Saint Stephen

Saint Stephen was a deacon in the early Jerusalem church who was stoned to death for his testimony about Jesus. Acts presents him as Christianity’s first martyr.

Acts of the Apostles: The New Testament book recounting the early Christian movement from Jesus’s ascension through Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. Its account in chapters 6–8 is the primary narrative of Stephen’s ministry and death.
Early Christianity: The religious movement that formed around Jesus and his followers in the first centuries CE. Stephen’s ministry belongs to the movement’s first generation in Jerusalem.
Christian martyrdom: The death of a Christian caused by refusal to renounce the faith or by religious persecution. Stephen’s death became the earliest canonical example of Christian martyrdom.
Acts 6: The chapter of Acts describing the appointment of the Seven and the beginning of Stephen’s public ministry. It introduces Stephen’s role, reputation, and conflict before his trial.
Sanhedrin trial of Stephen: The hearing before Jerusalem’s council in which Stephen was accused of speaking against the Temple and the Law. This trial frames the accusations and speech that precede Stephen’s execution.
Seven Deacons: Seven men appointed in Acts to oversee the distribution of food in the early Jerusalem church. Stephen is named first among the Seven, whose appointment addresses community tensions.
Feast of Saint Stephen: The Christian feast commemorating Stephen, observed on December 26 in many Western churches. The feast keeps the first martyr’s memory immediately after Christmas in the Western calendar.
Acts 7: The chapter of Acts containing Stephen’s defense speech and account of his death by stoning. It preserves the speech and execution that define his biblical story.
Stoning of Stephen: The execution by stoning described in Acts 7, during which Stephen prays for his killers. Acts presents this death as the defining event of Stephen’s martyrdom.
Hellenistic Jews: Jews shaped by Greek language and culture, especially those living beyond Judea. Acts identifies Stephen with a synagogue group associated with Hellenistic Jews.

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The Burial of the Count of OrgazBroader topic: His embroidered vestment identifies him as one of the saints lowering Orgaz.