The Bible In Paintings: ✝️ STEPHEN PREACHES, THEN IS STONED TO DEATH—JESUS’ FIRST MARTYR ✝️ Part 1

[Hebrews 11:6]

The
Bible
In
Paintings

~ Encouragement for Applying
and Appreciating God's Word ~

•Drawings•Engravings•Facades•Frescoes•Illuminations•Miniatures•Mosaics•Photographs•Reliefs•Statues•Tapestries•Windows•

STEPHEN
PREACHES,
THEN IS STONED

֎ Featuring 39 Paintings, 1 Relief and 1 Window ֎

A C T S
«Chapters 6-8»

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Then the high priest asked him, “Are these charges true?”

To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! Moses told the Israelites, ‘GOD WILL SEND YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR OWN PEOPLE.’

“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

1
DANIELLE TAYABAS
"Saint Stephen the Martyr"

2
LUIS DE MORALES
"Saint Stephen"

3
CARPACCIO
"La Prédication de Saint Etienne à Jérusalem"

4
MARIOTTO DI NARDO
"St Stephen Preaching"

5
FRA ANGELICO
Source

6
FRA ANGELICO
Source

7
FRA FILIPPO LIPPI
"Disputation in the Synagogue"

8
JOSEF ARNOLD the Elder
Source

9
Source

10
Source

11
VITTORE CARPACCIO
"Disputation of St Stephen"

12
PAOLO UCCELLO
"Disputation of St Stephen"

13
Source

14
Source

15
JUAN DE JUANES
"Saint Stephen in the Synagogue"

16
JUAN DE JUANES
"Saint Stephen Accused of Blasphemy"

17
ANDREA VACCARO
"Saint Stephen Taken to His Martyrdom"

18
ANTONIO CARRACCI
"The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen"

19
ANNIBALE CARRACCI
"The Stoning of Saint Stephen"

20
MARIOTTO DI NARDO
Source

21
BARTHOLOMEUS BREENBERGH
"The Stoning of Saint Stephen"

22
JACQUES STELLA
"The Martyrdom of St. Stephen"

23
Source

24
ANNIBALE CARRACCI
"The Stoning of Saint Stephen"

25
FRANZ XAVER WAGENSCHON
"Stoning of St. Stephen"

26
REMBRANDT
"Stoning of St. Stephen"

27
DOSSO & BATTISTA DOSSI
"The Stoning of Saint Stephen"

28
Source

29
VITTORE CARPACCIO
"The Stoning of St Stephen"

30
BERNARDO CAVALLINO
"The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen"

31
JEAN BAPTISTE DE CHAMPAIGNE
"The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen"

32
LORENZO LOTTO
"The Martyrdom of St Stephen"

33
FRA ANGELICO
"The Stoning of St Stephen"

34
GIORGIO VASARI
"Martyrdom of St Stephen"

35
PETER PAUL RUBENS
"Saint Stephen"

36
ANTHONY VAN DYCK
"The Stoning of Saint Stephen"

37
FILIPPO LIPPI
"The Martyrdom of St Stephen"

38
Foxe's Christian Martyrs of the World
"St. Stephen Is Stoned to Death"

39
Source

40
Source

→ a n d   f i n a l l y ←

41
FERDINANDO TACCA
"Martirio di S. Stefano"

To be continued…

New International Version ©1984, Abrgd, EMPHASES added
Masthead Painting: “THE HAND OF GOD” by Yongsung Kim

[Hebrews 11:6]

A R C H I V E S
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[Hebrews 11:6]

Feel free to comment below.

No expertise is needed,
either in Scripture or in art—
so please jump right in!

A FRIENDLY FORUM

[InkStone]

Good Morning Dan, and good morning to all.

A story of divine courage; may we be as strong for our shared faith.

Wonderful paintings, glass, tile and relief; thank you Dan!

[Bob434]

25 is a ery vivid portrayal of he angels surrounding Stephen as He demon driven enraged crowd takes their fury out on him. It seems it woild be hard for he angels to watch such a satanic attack take place on one of God’s chosen. I imagine it brought tears to their eyes seeing how far the enraged and fallen from God. Stephen’s response tO the stoners was one of true humility.

[etabeta]

Good morning, Dan.
#5-6 Fra Angelico, the 15th c. Dominican monk whose artistic innovations and use of color inspired many Renaissance artists. Hid work is infused with vibrant luminosity, serenity, delicate execution.

#7 Fra Filippo Lippi, another 15th c. monk who was greatly influenced by Fra Angelico. His works have a distinctive clarity of expression.

#16 Juan de Juanes

#33 Fra Angelico

#41 Tacca, 17th c. bronze bas-relief by the 17th c. Italian sculptor.

Thank you also for the fenster!

[Big Red Badger]

Stephen’s Gate Jerusalem
Been there.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Stephen, as Jesus’ first martyr—first of incredibly many—set a noble example for us all.

[Hebrews 11:6]

It seems it woild be hard for he angels to watch

We have very little data on angelic reactions. I presume we will get to know the angels when we reach heaven--what stories they can tell!

[Hebrews 11:6]

I’ve warmed up to Fra Angelico recently—his work here is an excellent example why.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Ol’ Stephen is awaiting us in heaven.

[Bob434]

heard a message once where the preacher said that when we are faced with moral decisions and temptations, the angels are ‘sitting on the edge of heaven watching to see how we will choose and erupt into singing and praise to God when we choose the moral choice”

I don’t know if it’s true- but i woudl imagine it could be-

[Hebrews 11:6]

That’s a pretty picture, Bob.

[Big Red Badger]

To God be the Glory!
.
I’ve imagined watching Jesus entering at
The Golden Gate a few hundred yards south of Stephen’s Gate.
.
Glorious Times ahead Brothers!

[Hebrews 11:6]

You and Bob set my imagination ablaze!

[Big Red Badger]

I’m trying to keep the Prize before us
Putting aside this present evil world and Proclaim a Coming King who is
Worthy of Praise who’s Return I anxiously Await !

[Hebrews 11:6]

That says it!

[freefdny]

Great stuff. Thanks. I had to look up the Rembrandt because it really didn’t look like a Rembrandt. He was 19 when he painted it and the face under the armpit of one of the rock throwers is him. There are some who claim that at least seven of the faces in the crowd are self portraits. It may be a profound theological statement he is making along the lines of Paul’s I am foremost among sinners or it just could be that a possibly struggling young artist can’t afford to pay models to sit for him and has to use a mirror and paint himself. Either way thanks again for the Bible study and the great art.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Ol' Rembrandt certainly was not averse to including self-portraits in his works, nor in fact of making himself their focal point. Here the 31-year-old master paints himself as the Prodigal, and for added salacity he makes a harlot of the Missus:

[SisterK]

A story of divine courage; may we be as strong for our shared faith.

Amen

I can think of a lot of verses in which Jesus is seated at the right hand of God
but this is the only account I can recall with Jesus standing to the right of God
this makes Stephen even more amazing, that he would bring our Lord to His feet

I pray everyday for the courage and the heart of Stephen

[InkStone]

Bless you K.
There’s a guy who looks like an Old Testament prophet in my town. From time to time he stands on the busiest corner with a bullhorn, proclaiming the Gospel. He wears a large sign that says “Repent- Jesus Is Coming Soon”

I’ve spoken to him, and he’s the most soft spoken and gentle man...