👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽The Feast of #Saint #Stephen, the First Martyr”(#Tikimt 17)
Dear faithful, we greet you with the peace and blessing of God. Today, based on the above-mentioned topic, we share with you this important teaching about Saint Stephen, the first martyr of our Lord Jesus Christ. May all who read and learn from it be strengthened in faith and love.
The Meaning of His Name
The name Stephen means “light” He is called the first martyr, for he was the first to die for his faith in Christ after the Lord commanded His disciples to be free from all fear and oppression.
His Election as Archdeacon
When the apostles were teaching in Jerusalem, the number of believers became very large, and it became difficult to serve everyone. Therefore, seven deacons were chosen to care for the community and manage the ministry of service. Saint Stephen was the first to be chosen and was appointed as chief among the seven that is, the first Archdeacon (Acts 6:5, 6:15).
His Early Life and Education
Saint Stephen was one of the most remarkable Israelites of the first century. His parents were named Simon and Mary (some others gives different names). From his childhood, he loved truth and grew up studying the Torah.
When he reached maturity, he entered the school of the great Jewish teacher Gamaliel, who is mentioned in Acts 5:33. Tradition tells us that this Gamaliel taught several righteous men among them Saint Stephen, Saint Paul, Nathanael, and Nicodemus. Gamaliel himself is believed to have become a secret believer in Christ.
Under Gamaliel’s guidance, Saint Stephen became deeply learned in the Law and the Prophets. Though his generation was filled with sin and moral decay, the saint waited for the coming of the Messiah with patience, prayer, and steadfast hope.
His Discipleship under Saint John the Baptist
When Saint Stephen heard that Saint John the Baptist was preaching the baptism of repentance by the River Jordan, he went to examine his teaching. Having discerned that John’s message was truly from God, Saint Stephen became his devoted disciple and served him faithfully for six months.
After his study and service, our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by john . Witnessing the great miracles that occurred during the Lord’s ministry, he was deeply moved and asked his teacher, Saint John, to explain them to him. Saint John replied humbly, saying, “It is better to hear it from the mouth of the Creator Himself than from me.”
Obedient to this counsel, Saint Stephen went to the Lord Jesus Christ, raised his hands in reverence, and received divine instruction. (Luke 7:18) From that time forward, he became one of the Lord’s disciples. The Lord made him one of the Seventy-Two Apostles, sending him out to serve and to proclaim the Gospel. Through the power of Christ, even demons were subject to him (Luke 10:17).
Wherever Saint Stephen went, he taught the Good News of salvation and revealed the mysteries of the faith. After the Lord willingly died for our sake, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, He blessed His disciples and sent them forth to shepherd the Church.
Continues 👇🏾