Saint Stephen, (died c. AD 36, Jerusalem), First Christian martyr. As described in the Acts of the Apostles, he was a foreign-born Jew who lived in Jerusalem and joined the church at an early time. He was one of seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to care for elderly women, widows, and orphans. As a Hellenized Jew, he was strongly opposed to the Temple cult of Judaism. He was brought before the Sanhedrin due to his strong opposition. His defense of Christianity so outraged his hearers that he was condemned to be stoned to death. One of those who assented to the execution was Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul).