Today’s Gospel pericope belongs to the “Missionary Discourse” of Jesus. In the historical context of Jesus’ ministry, the disciples are sent (they become apostles—“those sent”) to the people of Israel. Opposition to their message comes from the religious leaders, the Herodians, and some hostile audience. The Gospel prefigures the fate of Stephen, a Jew from the diaspora, that is, Jewish communities living outside their homeland Israel.

These Jews were influenced by Greek culture and civilization. They spoke Greek and had access to the Hebrew Scriptures through its Greek translation known as the Septuagint.

Stephen was appointed one of the seven deacons to minister to the needs of the Hellenist Christians who complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of provisions (Acts 6:1-5). Luke, who loves to draw figures in pairs, clearly presents Stephen’s “witnessing” in the light of Jesus’ own passion and death. Like Jesus, Stephen dies asking forgiveness for his enemies (Acts 7:60). Just as Jesus entrusted his spirit to the Father, Stephen asks Jesus, whom he now sees in glory, to receive his spirit (Acts 7:59).

Stephen is the protomartyr, the first of the “cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1) who will stand before governors and kings to bear witness to Jesus, and who will include the great apostles Peter and Paul.

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.