Martyrdom of Stephen

Passio Stephani

Standard abbreviation: Mart. Steph.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 735; CANT 303

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Related literature: Revelation of Stephen

Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Martyrdom of Stephen.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/martyrdom-of-stephen/

Created April 2024.

1. SUMMARY

The earliest apocryphal account of Stephen’s martyrdom is the Georgian version, translated from Greek. This account begins shortly after the death of Jesus, when the Pharisees and Sadducees hold an inquiry into the reported resurrection of Jesus and of others at his death (cf. Matt 27:52–53). A question is raised also about whether the messiah was to be born of a woman. Stephen steps forward and presents testimony from the prophets about the birth of the messiah. He concludes with a declaration that he will no longer follow the Law and leaves the assembly in anger. Caiaphas calls him back, incensed that he called Mary the Theotokos (God-bearer).

The group bring Stephen before Pilate, who asks them why they would bring such a good man before him. He asks Stephen to pray for him that he may be added to the believers of Christ. Then he tells the group to take Stephen away from him. So they bring Stephen before the centurion Claudius. As Stephen is interrogated, Paul arrives. Either Paul or the Centurion (the text is not clear) demands that Stephen be beaten and tied up and challenges Stephen’s confession of a crucified man as God and Mary as Theotokos. Stephen responds to the charges and tells Paul that God has spoke to him about him and that an angel will come to Paul. Angered, Paul incites the centurion to cut off his head. Stephen is beaten and stoned. Some of the stones hit the centurion and the crowd. Concerned about those injured, Stephen prays that they be healed. Then the heavens open and a white dove descends and brings Stephen a crown like the sun. A voice tells him to be brave and promises to heal the people. His father Zacchaeus comes and stands by him, calling upon God to receive Stephen’s spirit. Then Stephen falls asleep and everyone is healed.

Claudius, Paul, and the priests order Stephen’s remains be thrown out of the city, on the road towards Kedar. To discourage belief in Jesus, they command that anyone who tries to bury Stephen will be killed and their property plundered. But the angels protect the body until Gamaliel comes at night and buries him with honor. Pilate and Procla also come to bury him but are distressed when they cannot find the body. Then Stephen appears to Pilate and promises that he will give a revelation; in the meantime they are to receive baptism and teach others about him. Pilate and his wife go to Peter and along with 5000 people, receive baptism. The day of Stephen’s death is given as February 6. The text concludes with a brief vision narrated by Pilate of Stephen riding a chariot of fire toward Jesus.

Named historical figures and characters: Annas (scribe/high priest), Caiaphas, Claudius (centurion), Gamaliel, Mary (Virgin), Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Pontius Pilate, Procla (wife of Pilate), Stephen (martyr), Zacchaeus (father/grandfather of Stephen).

Geographical locations: Cilicia, Kedar, Tarsus.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources

“Saint Stephen.” Wikipedia.

“Stephen, the First Martyr.” The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity.

2.2 Art and Iconography

Cycle of Stephen, Chiesa di Santo Stefano (Soleto): 14th/15th century frescoes combining episodes from the Life and Martyrdom of Stephen, and the Martyrdom of Stephen.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

Descriptions based on Labadie, L’invention du protomartyr Étienne, 495–504.

3.1.1 Georgian

3.1.1.1 Georgian A (CANT 303; similar to Greek D and E)

Mount Athos, Iviron, 11 (10th cent.)

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, georg. 32, 57, 33 and N89 (=the Sinai mravaltavi) (864)

Tblisi, National Center of Manuscripts, A-19 (Tbeti mravaltavi) (10th cent.)

Imnaishvili, Ivane. K‘art‘uli enis istoriuli k‘resomat‘ia, 1. Tblisi: Gamomc’emloba “Ganat’leba,” 1970 (edition based on Tblisi A-19, pp. 244–47).

