Saint Stephen the First Martyr

Saint Stephen was one of the seven deacons chosen by the apostles to care for the practical needs of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. He was described as "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit," and he performed great signs and wonders among the people. His face was said to shine like that of an angel.

When certain Jews disputed with Stephen, they could not overcome his wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. So they brought false witnesses against him and dragged him before the council. Stephen gave an extraordinary speech — summarizing the entire history of Israel from Abraham to the prophets, showing how God's people had always rejected His messengers. He concluded by declaring that Jesus was the righteous One whom they had betrayed and murdered. The crowd was furious.

Stephen looked up to heaven and said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" They dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death. As the stones struck him, he knelt down and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Then he fell asleep in peace. Watching the execution was a young man named Saul — who would later become the great Apostle Paul, transformed in part by the witness of Stephen's holy death.