Illustration created for this project.
Stephen — the protomartyr
One of the first seven deacons and the first Christian martyr, stoned while Saul (Paul) looked on.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Life, role & deeds
BibleOne of the first seven deacons and the first Christian martyr, stoned while Saul looked on.
Acts 6:5; 7:59
Death & legacy
ScholarlyHis martyrdom marks the outbreak of persecution that scattered the church and spread the gospel.
Acts 8:1; historical reading
Where in scripture
ActsIn their own words — 3 recorded sayings
“And he said, My brothers and fathers, give hearing. The God of glory came to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he was living in Haran, And said to him, Go out of your land, and away from your family, and come into the land to which I will be your guide. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and went into Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he was guided by God into this land, where you are living now: And God gave him no heritage in it, not even enough to put his foot on: but he gave him an undertaking that he would give it to him and to his…” — Acts 7:2-53
“And he said, Now I see heaven open, and the Son of man at the right hand of God.” — Acts 7:56
“And Stephen, while he was being stoned, made prayer to God, saying, Lord Jesus, take my spirit. And going down on his knees, he said in a loud voice, Lord, do not make them responsible for this sin. And when he had said this, he went to his rest.” — Acts 7:59-60
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
