Why was stephen martyred

They accused him of blasphemy and he was made to stand trial. At the supreme Jewish law court, the Sanhedrin, Stephen recounted the many mercies that God had given the children of Israel, and the ungrateful way in which they had repaid Him. He accused them of murdering Jesus , whose coming, he said, had been foretold by Moses.

This angered the crowd and he was dragged out onto the streets. He was then stoned to death according to the law at that time, an event witnessed by St Paul. It is believed he died around the year 34CE. He is believed to have been initially buried in a grave to the north of Jerusalem, but this body was exhumed and moved to a new grave outside the Damascus Gate. This is where the stoning is believed to have taken place.

Stephen is the patron saint of deacons, headaches, horses, coffin makers, and masons. He is often represented carrying a pile of rocks or with rocks on his head. In their terrible anger they cast him outside the walls of the city.

Leaving their coats at the feet of a young Jewish leader named Saul, they gathered rocks and stoned Stephen.

But he was not afraid, for he knew he would be with Jesus again. This story is found in Acts 6 , Acts —60 ; Acts —2. May Meeting Your Goliath Thomas S. Elder Boyd K. Questions and Answers Carlfred Broderick. Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers John S. Abby Ruth Debra Huggins Baird. He was an excellent orator. At his trial before the Sanhedrin, he gave one of the longest speeches in the entire Bible.

His speech is so long that it covers almost all of Acts 7. The young deacon gave a detailed view of Israel beginning with Abraham and continuing with the other patriarchs. He talked much about Moses who gave the laws for the Israelites to follow after he delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. They were ungrateful and turned to other gods. The religious leaders did not like the things Stephen said. They accused him of blasphemy against God and falsely accused him of preaching against the Mosaic Law and the temple.

The Jewish elders challenged his teachings and became furious. By the time Stephen finished his speech, the religious leaders had made up their minds to stone him for his religious beliefs. A martyr is a person who willingly suffers death instead of renouncing his or her religious beliefs, principles, or causes. An example of a martyr is a religious person who refuses to deny his religion and is killed for it. When Stephen knew he was going to be stoned, he looked up and cried, "Look!

I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God! To stand when a person enters a room is to acknowledge his presence and give him respect. This is the only recording of Jesus standing from His sitting position. Jesus stood to welcome Stephen. Stephen was dragged from the court and out of the city. He was then stoned to death according to the law at that time.

Saul was there, but he did not participate in the stoning. He stood by to watch over the coats of those who took pleasure in stoning Stephen to his death. In other words, Saul approved of what was taking place Acts Stephen prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his attackers would be forgiven.

Then he sank to his knees, and "fell asleep. Stephen was like Jesus in several ways. Therefore, he is known as a type of Christ.