THE BEASTLY EXECUTION BY STONING OF THE HOLY MARTYR STEFANOS (STEPHEN), THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Incarnate Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

The Beastly Execution by Stoning of the Holy Martyr STEFANOS (STEPHEN),
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR. [Part II]

We read in the Book of Acts of the Holy Apostles that the Jerusalem community was close-knit after the day of Pentecost. Many had anticipated the return of Christ within their lifetime. We note that the Christians in Jerusalem shared all their material goods [Acts 2:44-45]. Many sold their property and gae the proceeds to the Church, and distribution was made to all according to their need [Acts 4:34-35]. The Church grew very rapidly so that the Holy Apostles had to appoint SEVEN MEn to distribute to the needy widows [Acts 6:1-3].

The Holy Martyrs’ name, meaning "CROWN" in Greek, could indicate that he was a HELLENIST OR GREEK-SPEAKING JEW. The significance of the Hellenists is seen first in their numbers and the need for seven men to be in charge of the distribution of relief. Historical records indicate the presence of thousands of Christians in Jerusalem whose native language was Greek [Acts 6:1, 3, 7,]. The Hellenists had a crucial part in the early transition of the Gentiles (Pagans) into the Church. When converted to Christianity, they readily adapted the message to a Greek context and, of course, had access to the Septuagint (translation of the Old Testament by 72 Hebrew Scholars into Greek].

Saint Stefanos, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, did great miracles among the people. He, with his broad background among those of the dispersion, maintained important aspects of Jesus’ messages and conduct and opened the way for future advance into Gentile evangelism. He did not hesitate to preach his views in the Hellenistic synagogues. Naturally, others i.e., Libertines, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, arose and disputed with him, but they could not gainsay nor resist the wisdom and power of his words. To them, Christianity threatened to overthrow their religion and Jewish nationalism.

The Holy Stefanos was permitted to answer their accusations in the council. While Stefanos judge Old Testament history from the prophetic viewpoint, the council represented the legalistic view. For Saint Stefanos the new religion was only the divinely ordered development of the old. The real blasphemers were the disobedient Jews who rejected the revelation and slew Christ.

The irregular outbreak of priests had proposed to stone Saint Stefanos as a blasphemer, though technically he was uncondemned because he was not truly guilty of blasphemy by their law; he had not pronounced the ineffable name. Therefore, at most, they could have administered forty striptes lacking one. When the Protomartyr was led to the place of his execution a young man named Soul who not only consented to Stefanos’ death but also failed to show any pity for one of his own blood who was being put to death. Soul, an indirect participant in the martyrdom of Stefanos, is the Great Persecutor of the early Christians. Later he will be called by Christ to be His Apostle and become the Great Christian Missionary, Paul of Tarsus.

"And they stoned Stefanos as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘LORD, DO NOT CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep" [Acts 7:59=60]. Saint Stefano’s words are reminiscent of Christ’s words from the Cross [Luke 23:34.  The Martyrdom of Saint Stefanos, called the Protomartyr (First-Martyr). was the beginning  OF THE WIDESPREAD PERSECUTION of the early Christians.  In response to it they "scattered throughout the regions" of Palestine, using the opportunity to spread the Gospel.