Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says that the scene involving Stephen's trial and death is significant because the death of Stephen in Acts matches so closely the death of Jesus in Luke. Both cases begin with a trial and then the Jewish mob demands the death penalty. Both accounts speak of the Son of Man at the right hand of God (Luke 22:69; Acts 7:56); both have a prayer for the forgiveness of those who are effecting this execution ( Luke 23:34a; Acts 7:60); both have the dying figure commend his spirit heavenward (L uke 23:46; Acts 7:59). Brown says that Acts has shown Peter providing continuity with Jesus' ministry of healing and preaching, while Stephen provides continuity with Jesus' death. He says we can never verify the existence or martyrdom of Stephen.
If Stephen did not really exist, then the story of his stoning still served to introduce Saul as the callous young man who watched the punishment but was not man enough to participate, as contrasted with the great apostle who later gave his life to serve Christianity.
Questions have been raised about the historicity of the story of Stephen, which serves mainly to introduce Paul as an odious young man, as a counterpoint to the saintly missionary he would become. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says that we can never verify the martyrdom or even existence of Stephen. And of course we can never know how the author of Acts ever came to know that a young man watched on while Stephen was stoned, or how he knew that this young man was the future Saint Paul.
A:His role was more or less as a consenting observer. As is true today, a person that stands by and watches a murder but does not intervene, is as gulity as the actual killer.According to Acts chapter 6, Stephen was taken before the council at Jerusalem to answer charges of blasphemy. The audience, angered by his defense, dragged him outside the city and stoned him (Acts 7:57, 58).
Incidentally, Stephen was not one of the twelve apostles; he was one of the original deacons appointed by the church at Jerusalem (Acts 6:3-5).
The Book of Acts 6:9 tells us, "THEN THERE AROSE CERTAIN OF THE SYNAGOGUE, WHICH IS CALLED THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE LIBERTINES, AND CYRENIANS, AND ALEXANDRIANS, AND THEM OF CILICIA AND Asia, DISPUTING WITH STEPHEN."
It was them men of this synagogue who stoned Stephen.
The apostle Stephen was stoned outside Jerusalem, at a place called the Valley of Hinnom, also known as Gehenna. This event is recorded in the New Testament in the book of Acts, chapter 7.
the jews
The apostle who was stoned but survived was Paul, also known as Saint Paul or the Apostle Paul. He was stoned in Lystra but managed to recover and continue his missionary work.
Stephen was stoned to death in Jerusalem, outside the city walls. This event is recorded in the Bible in the Book of Acts, chapter 7.
Saint Stephen was stoned to death outside the city walls of Jerusalem. This event is recorded in the Bible in the Book of Acts, in the New Testament.
The Apostle Paul (formerly known as Saul) witnessed the martyrdom of St. Stephen. He approved of Stephen's execution and went on to become one of the most influential figures in spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
No, Stephen was not one of the original twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. He was one of the seven men chosen to serve as deacons in the early Christian church, as described in the Book of Acts.
The apostle who was stoned but survived was Paul, also known as Saint Paul or the Apostle Paul. He was stoned in Lystra but managed to recover and continue his missionary work.
Paul wasn't stoned - he was beheaded.
Saul, later to be known as the apostle Paul following his conversion, was a witness to the stoning of Stephen.
Stephen was stoned to death in Jerusalem, outside the city walls. This event is recorded in the Bible in the Book of Acts, chapter 7.
No Paul was not stoned although they started to but he escaped.
He was stoned to death.
Stephen died about the year 33 AD. He was stoned to death by the Jews.
It was Stephen who was stoned to death.
It was Stephen who was stoned to death.
The Bible is silent in regards the age of Stephen when he was stoned.
stephen
Stephen