# Martyrdom of Stephen (c. 34)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/34-martyrdom-of-stephen
Location: Jerusalem, Judea
Themes: Persecution

Stephen, one of the seven deacons, is stoned in Jerusalem and remembered as the first Christian martyr; persecution scatters believers beyond Judea. At this point in the timeline (c. 34), the Bishop of Rome was Saint Peter (c. 30 – c. 64). Dates for the earliest bishops of Rome are traditional and uncertain.

## Why it matters
Martyrdom of Stephen mattered because it shows how Christians and others suffered for faith and how violence shaped the church's memory and identity.

Pope at the time: [Saint Peter](https://christianity-history.com/popes/saint-peter)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Saint Stephen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Martyrdom of Stephen](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Martyrdom+of+Stephen)
- [Wikipedia — Apostolic Age (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Age)