The Stoning of St Stephen (스데반의 순교)

 

 

 

 

(행 7:58)

성 밖으로 내치고 돌로 칠새 증인들이 옷을 벗어 사울이라 하는 청년의 발 앞에 두니라 행22:20

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

The Stoning of St Stephen

oil on panel (90 × 124 cm) — 1625

  Musée des beaux-arts, Lyon

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

 

This work is linked to Acts 7:58

 

Stephen was a member of the Christian community in Jerusalem. The apostles had selected him and six others to perform all sorts of community services: they were the first deacons. Stephen's job was to care for Greek widows. "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people", it says in Acts 6:8.

A group of Jews became jealous. In front of the high priests they falsely accused Stephen. He defended himself with a long plea that ended with accusing the priests. Stephen claimed they did not uphold the law, and that they betrayed and killed those that announced the coming of the "Just one".

The crowd in the temple was infuriated and seized Stephen. Outside the city he was stoned to death. That made Stephen into the first Christian martyr: someone who died for the faith.

This is one of Rembrandt's first paintings. It is the first with a biblical subject.

In the background to the right stand the priests. In the top center a worried group looks on: members of the Christian community? Stephen wears a fine gown, common among the deacons in Rembrandt's days. His last words were "lay not this sin to their charge". Originating in the top left is a beam of light that shines in Stephen's face: a sign that heaven saw it all happen. The man on horseback is probably Saul, the persecutor of Christians who was soon to become the apostle Paul.

The face right above Stephen could very well be Rembrandt's first self-portrait.

 

 

 

 

 

Bartholomeus Breenbergh 1598 – 1657

The Stoning of Saint Stephen

oil on panel (67 × 92 cm) — 1632

  J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Bartholomeus Breenbergh biography

 

This work is linked to Acts 7:58

 

The pious Stephen was a member of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. He was stoned to death because he had accused priests of breaking the law. A crowd captured him and stoned him outside the city walls. Stephen thus became the first Christian martyr. From a distance Paul looks on. At the time he was still a fanatical persecutor of Christians.

A wide, open landscape with Roman ruins: this painting is typical for the works of Breenbergh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juan de Juanes 1523 – 1579

Stephen is taken away

oil on panel (160 × 123 cm) — c. 1562

Museo del Prado, Madrid

 

This work is linked to Acts 7:58

 

After his argument with the High Council Stephen is expelled from the city by a group of ugly men.

Part of a series on the martyrdom of St. Stephen that Juan de Juanes made for the church of San Esteban (=Stephen) in Valencia.

• The ordination of Stephen
• Stephen in the synagogue
• Stephen accuses the High Council
• Stephen is expelled from the city
• The stoning of Stephen
• The burial of Stephen
  

 

 

 

 

Juan de Juanes 1523 – 1579

The Stoning of Stephen

oil on panel (160 × 123 cm) — c. 1562

  Museo del Prado, Madrid

 

This work is linked to Acts 7:58

Please scroll down to read more information about this work.

 

Outside the city walls Stephen is stoned to death. The man watching from a distance is Saul, the persecutor of Christians who would later convert to Paul.

Part of a series of six on the martyrdom of St. Stephen that Juan de Juanes made for the church of San Esteban (=Stephen) in Valencia.

• The ordination of Stephen
• Stephen in the synagogue
• Stephen accuses the High Council
• Stephen is expelled from the city
• The stoning of Stephen
• The burial of Stephen
  

 

 

 

 

 

Juan de Juanes 1523 – 1579

The Burial of Stephen

oil on panel (160 × 123 cm) — c. 1562

  Museo del Prado, Madrid

 

This work is linked to Acts 8:2

 

그 날에 예루살렘에 있는 교회에 큰 박해가 있어 사도 외에는 다 유대와 사마리아 모든 땅으로 흩어지니라

(행 8:2)

경건한 사람들이 스데반을 장사하고 위하여 크게 울더라

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

 

Please scroll down to read more information about this work.

Stephen had been killed by an angry mob. Here he is put in a grave by a group of pious men. In the background other men grieve.

Some see similarity in the composition of this panel with Raphael's Deposition. It is known that Juan de Juanes was inspired by the Italian master.

Part of a series of six on the martyrdom of St. Stephen that Juan de Juanes made for the church of San Esteban (=Stephen) in Valencia.

• The ordination of Stephen
• Stephen in the synagogue
• Stephen accuses the High Council
• Stephen is expelled from the city
• The stoning of Stephen
• The burial of Stephen