2 Chronicles 24:17-22

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. 18 They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD; they testified against them, but they would not listen.

20 Then the spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, "Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you." 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. As he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!" (2 Chronicles 24:17-22, NRSV)

The following comments are repeated here from December 26, 2005, the Feast of St. Stephen, Year Two (two years ago):

The association of this passage from 2 Chronicles with the Feast of Stephen is apparently the martyrdom (death by stoning) of the prophet Zechariah–not the author of the biblical Book of Zechariah, but “probably the Zechariah mentioned by Jesus in Matt. 23:35 and Luke 11:52 (the addition in Matthew of ‘the son of Barachiah,’ a reference to Zechariah the postexilic prophet, is probably a scribal error)” (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, s. v. Zechariah; article by Philip L. Shuler). Both Zechariah and Stephen indict the religious leaders: “Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you” (Zechariah in 2 Chron. 24:20). Stephen’s indictment is even stronger:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.” (Acts l7:51-53, NRSV)

Zechariah is the son of Jehoiada, the priest who “leads the people in undoing the damage inflicted by Athaliah and her predecessors (cf. 2 Kings 11:17-20).” This reformation (2 Chron. 23:16-21) results “in the destruction of the temple of Baal, the reinstitution of proper personnel at the Temple, and the enthronement of young Joash” (Gary Knoppers, NOAB, 3^rd ed., on 2 Chron. 23:16-21). Jehoiada’s wife, Jehoshabeath, “hid him [i.e. Joash, son of Ahaziah] from Athaliah, so that she did not kill him” (2 Chron. 22:11) when “she set about to destroy all the royal family of the house of Judah” (v. 10). (Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, 2 Kgs. 8:26-27.) But “King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son” (2 Chron. 24:22).

Wisdom 4:7-15

7 But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest.

8 For old age is not honored for length of time,

or measured by number of years;

9 but understanding is gray hair for anyone,

and a blameless life is ripe old age.

10 There were some who pleased God and were loved by him,

and while living among sinners were taken up.

11 They were caught up so that evil might not change their understanding

or guile deceive their souls.

12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good,

and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.

13 Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years;

14 for their souls were pleasing to the Lord,

therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness.

15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand,

or take such a thing to heart,

that God's grace and mercy are with his elect,

and that he watches over his holy ones. (Wisdom 4:7-15, NRSV)

The following comments are repeated here from December 26, 2005, the Feast of St. Stephen, Year Two (two years ago):

This passage from the Wisdom of Solomon does not refer to martyrdom as such, but its description of the blessedness of those who die early could apply to Stephen. Although understanding has been associated with old age (cf. Job 15:7-10), “understanding, not length of time, is the true measure of righteousness” (Walter T. Wilson, NOAB, 3^rd ed., on Wisd. 4:7-9). The one “who pleased God,” was “loved by him,” and was “taken up” (Wisd. 4:10) was Enoch (Gen. 5:24). According to Wilson, Genesis Rabbah (an early Rabbinical commentary on Genesis) “claims that the purpose of Enoch’s removal was to preserve his character” (Wilson on v. 10, but cf. v. 11). One could say of Stephen that he was “perfected in a short time,” that he “fulfilled long years” (in Wisdom’s sense), and that his soul was “pleasing to the Lord” (vv. 13, 14). Saul, an onlooker at the stoning of Stephen, certainly did not understand immediately (cf. Wisd. 4:15a), but he too would learn “that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect,/and that he watches over his holy ones” (v. 15b; cf. Rom. 8:31-39).

Acts 6:1-7

Seven Deacons are Chosen

6:1 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word." 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1-7, NRSV)

The following comments are repeated here from December 26, 2005, the Feast of St. Stephen, Year Two (two years ago):

For the two readings from Acts for the Feast of St. Stephen, the morning reading (Acts 6:1-7), and the evening reading (Acts 7:59-8:8) present the beginning and the end of Luke’s report about Stephen. Stephen and six others are chosen to address the problem of the widows who “were being neglected in the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1). When the problem was discussed (v. 2) it was decided to select “men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” for the task (v. 3). The “twelve” will “devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word” (v. 4). The “deacons” chosen (so-called “by later tradition,” Christopher R. Matthews, NOAB, 3rd. ed.) to help distribute the food to the Hellenistic widows, soon have more to do. Stephen, at least, “did great wonders and signs among the people” (v. 8) and spoke in ways that stirred up hostility among Hellenists of “the synagogue of the Freedmen” who failed in their attempt to argue with Stephen (vv. 9-10). Their next tactic was to accuse Stephen of blasphemy “against Moses and God” (v. 11), stirring up the people and the elders, and seizing Stephen to bring him before the Council (v. 12). False witnesses accused him: “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us” (vv. 13, 14). Luke notes his countenance: “his face was like the face of an angel” (v. 15). But his long speech (chap. 7, in four of the next five daily readings) is his response to the high priest’s question, “Are these things [the accusations] so?” (7:1). (This paragraph is adapted from June 22, 2005, Wed. of the third week after Pentecost, on the selection according to Proper 7.)

Acts 7:59-8:8

Stephen Becomes the First Christian Martyr

59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. 8:1 And Saul approved of their killing him.

Saul Persecutes the Church

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, 7 for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 8 So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 7:59-8:8, NRSV)

The following comments are repeated here from December 26, 2005, the Feast of St. Stephen, Year Two (two years ago):

Stephen’s response to the high priest’s question (see above) takes the form of an extended lecture on Israel’s earlier history with attention to their disobedience and rejection of God, from time when Joseph’s brothers, the “patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt” (Acts 7:9), to Solomon’s building of the temple (vv. 47-50). He interprets even this as rejection of God, citing Isaiah 66:1-2: “What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,/or what is the place of my rest? (Acts. 7:49b, c). When Stephen says that “the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands,” followed by the quotation’s question, “Did not my hand make all these things?” (v. 50 citing Isa. 66:2), which refers to God’s making of heaven and earth, he uses language suggestive of idolatry according to Christopher R. Matthews: “Since made with human hands is language associated with idolatry in the Hebrew Bible (see Ps. 115:4); Isa. 2:8), its application to the temple would be offensive to a Jewish audience. Cf. 17:24-25" (NOAB, 3^rd ed., on Acts 7:49-50. Just as Jesus’ Cleansing of the Temple (Lk. 19:45-46) was a key factor in causing “the leaders of the people” to look “for a way to kill him” (v. 47), so Stephen’s critical reference to the Temple (Acts 7:48-50), followed by his stinging summary–“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do” (v. 51, cf. the quotation of vv. 51-53 above, in comments on the passage from 2 Chronicles)–led to his stoning.

The second part of today’s reading begins with the end of the account of Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:59), and his brief prayer, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (v. 60). The prayer recalls Jesus’ prayer from the cross (Lk. 23:34, though some ancient manuscripts lack the words, “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’” The NRSV uses square brackets to indicate uncertainty about the inclusion of the words; cf. TNIV, text note a).

In Acts, the passage continues with two notable results of Stephen’s martyrdom. Saul, who was present at Stephen’s death, watching the witnesses’ coats (Acts 7:58) and approving of the stoning (8:1), proceeds to persecute the Christians (8:1b-3), and due to the scattering of the Christians, “all except the apostles” (8:1b), Philip, another of the “deacons,” went to “the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them” (v. 5). Though the result with respect to Saul (Paul) was negative at first, Stephen’s testimony must have been a factor in leading Saul to repentance and conversion (Acts, chap. 9).

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.

rdworden@hgst.edu

deanworden@comcast.net