Birth:-5 AD
Death:~34 AD
Country: Israel
Place of Vision: Jerusalem
Martyrdom reminds us of what the cost of being a disciple of Christ can be. The martyrs wouldn’t have died if they had abandoned Christ and embraced society’s religion. Yet they counted Christ more valuable than clinging to life in this tattered body. What the price was in ages past still continues to be the same for many today. According to a research report, even today in the 21st century, 11 Christians are martyred every day! St.Stephen was the forerunner of the glorious group of martyrs.
Stephen was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem. He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, grace, faith, and power. In his early ministry, he distributed food and support the Greek widows. Later in public, he performed many wonders among the people. Stephen was a powerful orator and often debated with the synagogue authorities about Jesus being the Christ. As the number of Jewish converts increased, the Jewish authorities accused him of blasphemy against Moses and the Temple. When summoned before the Sanhedrin, the supreme rabbinic court in Jerusalem, Stephen remained unperturbed amid accusations and his face looked like that of an angel.
In his speech at the Sanhedrin, he reminds them of the abundant grace of God toward rebellious sinners, but also the danger of hardening our hearts against God’s grace. He also reminded the leaders about Israel’s history, their idolatry and disobedience, and denounced his prosecutors as “stiff-necked” people. On hearing his admonishments, the crowd was filled with rage, gnashed their teeth, and stoned him. Stephen, however, looked up and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” As they were stoning him, he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and became the first Christian martyr. Synonymous with his name, which in Greek means ‘Crown,’ Stephen received his crown from the Lord through his faith.
