Saint Stephen the Protomartyr

Almost everything known about Stephen comes from the Acts of the Apostles. His origins are unknown. His name is Greek and means "crowned," and so he is usually thought to have been a Greek-speaking Jew of Jerusalem, a city where many peoples, languages, and customs met. He was among the first Jews to become Christians, and because of his learning, wisdom, and sincere faith, he became the first of the seven deacons of the community.

The Acts tell how it happened. Some time after Pentecost, the number of disciples kept growing, and a quarrel arose between the Greek-speaking and the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because the Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of help. The twelve apostles gathered the disciples and said it was not right for them to neglect preaching and prayer in order to wait on tables. They asked the community to choose seven men for the task. The seven were Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch. The apostles laid hands on them, and the Church has seen in this act the beginning of the diaconate.

Stephen did wonders and signs among the people. His teaching in the synagogues of Hellenistic Jews angered some of their members, who accused him of blasphemy and brought him to trial. There he made a long speech denouncing the authorities who sat in judgment on him. He was then stoned to death, around the year 34. A young man named Saul of Tarsus, who would later become the apostle Paul, was present and took part in the execution as a witness. As he died, Stephen prayed for his persecutors and said that he saw Jesus in glory at the right hand of the Father.

He is remembered as the first martyr, and the Church keeps his feast on 26 December, just after Christmas, among the days of those who were closest to Christ and the first to bear witness to him: Stephen, then John the Evangelist, then the Holy Innocents. Artists show him as a young deacon with stones, a palm, and sometimes a miniature church in his hands.

Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, pray for us.