Marr, Nicholas. “Le synaxaire géorgien: Redaction ancienne de l’Union arméno-géorgienne.” PO 19 (1926): 629–742 (edition and French translation, p. 657 [ending only]).

Shanidze, Akaki. Sinuri Mravalthavi 864 clisa. Tblisi: Tblisi Stalinis saxelobis saxelmcipo universitetis gamomcemlob, 1959 (edition based on the Sinai mravaltavi, pp. 58–62).

3.1.1.2 Georgian B (an abbreviation of Georgian A)

Marr, Nicholas. “Le synaxaire géorgien: Redaction ancienne de l’Union arméno-géorgienne.” PO 19 (1926): 689–99 (edition and French translation).

3.1.2 Greek

3.1.1. Greek D (BHG 1649d; an expansion of the Greek text behind the Georgian translation with some notable changes, including an expanded role for Paul as Stephen’s interrogator and executioner, a failed attempt to crucify Stephen, and the stoning of Nicodemus, Gamaliel, and Abib along with Stephen)

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 1027, fols. 171^v–177^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

El Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y. II. 6 (Andrés 314), fols. 275^r–280^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, Hagiou Saba 18, fols. 397^r–406^v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Sofija, Cărkovno-istoričeski i archiven institut, 825, fols. 132^r–143^v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Sofija, Centăr za slavjano-vizantijski proučvanija «Ivan Dujčev», D. gr. 60, folios not specified (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 387, fols. 164^v–170^r (11th/12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Kosinitza, Theotokos Eikosiphoinissa Monastery, 28 (12th cent.) (see Ehrhard 2:88)

Dolgov, S. “Revelatio Stephani.” Trudy XV. Arheologiceskogo zjezda 2 (1916): 22–53 (synoptic edition based on El Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y. II. 6 and Slavic A based on three sources, pp. 35–45).

Strus, Andrzej. “La Passione di santo Stefano in due manoscritti greci.” Salesianum 58 (1996): 21–61 (edition based on El Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y. II. 6 with facing translation, pp. 42–61).

3.1.1.2 Greek E (BHG 1649h; differs from Greek D mainly at the beginning and ending; omits the thwarted crucifixion and the stoning of Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Abib, and places Pilate and his wife in prison with Stephen; also includes Gamaliel’s burial of Stephen on his property as in the Revelation of Stephen).

Meteōra, Monē Metamorphōseōs, 563, fols. 90^r–95^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, D 107 sup. (Martini-Bassi 262), fols. 132^v–138^r (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Strus, Andrzej. “La Passione di santo Stefano in due manoscritti greci.” Salesianum 58 (1996): 21–61 (edition based on Milan D 107 sup. with facing translation, pp. 26–41).

Berger, Michel. “Un inédit italo-grec de la passion légendaire de Saint-Etienne: les peintures murales de l’église Santo Stefano a Spoleto, en Terre d’Otrante.” Pages  1377–88 in La Chiesa greca in Italia dall’VIII al XVI secolo: atti del Convegno storico interecclesiale (Bari, 30 apr.–4 magg. 1969). 3 vols. Antenore, 1972–1973 (discusses the Milan manuscript, pp. 1379–80).

3.1.2.1 Greek A (BHG 1649; summary of contents in Bovon, “Dossier,” p. 296)

El Escorial, Real Biblioteca, Φ. III. 20 (Andrés 239), fols. 114^r–132^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, Hagiou Saba 224, fols. 172^v–183^r (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Dionusiou, 169 (Lambros 3703), folios not specified (1599) ~ Pinakes; Athos

Mount Athos, Monē Grēgoriou, 7 (Lambros 554), fols. 470-? (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Athos

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 881, fols. 213^r–222^r (10th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1176, fols. 278^r–285^r (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1451, fols. 127^r–132^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Sinai, Mone tes Hagias Aikaterines, gr. 508, fols. 210^v–227^r (10th-12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, hist. gr. 96, fols. 142^r–147^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Wroclaw, Biblioteka Uniwersytecke we Wroclawiu, Rehdiger 26, folios not specified (13th/14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; images

Doukakis, Konstantinos. Μέγας συναξαριστὴς. 12 vols. Athens: Kollaraki et Triantaphyllou, 1889–1896 (2nd ed. Athens: Orthodoxoi Xristianikai, 1948–1966) (edition based on unidentified sources, vol. 8, pp. 28–45).

