in one of them, Saul, who became Paul.

Connected on this site

• Paul the Apostle Saint
  “Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become Paul the Apostle, was also involved as a witness in Stephen's execution.” — Wikipedia