Saint Stephen was a first-century deacon in the early Christian community of Jerusalem. Identified as one of the seven deacons appointed to manage food distribution for widows, he is traditionally honored as the protomartyr, or the first person to die for the Christian faith. According to the New Testament, his preaching caused significant friction with local synagogue members, leading to his trial before the Sanhedrin. Following a speech regarding Israelite history, he was executed by stoning, an event witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul.