All that we know about Stephen the Protomartyr — that is, the first martyr of the early Christian Church — is found in the Book of Acts.
The early Christian congregations, like the Jewish synagogues, had a program of assistance for needy widows, and some of the Greek-speaking Jews in the Jerusalem congregation complained that their widows were being neglected. The apostles replied: “We cannot both preach and administer financial matters. Choose seven men from among yourselves, respected, Spirit-filled, and of sound judgement, and let them be in charge of the accounts, and we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.” The people accordingly chose seven men, including Stephen, and the apostles laid their hands on them. They are traditionally considered to be the first deacons, although the Scriptures do not use the word to describe them. (A century or more later, we find the organized charities of each local congregation in the hands of its deacons.)
Stephen was an eloquent and fiery speaker, and a provocative one. (Some readers have speculated that some of his fellow Christians wanted to put him in charge of alms in the hope that he would administer more and talk less.) His blunt declarations that the Temple service was no longer the means by which penitent sinners should seek reconciliation with God enraged the Temple leaders, who caused him to be stoned to death. As he died, he said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” One of those who saw the stoning and approved of it was Saul (or Paul) of Tarsus, who took an active part in the general persecution of Christians that followed the death of Stephen, but who was later led to become a Christian himself.
At Saint Stephen’s-in-the-Fields, we keep our patronal festival on August 3 (or the Sunday nearest). This is an alternate date in the calendar of the Canadian Church for the commemoration of St. Stephen. While Dec. 26 is undoubtedly the more ancient festival, August 3 was widely observed as a feast in honour of the translation of the relics of St. Stephen. For our part, it is easier and more enjoyable to celebrate our patron at the beginning of August than on the day after Christmas!
Read about Saint Stephen in the Book of Acts:
- Acts 6:5 Stephen is chosen as one of the Seven Helpers
- Acts 6:8 to Acts 8:2 The Arrest of Stephen; Stephen’s Speech; The Stoning of Stephen
- Acts 22:20 St Paul’s Call to Preach to the Gentiles and his witness of Stephen’s murder