STEPHA.NAS (Erecloapits), a disciple at Corinth, whose household Paul baptized (1 Cor, 16), being the first converted to Christianity in Achaia (i Cor. xvi. 15). From the last of these texts it would appear that Stephanas and his family, in the most exemplary manner, addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints ;' which some interpret of their having taken upon them the office and duty of deacons ; but which seems to admit of a larger sense—viz. that all the members of this ex cellent family ministered to the wants and promoted the comfort of their fellow-Christians, whether strangers or countrymen. That Stephanas was present with St. Paul when he wrote the first epistle to the Corinthians is evident from Cor. xvi. 17. As 'the householel of Stephanas ' is men tioned in both texts, it has been supposed that Stephanas himself was dead when Paul wrote ; but in verse 17 it is said, 'I am glad of the coming of Stephanas.'—J. K.
STEPHEN (:24-10avos), one of the seven first deacons, and the proto-martyr of the Christian church. It appears from his name that he was a Hellenist, as it was not common for the Jews of Palestine to adopt names for their children, except from the Hebrew or Syriac ; though of what country he was is unknown. He is represented by Epiphanius (xl. p. 5o) ac one of the seventy disci ples chosen by Christ ; but this statement is with out authority from Scripture, and is, in fact, incon sistent with what is there mentioned concerning him. He is spoken of by others as one of the first converts of Peter on the day of Pentecost ; but this. also is merely conjectural. Jerome (on Is. xlvi. t2) and others of the Fathers praise him as a man of great learning and eloquence. The first authentic notice we find of him is in Acts vi. 5. In the dis tribution of the common fund that was entrusted to the apostles (Acts iv. 35-37) for the support of the poorer brethren (see Mosheim, De Rebus Christ. ante Const. p. iS, and Dissert. ad Hist. Eccles. pertin.), the Hellenistic Jews complained that a partiality was shown to the natives of Palestine, and that the poor and sick among their widows were neglected. Whether we conceive with Mo sheim (De Rebus, etc. p. 118), that the distribution was made by individuals set apart for that office, though not yet possessing the name of deacons ; or with the writer in the Ent:plotted/a Metropoli tana (art. Ecclesiastical History ; ' see also Arch bishop Whately's Kingdom of Christ), we conclude that with the office they had also the name, but were limited to Hebrews ; or whether we follow the more common view, as set forth by Bohmer (Diss. vii.; yuris Eccles. Antiq.), does not ma terially affect the present subject. The complaint
of the Hellenists having reached the ears of the apostles, immediate directions were given by them with a view to remove the cause of it. Un willing themselves to be called away from their proper employment of extending the bounds of the Christian community, they told the assembled -multitude of believers to select seven men of their own number, in whose faith and integrity they might repose entire confidence, for the superintend ence of everything connected with the relief of the poor. The proposal of the apostles met with the approbation of the brethren, who proceeded at once with the choice of the prescribed number of individuals, among whom Stephen is first men tioned ; hence the title of first deacon, or first of the deacons, is given to him by Iremeus (Iren. 12). He is distinguished in Scripture as a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost' (Acts vi. 5). The newly-elected individuals were brought to the apostles, who ordained them to their office, and they entered upon their duties with extraordinary zeal and success. The number of the disciples was greatly increased, and many priests were among the converts. In this work Stephen greatly dis tinguished himself by the miracles he performed before the people, and by the arguments he ad vanced in support of the Christian cause. From his foreign descent and education he was nattrally led to address himself to the Hellenists, and in his disputations with Jews of the Synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians, etc. [SYNAGOGUE and LIBERTINE], he brought forward views of the Christian scheme that could not be relished by the bigots of the ancient faith. As they were unable to withstand his powers of reasoning, their malice was excited ; they suborned false witnesses against him, and dmgged him before the Sanhedrim as a blasphemer. The charge brought against him was, that he had spoken against the law and the Temple, against Moses and against God. This accusation was calculated to incite all par ties in the Sanhedrim against him (comp. Acts xxii. 22) ; and upon receiving it the predetermined purpose of the council was not to be mistaken. Stephen saw that he was to be the victim of the blind and malignant spirit which had been exhibited by the Jews in every period of their history. But his serenity was unruffled ; his confidence in the goodness of his cause, and in the promised support of his Heavenly Master, imparted a divine tran quillity to his mind ; and when the judges fixed their regards upon him, the light that was within beamed forth upon his countenance, and they saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel' (Acts vi. 15).