Who was the first apostle to be stoned to death?

Stephen, traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity, was according to the Acts of the Apostles a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy, at his trial he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. His martyrdom was witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who would later become a follower of Jesus and known as Paul the Apostle.

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121 Comments

Heather J. Harper

Stephen was a deacon, not an apostle.

Reid Perry

I am unfamiliar with an apostle named Stephen. I think the question is very misleading considering this error. Stephen was not one of the 12 apostles although I understand he was a saint in the Catholic and near Catholic faiths. This question should be revised.

Gene Thurston

Stephen was not an apostle James was only one stoned then clubbed to death

Jim Smith

The first three listed were apostles. You COULD call Stephen a disciple, even though he was a deacon, never an apostle. Matching the Twelve Tribes of Israel, there were Twelve Apostles. Matthias replaced Judas, which was the only replacement of any of the Twelve.

John W Shreve

Heather J. Harper, The explanation doesn't say Stephen was an apostle. It says he was a deacon. The record is mentioned in Acts, or, "The Acts of the Apostles." Not everyone who acts in Acts of the Apostles is an apostle. Philip, for instance, is an evangelist as well as a deacon. Agabus (Acts 22) is a prophet. The writer of Acts, Luke, is a physician (Colossians 4:4).

douglas teach ashcraft

The question asked Who was the first apostle, and Stephen was not an apostle. I do not usually complain about questions, but let's have our facts straight and word the question correctly.