Papadopoulos-Kerameus, Athanasios. Ἀνάλεκτα Ἱεροσολυμιτικῆς σταχυολογίας. 5 vols. St. Petersburg, 1891–1898 (edition based on Saba 224, vol. 5, pp. 28–53).

3.1.1.2 Greek B (BHG 1649b; this text has an entirely different account in which Stephen is interrogated and tortured by Herod, then by the Rabbis and Levites, who later stone him to death. The text concludes with an account of the discovery of his remains on the Mount of Olives)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2048, fols. 54^r–55^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1631, fols. 111^v–114^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2072, fol. 190^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1986, fols. 9^r–12^v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosana, D 92 sup. (Martini-Bassi 259, fols. 94^v–96^r (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Strus, Andrzej. “Una haggada familiare sulla passione e morte di S. Stefano Protomartire.” Salesianum 60 (1998): 81–96 (edition and facing translation based on Vat. gr. 2048 and Vat. gr. 1631).

3.1.1.3 Greek C (BHG 1649c; Stephen delivers two speeches, the first on christological matters and then an expanded version of his speech from Acts 7; the stoning is instigated by Paul and Gamaliel steps forward and slaps Paul [as in Greek D and H]; Gamaliel buries Stephen on his estate and prevents an attempt on the life of Nicodemus; when Gamaliel dies, he is buried beside Stephen)

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Δ 83 (Eustratiades 459), fols. 190^r–198^r (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Λ 70 (Eustratiades 1560), fols. 166^r–173^r (1656) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 679, fols. 187^v–191^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Bovon, François, and Bertrand Bouvier. “Étienne le premier martyr: du livre canonique au récit apocryphe.” Pages 309–31 in Die Apostelgeschichte und die hellenistische Geschichtsschreibung. Festschrift E. Plümacher. Edited by Cilliers Breytenbach and Jens Schröter. Leiden: Brill, 2004 (edition and facing translation based on Vat. gr. 679, pp. 317–31).

3.1.1.5 BHG 1649e (unedited)

Rome, Biblioteca Angelica, gr. 108 (B 2.2), fols. 261^r–264^v (11th/12th cent.)

3.1.1.6 BHG 1649f (unedited)

Thessalonikē, Monē Blatadōn, 7 (44), fols. 76^r–80^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Γ 87 (Eustratiades 327), fols. 7^r–11^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Gjirokastër, Bibliothēkē tēs Mētropoleōs, 6, fols. 88^r–90^v (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

3.1.1.7 BHG 1649g (unedited)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1179, fols. 106^v–109^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

3.1.1.9 BHG 1649s (Synaxarion)

Cambridge, University Library, Dd.4.42, folios not specified (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes; images

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 577, fols. 520–521 (15th/16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 593, fols. 143–144 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1571, fols. 130^r–130^v (1253) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1592, fols. 116^v–118^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

3.1.1.10 Greek F (BHG 1649t; Constantinople synaxarion; epitome of BHG 1649)

Menaea graecae ecclesiae. Vol. 3.4: December. Venice: Spinellus, 1541 (Greek edition; unpaginated).

Delehaye, Hippolyte. Synaxarium Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e códice Sirmondiano, nunc Berolinensi adiectis synaxariis selectis. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1902 (cols. 349–50).

3.1.1.11 BHG 1649x (single folio with short narrative about Stephen’s birth and education followed by a miracle)

Patmos, Monē tou Hagiou Iōannou tou Theologou, 272, fols. 187^r–187^v (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

3.1.2 Church Slavic

3.1.2.1 Slavic A (long version; coheres with Greek D)

Lviv (16th/17th cent.)

