Serving as an expansion to the biblical account of the martyr Stephen’s death, the Revelation or Apocalypse of Stephen was written some time before the 6th century. The final section, on Pilate, may be a later addition.
1 Two years after the Ascension, there was a contest concerning Jesus. Many learned men had assembled at Jerusalem from Ethiopia, the Thebaid, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Asia, Mauretania, and Babylon. 2 There was a great clamor among them like thunder, lasting until the fourth hour. 3 Stephen, a learned man of the tribe of Benjamin, stood on a high place and addressed the assembly. “Why this tumult?” He said, “Blessed is he who has not doubted concerning Jesus. Born of a pure virgin, He filled the world with light. 4 By Satan’s schemes, Herod slew fourteen thousand children. He spoke of the miracles of Jesus. Woe to the unbelievers when He will come as judge, with messengers, a fiery chariot, a mighty wind: 5 the stars will fall, the heavens open, the scrolls be brought forward. 6 The twelve messengers who are set over every soul will unveil the deeds of men. 7 The sea will move and give up what is in it. 8 The mountains fall, all the surface of the earth become smooth. Great winged thrones are set. 9 The Lord, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit take Their seats. The Father commands Jesus [to] sit on His right hand.”
1 At this point the crowd cried out: “Blasphemy!” And took Stephen before Pilate. 2 Pilate stood on the steps and reproached them: “You compelled me to crucify the Innocent; why rage against this man? Why gnash your teeth? Are you still [so] foolish?” 3 They led Stephen away. 4 Caiaphas ordered him to be beaten until the blood ran. 5 And he prayed: “Do not lay this sin to their charge” We saw how messengers ministered to him. 6 In the morning, Pilate called his wife and two children: they immersed themselves and praised God.
1 Three thousand men now assembled and disputed with Stephen for three days and three nights. 2 On the fourth day, they took counsel and sent to Caesarea of Palestine for Saul of Tarsus, who had a commission to seize [the] Christians. 3 He took his place on the judgment seat and said: “I marvel that you, a wise man, and my countryman, believe all this. None of the Sanhedrin have given up the Law. 4 I have been through all Judea, Galilee, Peraea, Damascus, and the city of the Jesitites to seek out believers.” 5 Stephen lifted up his hands and said: “Silence, persecutor! Recognize the Son of God. 6 You make me doubt my own descent. But I see that you will long drink of the same cup as I. What you do, do quickly.” 7 Saul tore his clothes and beat Stephen. Gamaliel, Saul’s teacher, sprang forth and gave Saul a strike, saying, “Did I teach you such conduct? Know that what this man says is acceptable and good.” 8 Saul was yet more enraged, and he looked fiercely on him, saying, “I spare your old age, but you will reap a due reward for this.” 9 Gamaliel answered: “I ask nothing better than to suffer with Christ.” 10 The elders tore their clothes, cast dust on their heads, and cried: “Crucify the blasphemers!” 11 Saul said, “Guard them until the morning.” 12 The next day, he sat on the judgment seat and had them brought before him, and they were led away to be crucified. 13 A messenger came and cast away. the cross, and Stephen’s wounds were healed. 14 Seven men came and poured molten lead into his mouth and pitch into his ears. 15 They drove nails into his breast and feet, and he prayed for their forgiveness. 16 Again, a messenger came down and healed him, and a great multitude believed.
1 The next day, everyone assembled and took him out of the city to judge him. 2 He ascended a stone and addressed them: “How long will you harden your hearts? The Law and the Prophets spoke of Christ. 3 In the first Law, and the second, and the other scrolls it is written: When the year of the covenant comes, I will send My beloved Messenger, the good spirit of sonship, from a pure maiden, the fruit of truth, without plowshare and without seed, and an image of sowing, and the fruit will grow after the . . . of planting forever from the word of My covenant, and signs will come to pass. 4 And Isaiah says: To us a Child is born. And again: Behold, a virgin will conceive. 5 And the prophet Nathan said: I saw one, a maiden and without touch of man, and a Manchild in her arms, and that was the Lord of the earth to the end of the earth. 6 And again, the prophet Baruch says: Christ the eternal appears as a stone from the mountain and breaks in pieces the idol temples of the . . . 7 David also said: Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place. 8 Understand then, O foolish ones, what the prophet says: In this word you will judge.” 9 And he looked up toward the sky and said: “I see Heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 10 Then they laid hands on him, saying, “He blasphemes!” 11 Gamaliel said: “Wherein? This righteous man has seen the Son saying to the Father: Behold, the Jews rage against Me and do not cease to mistreat them that confess My Name. 12 And the Father said: Sit on My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 13 Then they bound Stephen and took him away to Alexander, the reader, who was a chief of the people, and of the troop in Tiberias. 14 In the fourth watch of the night, a light as of lightning shone around him, and a voice said: “Be strong. You are My first martyr, and your hour is near. I will write the record of you in the scroll of everlasting life.” 15 The Jews took counsel and decreed that he should be stoned. 16 There were with him Abibas, Nicodemus, Gamaliel, Pilate, his wife and two children, and a multitude of believers. 17 Saul stood forth, and beckoned, and said: “It would have been better that this man should not be slain, because of his great wisdom: but forasmuch as he is an apostate, I condemn Stephen to be stoned.” 18 The people said: “He will be stoned”; but those who stood in the front rank with staffs looked on each other and did not dare lay hands on him, for he was renowned among the people. 19 Saul was angry, and stripped those servants of their garments, and laid them on the table, and commanded the men to stone Stephen. 20 Stephen looked around and said: “Saul, Saul, that which you do to me today, that same will the Jews do to you tomorrow. And when you suffer, you will think of me.” 21 The people cast stones at him so thickly that the light of the sun was darkened. 22 Nicodemus and Gamaliel put their arms around him and shielded him, and were slain, and gave up their souls to Christ. 23 Stephen prayed, saying, “Forgive them that stone us, for by their means we trust to enter into your Kingdom.” 24 And at the tenth hour, he gave up the spirit. 25 Then beautiful youths appeared, and fell on the bodies, and wept aloud: and the people beheld the souls borne up by messengers into Heaven and saw the heavens open and the hosts coming to meet the souls. 26 And the people mourned for three days and three nights.
Pilate took the bodies and put each one into a silver coffin with his name on it, but Stephen’s coffin was gilded. And he laid them in his secret tomb. But Stephen prayed [from Heaven]: “Let my body be buried in my land of Serasima in Caphargamala until the revealing, when the martyrs that follow me will be gathered together.” And a messenger came and removed the bodies to that place. But Pilate rose early to burn incense before the bodies and did not find them; and he tore his clothes, saying, “Was I then not worthy to be Your servant?” On the following night, Stephen appeared and said to him: “Do not weep. I implored God to hide our bodies. In the time of our revealing, one of your seed will find us after a vision, and your desire will be fulfilled. But build a house of prayer and celebrate our feast in the month of April. After seven months you also will rest.” And Pilate did so: and he died and was buried at Kapartasala; and his wife also died in peace. But the holy martyrs appeared to venerable and believing men three times, speaking to them and revealing divine words: for after their death, many believed.