Acta Stephani protomartyris (coptica)
Standard abbreviation: Acts Steph. (Copt.)
Other titles: Life of Stephen
Clavis numbers: ECCA 255; CANT 300
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts 6
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Acts of Stephen (Coptic).” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/acts-of-stephen-coptic/
Created April 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The account is given in the voice of Stephen, though with occasional slipping into third-person narration. He tells of how his parents arranged a marriage for him and his wife bore him a daughter. But Stephen did not remain with them; he retired to a mountain where he saw no-one. One day he is sitting outside of his abode and he sees a shining cloud with Mary sitting upon it. She calls on him to go see his daughter because she has been sick for seven days and will soon die; but Stephen is to take comfort because she is a virgin and will not go to the place of punishment.
Stephen goes to his daughter and sees that she is surrounded by a weeping crowd. He tells them that she will go to a dwelling-place that is prepared for her. Then he comforts his daughter about her coming death, telling her what Mary said. He leads everyone in a prayer and while they pray, his daughter’s soul departs (on 3 Babah; 30 September Julian). After her body has been prepared and placed in a tomb, Stephen returns to his mountain.
On another day Stephen is once again visited by Mary. She tells him not to grieve over his daughter and that three men will come to him who have committed great transgressions; he is to instruct them in the teaching of the Lord. The three men arrive and while they stand outside of Stephen’s tent, he overhears that they plan to rob a rich man. He invites the men in and asks them about their plans. One of them says they are thieves and takes out a weapon to kill Stephen, but the hands of all three men become stiff and heavy. The men ask Stephen for mercy, but he tells them first they must confess their sins. Once they have done so, Stephen prays and their hands are restored. Stephen learns their names—Erastus, Onesimus, and Trophimus—and instructs them as Mary commanded. Mary appears and tells Stephen that he has earned crowns for turning the men from sin. He will also receive the crown of martyrdom, she says and then describes how the Jews will stone him but a martyrium will be built for him where miracles will take place. Finally, she tells Stephen and the men to go to the apostles and become disciples. They join the ranks of the 72, and from among them are chosen the seven deacons: Parmenas, Nocolaus, Prochorus, Philip, Timon, Nicanor, and Stephen. The text concludes with Stephen likening the deacons’ faithfulness and service to the actions of Joseph, Jacob, and Moses.
Named historical figures and characters: Erastus, Jacob (patriarch), Joseph (patriarch), Mary (Virgin), Michael (angel), Moses (patriarch), Nicanor (deacon), Nicolaus (deacon), Onesimus, Parmenas, Paul (apostle), Philip (deacon), Prochorus (disciple of John), Stephen, Trophimus.
Geographical locations: Jerusalem.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources
“Saint Stephen.” Wikipedia.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Coptic (BHO 1086; CC 0491; PAThs entry)
New York, Morgan Library and Museum, M577 (MICH.CB), fols. 2r–12r (894–895)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copte 12913, fol. 68
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. Borg. copt. 109, cass. xxv, fasc. 122, fols. 1r–2v (10th/11th cent.) ~ CLM 1938; contains pars. 27–34
Amélineau, Emile. Monuments pour servir à l’histoire de l’Egypte chrétienne aux IVe et Ve siècles: textes et traduction. Band 2: Aux IVe, Ve, VIe et VIIe siècles: textes et traduction. Paris: E. Leroux, 1888 (edition and French translation of the Paris fragment, pp. 825–26).
Guidi, Ignazio. “Frammenti copti. Nota I.” Atti della Reale Accademia dei Lincei ser. 4, 3.1 (1887): 47–63 (edition of Vat. Borg. copt. 109, on pp. 48–50).
‘Abd Al-Masih, Yassa. “A Coptic Apocryphon of Saint Stephen the Archdeacon.” Mus 70 (1957): 329–47 (edition and English translation based on MLM M577).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
‘Abd Al-Masih, Yassa. “A Coptic Apocryphon of Saint Stephen the Archdeacon.” Mus 70 (1957): 329–47 (edition and English translation based on MLM M577).
3.2.2 French
Amélineau, Emile. Monuments pour servir à l’histoire de l’Egypte chrétienne aux IVe et Ve siècles: textes et traduction. Band 2: Aux IVe, Ve, VIe et VIIe siècles: textes et traduction. Paris: E. Leroux, 1888 (edition and French translation of the Paris fragment, pp. 825–26).
3.3 General Works
Bovon, François. “The Dossier on Stephen, the First Martyr.” HTR 96.3 (2003): 279–315 (pp. 306–307).
Horn, Jürgen. “Der erste Märtyrer: Zu einem Topos der koptischen Märtyrerliteratur (mit zwei Anhängen).” Pages 31–55 in Studen zur spätantiken und frühchristlichen Kunst und Kultur des Orients. Edited by Guntram Koch. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1982 (esp. 50–52).
Labadie, Damien. L’invention du protomartyr Étienne: sainteté, pouvoir et controverse dans l’antiquité (Ier-VIe s.). Judaïsme ancien et origines du christianisme 21. Turnhout: Brepols, 2021 (pp. 290, 498–99).