Zamość (17th cent.)

Sy. Petersberg, Imperial Public Library, ΙΕ 46, fols. 80–83 (12th cent.)

Moscow, State Historical Museum, A. I. Chludov 105, fols. 25–32 (15th cent.)

Commission impériale archéologique. Великія Минеи Четіи. Декабрь, дни 25–31. Moscow: Синодальная Типография, 1912 (text identical to Lviv and Moscow manuscripts, pp. 2390–2400).

Dolgov, S. “Revelatio Stephani.” Trudy XV. Arheologiceskogo zjezda 2 (1916): 22–53 (synoptic edition of Greek D and Slavic A based on St. Petersberg ΙΕ 46 with readings from Moscow Chludov 105 and the Makariev Menaeas, pp. 35–45).

Franko, Ivan. Apokrifi î legendy z ukraïnsǐkich rukopisiv. 5 vols. Lviv: Nakladom Naukovoho Tovaristva îmeni Ševčenka, 1896–1910 (text from Zamostj, vol. 3, pp. 28–33; Lviv, pp. 256–59)

Franko, Ivan. “Beitrage aus dem Kirchenslavischen zu den neutestamentlichen Apokryphen. III. Revelatio sancti Stephani.” ZNW 7 (1906): 151–71 (German translation of Slavic A, pp. 158–66).

3.1.2.2 Slavic B (abridgement of Slavic A)

Commission impériale archéologique. Великія Минеи Четіи. Декабрь, дни 25–31. Moscow: Синодальная Типография, 1912 (cols. 2422–26).

3.1.2.3 Slavic C (translation of BHG 1649t)

Commission impériale archéologique. Великія Минеи Четіи. Декабрь, дни 25–31. Moscow: Синодальная Типография, 1912 (cols. 2427–28).

3.1.2.4 Slavic D

Commission impériale archéologique. Великія Минеи Четіи. Декабрь, дни 25–31. Moscow: Синодальная Типография, 1912 (cols. 2386–87).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

James, Montague Rhodes. The Apocryphal New Testament: Being the Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypses. Oxford: Clarendon, 1924; corrected edition, 1953 (summary of Church Slavic text edited by Franko, pp. 564–68).

3.2.2 French

Esbroeck, trans. “Jean II de Jerusalem et les cultes de s. Etienne, de la Sainte-Sion et  de la Croix.” AnBoll 102 (1984): 99–127 (translation of Georgian A, pp. 101–105).

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 (translations of Georgian A, pp. 463–70; Greek D and Church Slavic A, pp. 471–80).

Labadie, Damien. “La Passion hagiopolite du protomartyr Étienne.” Pages 117–42 in Culte des saints et littérature hagiographique: accords et désaccords. Edited by Vincent Déroche, Bryan Ward-Perkins and Robert Wiśniewski. Leuven: Peeters, 2020 (French translation based on Slavic B, pp. 138–42).

3.2.3 Italian

Gordini, G. D., and M. Liverani. “Stefano, protomartire, santo.” Cols. 1378–80 in vol. 11 of Bibliotheca sanctorum. Rome, 1968 (Italian translation of Franko’s Slavic A).

Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (Italian translation of Franko’s Slavic A, vol. 3, pp. 400–404).

3.3 General Works

Bovon, François. “The Dossier on Stephen, the First Martyr.” HTR 96.3 (2003): 279–315.

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.

Nau, François-Nicolas. “Notes sur les mots politikos et politeuomenos et sur plusieurs textes grecs rélatifs à saint-Etienne.” Revue de l’Orient chrétien 11 (1906): 198–216.

Strus, Andrzej. “L’origine de l’apocryphe grec de la passion de s. Étienne: A propos d’un texte de deux maniscrits récemment publiés.” Ephemerides Liturgicae 112 (1998): 18–57 (esp. 24–31)