December 26, 2025
The Saints of December -- Stephen
Acts 7:59-60
12/26/2025
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
``Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.''
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud
voice, ``Lord, do not hold this sin against
them.'' And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
(ESV)
The first martyr of the Christian Church, Saint Stephen, was
a deacon, a layman appointed by the apostles to take care of the
secular aspects of the congregation. We commemorate his death on
December 26. As a committed layman, Stephen read and studied the
Scriptures. He debated a number of Jewish converts from several
synagogues in Jerusalem.
Saint Luke, writing in Acts, said of Stephen: ``And Stephen,
full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among
the people.''[1] When those he was debating could not refute his
arguments, they falsely accused him of teaching false doctrine
and insurrection. Stephen could have retracted his statements,
but rather he stood up and accused the ruling council of the Jews
of the murder of Jesus Christ. The council members rose up as
one, grabbed Stephen, and put him to death.
Saint Luke recorded:
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ``Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.'' And falling to his knees
he cried out with a loud voice, ``Lord, do not hold
this sin against them.'' And when he had said this, he
fell asleep.
Thus, Stephen stands as an example for all Christians. He
commended himself to Jesus in death, even as he served Jesus in
life by serving other people. He forgave those who killed him or
consented to his death, including a pharisee named Saul from the
city of Tarsus.
May our Lord grant us a faith like Stephen, willing to serve
God by serving our neighbor, willing to forgive those who sin
against us. Amen.
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1. Acts 6:8 (ESV)