The story of the stoning of stephen – स्टीफ़न को पत्थर मारने की कहानी
The stoning of Stephen is a significant event in the New Testament of the Bible, particularly recorded in the Book of Acts (Acts 6:8-8:1). It marks the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the early Christian leaders and deacons in the early Christian Church.
In the early days of the Christian Church, as described in the Book of Acts, the community of believers was growing rapidly in Jerusalem. To address the needs of the growing community, seven men were chosen to serve as deacons, responsible for distributing food to widows and ensuring fairness in the distribution.
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to serve as a deacon. He was described as “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” and performed great wonders and signs among the people.
Stephen’s powerful preaching and miracles attracted the attention of some members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which included Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others. They disputed with Stephen but were unable to refute his wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
These opponents falsely accused Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against Moses, God, and the temple. They stirred up the people, elders, and scribes against him.
In Acts 7, Stephen delivers a lengthy speech before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council), recounting the history of Israel and highlighting God’s faithfulness throughout the ages. He accuses his listeners of resisting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the righteous.
Stephen’s speech deeply angered his accusers. They gnashed their teeth at him in a furious rage. In the midst of this intense moment, Stephen had a vision of heaven. He saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Stephen declared what he saw in his vision to those present. Enraged even further, his accusers rushed upon him, dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him.
As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and then cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” These words echo Jesus’ own words on the cross. After this prayer, Stephen died as a martyr, becoming the first Christian martyr in the New Testament.
The stoning of Stephen marked a turning point in the early Christian Church. It intensified the persecution of Christians in Jerusalem, leading to the scattering of believers and the spread of Christianity to other regions. Saul of Tarsus, who would later become the apostle Paul, was present at Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:58). This event had a profound impact on him and contributed to his eventual conversion to Christianity.
The stoning of Stephen is a poignant and powerful narrative in the New Testament, highlighting the courage and faith of one of the early Christian leaders and illustrating the challenges and opposition faced by the early Church as it spread the message of Jesus Christ. Stephen’s steadfastness and forgiveness even in the face of death have inspired countless believers throughout Christian history.
The story of the stoning of stephen – स्टीफ़न को पत्थर मारने की कहानी
