Protomartyr Stephen
by Stephen Jacobs (Dec. ’02)
St. Stephen was one of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr. Historians do not know much about his early life, but have approximated that Stephen had to have lived early in the First Century. This is because it was not long after Jesus died and rose again that Stephen died. Scholars state that he was a Greek-speaking Jew who came to live in Jerusalem, but they can’t state when exactly he became a Christian. The Church of Jerusalem selected Stephen as one of the first seven deacons who were men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit. After a while, Stephen was named the archdeacon of his area.
Stephen first appears in the Bible in Acts Chapter 6, which mentions his appointment to the deaconate. “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, ‘It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen….” (Acts 6:2-5)
It is apparent that Stephen took his ministry very seriously. Stephen worked many wonders and miracles among the poor people of Jerusalem, whom he served. This caused a great deal of consternation among the leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem. They slandered
Stephen and said that he had blasphemed against God and against Moses. The leaders of the Jewish Temple found false witnesses who supported these claims. Stephen stood before the people and spoke about all the good works that God had done for the people of Israel. Stephen then saw the heavens open and told the people what he saw: “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56) The leaders of the Jewish Temple took him out of the city and stoned him to death.
The Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Stephen on December 27. Saint Stephen is the patron saint of deacons. Saint Stephen is also my patron saint. It is the tradition of the Orthodox Church that children are named after saints who can be examples to them of a good Christian life. I am glad that Saint Stephen is my patron saint because he was brave and loving to other people even when they were hurting him. He is not only a good example to me, but for all of us on how to be more Christ-like in our everyday lives.
