Stephen, the first martyr
Acts 6:8-15
Stephen, one of the seven, was filled with grace and worked miracles. He was accused by false witnesses before the council. Before he was stoned to death, he saw heaven opened. He asked Jesus to receive his spirit and forgave those who were killing him. Acts 6:8-15
The story, in plain words
Stephen, filled with grace and power, worked great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8
Some men from several synagogues, the houses where Jews gathered to pray and read the Law, argued with Stephen. But they could not stand up to the wisdom with which he spoke. Acts 6:9-10
Then those men paid others to say they had heard him speak against Moses and against God. Acts 6:11
They brought him before the council, and false witnesses accused him of speaking against the Temple and against the Law. Acts 6:12-14 All who sat in the council looked intently…
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See the mapWhat the Bible says
Acts 6:8-15
8And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. 11Then they suborned men to say, they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. 12And they stirred up the people, and the ancients, and the scribes; and running together, they took him, and brought him to the council. 13And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law. 14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us. 15And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
To talk about together
- Stephen forgave those who were hurting him, like Jesus on the cross. Why do you think he was able to?
- Is there someone we find it hard to forgive? What could help us?
- For the child: Stephen saw Jesus in heaven. What would you like to tell Jesus today?