On Saint Stephen · §8 · Hesychius of Jerusalem

Blood Poured Out in Confession

…they offer it with wicked intent, still I respect them, for even against their own purpose they are for me the occasion of coming into your presence, of the kingdom of heaven, of release from the clay, of being taken up on high, of a martyr’s victory, of confessing you and being confessed by you.

For yours is the voice that speaks to us; urged on by it, I readily gave myself up to sacrifice and, through my confession, poured out my blood into your hands as into a bowl: “Everyone who confesses me before men, I also will confess him before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Greek

πονηρῷ θύουσιν λογισμῷ, ἀλλ' ὅμως αἰσχύνομαι τούτους, οἵτινες ἀφορμὴ καὶ παρὰ γνώμην ἐμοὶ τῆς πρὸς σὲ παρουσίας, τῆς τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείας, τῆς ἀπαλλαγῆς τοῦ πηλοῦ, τῆς ἄνω μεταθέσεως, μαρτυρίου νίκης, ὁμολογίας τῆς εἰς σὲ καὶ παρὰ σοῦ. Σὴ γάρ ἐστιν πρὸς ἡμᾶς φωνή, ᾗ προτραπεὶς ἐμαυτὸν ἑτοίμως εἰς θυσίαν ἐπέδωκα, καὶ τὸ αἷμα καθάπερ εἰς κρατῆρα διὰ τῆς ὁμολογίας εἰς τὰς σὰς χεῖρας ἐκένωσα· «Πᾶς ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς.» Αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν. 6

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Hesychius of Jerusalem’s homily on Saint Stephen, the first martyr, in a fresh English translation from the Greek.

Hesychius of Jerusalem (fl. c. 412–450), a priest of the church of Jerusalem, preached this homily in praise of Saint Stephen, the first martyr. He claims Stephen for his own city: there Stephen served as deacon, gave his witness, and departed to Christ.

The false witnesses charge that Stephen speaks against the temple and the law (Acts 6:13-14). Hesychius answers that Stephen said only what God had already said through Micah, Isaiah, David and Moses, and he reads the threats of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, with Zechariah 14, as fulfilled at the cross and the resurrection.

The homily closes with Stephen's vision of the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56), his stoning outside the city, and his two prayers: that the Lord Jesus receive his spirit, and that this sin not be set against his killers (Acts 7:59-60).

A fresh English translation made from the Greek text printed in PG 93.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 93 (Greek)

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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