Stephen's Martyrdom

Ecce, inquit beatus Stephanus, video coelos apertos, et Filium hominis stantem a dextris virtutis Dei. Considerate attentius, fratres dilectissimi, cum beatus martyr Dominum mostrum Jesum Christum ad dexteram Dei Patris sedere vidissset, cur se Filium hominis videre testatus est, et non potius Filium Dei, cum utique plus honoris Domino delaturus videretur, si se Dei potius quam hominis Filium videre dixisset? Sed certa ratio postulabat ut hoc ita ostenderetur in coelo, et praedicaretur in mundo; omne enim Judaeorum scandalum in hoc erat, cur Dominus noster Jesus Christus, qui secundum carnem est Filius hominis esse etiam Dei Filius diceretur. Ideo ergo pulchre Scriptura divina Filium hominis ad dexteram Dei Patris stare memoravit, ut ad confundendam Judaeorum incredulitatem, illi martyri ostenderetur in coelo, qui a perfidis negabatur in mundo; et illi testimonium coelestis veritas daret, cui fidem terrena  impietas derogarat. Unde licet juxta psalmum, qui lectus est: Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum sit, si quid tamen distare inter martyres potest, praecipuus videtur esse qui primus est. Nam cum Sanctus Stephanus ab apostolos ipsos beata ac triumphali morte praecessit: ac sic, qui erat inferior ordine, prior factus est passione; et qui erat discipulus gradu, magister coepit esse martytrio; complens illud quod veatus propheta in psalmo dixit: Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi? Retribuere enim primus voluit Stephanus martyr Domino, quod cum omni humano genere accepit Domino; mortem enim, quam Salvator dignatus est pro omnibus pati, hanc ille primus reddidit Salvatori. Sanctus Maximus Taurinensis, Homilia LXIV, In Natali Sancti Stephani Levitae et Protomartyris Source: Migne PL 57.379

'Behold,' said the blessed Stephen,'I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' 1 Consider attentively, dear brothers, when the blessed martyr saw our Lord Jesus Christ sat at the right hand of God the Father, why he gave witness to seeing the son of Man and not rather the Son of God, when more honour he would seem to speak to the Lord if he had said the Son of of God rather than the Son of Man? But with good reason it was desired that this be so shown in heaven and preached in the world, for every scandal of the Jews was in this: why our Lord Jesus Christ who was according to the flesh the Son of Man, was to be spoken of as the Son of God. Therefore rightly Holy Scripture declares the Son of Man to be standing at the right side of God that the disbelief of the Jews be confounded, showing Him in heaven to that martyr, who by traitors was denied in the world, and to him had given witness to heavenly truth, the faith of whom was denounced on earth by impiety. Whence fittingly according to the Psalm, we read, 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy ones.' 2 If, however, there is difference among the martyrs, it certainly seems he is the first. For when the blessed Stephan was ordained a deacon by the Apostles, he preceded those same Apostles in a blessed and triumphant death, and so he who was inferior in rank, first made his passion, and he who was a pupil by status became a teacher by martyrdom, fulfilling what the blessed Prophet said in Psalm: What shall I return to the Lord for all the things that he has given me? 3 For the first martyr Stephen wished to give return to the Lord, that when everything human he had received from the Lord, even death, which the Saviour deemed worthy to suffer for all, he first returned to the Saviour. Saint Maximus of Turin, from Homily 64, On The Feast Day of St Stephen 1.Acts 7.56 2 Ps 115.15 3 Ps 115.12