Saint Stephen was the eldest of the first ordained deacons of the Church and also the first Christian Martyr.
Stephen was so conformed to Jesus in his holy life that his martyrdom inspired the early believers as they faced the first round of brutal persecution. Those who shed their blood for the faith are the greatest of witnesses and have been especially honored since the very beginning of Christianity.
He was of the first 7 deacons of the Church called by the Apostles to tend to widows who were being neglected in their practical needs which allowed the Apostles and the 1st Bishops to attend more to teaching.
Great preaching and miracles were attributed to him as the Bible records that he was “full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” His popularity created enemies and they debated him to generate evidence against him in furtherance of their persecution of the Church. They accused him of blasphemy, falsely persuading the local populace to demand he be tried and punished. When put on trial, they brought forth false witnesses and he was charged. He was filled with Wisdom from Heaven and responded how disobedient Israel had become. “You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. They killed those who foretold the coming of the Upright One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers.”
When concluding his defense, he looked up and saw a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God and spoke of it which was taken as the final proof of blasphemy. They rushed him outside and stoned him to death.
As Stephen was being killed, he spoke his last words, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Watching the trial and execution was Rabbi Saul of Tarsus who was a virulent persecutor of the Church. Shortly afterwards, he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was dramatically converted. He took the name Paul and became the great apostle to the Gentiles.
He is the patron saint of deacons and stone masons.
His feast day is December 26.
For God’s Glory.
