The First Christian Martyr

The Feast of Saint Stephen (Year A)

Scripture

Old Testament: Jeremiah 26:1-9,12-15

Psalter: Psalm 31

Epistle: Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60

Gospel: Matthew 23:34-39

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Prayer

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

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Reflection

While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died (Acts 7:59-60),

Stephen was a Christian deacon in the early church in Jerusalem who was martyred for his faith. According to the book of Acts, Stephen was known for his powerful preaching and for performing miracles. This drew the attention of some of the Jewish authorities, who opposed his teachings and accused him of blasphemy. Despite his defense, Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, where he was accused of speaking against the law and the Temple. In reply, Stephen gave a speech recounting the history of Israel and explaining how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The speech was so powerful that it enraged the members of the council, who dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death. This event is considered to be the first recorded Christian martyrdom. Stephen’s death is seen as a significant moment in the early history of Christianity, as it marked the beginning of a period of persecution for the early believers that drove the church out of Jerusalem beginning a missionary movement that would eventually spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Mikeal C. Parsons writes,

For Søren Kierkegaard, the words of forgiveness uttered by Stephen explained one of the last details of the text: “he fell asleep” (7:60b). When he had said this, he fell asleep. What was it he said? He said: Father, do not hold this sin against them. This, then, is the formula — then one falls asleep; as we tell a child to say his prayer aloud and go to sleep — so he went to sleep, he went to sleep saying this. He prayed for them. He had prayed for himself again and again; his whole life to the very end, his sufferings, were praying for himself.

Now there is only a moment left, a minute: he prays for his enemies … we learn from him — to pray for ourselves, to pray for our enemies — and then to fall asleep … For 1,800 years he has been famous and eulogized; but he cares nothing about that — he sleeps (Journals and Papers 4.329-30).

The Christian movement continued to grow and spread, and Stephen is remembered as a hero of the faith for his willingness to stand up for what he believed in, even in the face of great danger, and to die with the forgiveness of his enemies on his lips.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

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