The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Day 328: Stephen Is Martyred

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Focus: Acts 7 (Stephen’s speech and martyrdom), Romans 11–12 (Israel’s role and Christian living), Proverbs 27:13-14

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike guides listeners through the pivotal moment of Stephen’s martyrdom, unpacks St. Paul’s teaching on Israel's place in salvation history, and reflects on essential marks of true Christian life. Through insightful commentary, Fr. Mike encourages listeners to see themselves in the ongoing biblical story, to seek transformation of heart, and to pray for a spirit of unity and charity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. A “Fun” Proverb to Start

• [20:50] Memorable Quote:
  • "He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice rising early in the morning will be counted as cursing you. Bless your neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning is like cursing them. I love that. Because, you know, it's good to be happy in the morning ... but sometimes your excitement, your blessing early in the morning is received like a curse. Does that make sense? I think that's pretty, pretty fun."
• Fr. Mike opens with a light, relatable take on Proverbs 27:14, finding humor and practical wisdom in scripture.

2. Stephen’s Speech and Martyrdom (Acts 7)

• [22:05] The Drama of Stephen’s Defense:
  • Stephen’s speech to the council is a sweeping retelling of salvation history, from Abraham to Solomon, reminding his audience (and all listeners) of God's faithfulness and Israel's ongoing struggle with obedience.
  • "How incredible is this? ... Stephen goes through, he goes all the way back to the call of Abraham ... and all these things happen. And his son's son Joseph gets sold, and the whole shebang. We get to hear the whole story."
    (Fr. Mike, 22:30)
• [23:00] The Core Message:
  • Stephen accuses his audience of hardening their hearts, echoing the Israelites’ resistance in the wilderness.
  • Memorable Moment:
    "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, so do you." (Acts 7:51, read aloud)
• [24:10] Parallels to Jesus:
  • As Stephen is martyred, Fr. Mike highlights how Stephen imitates Jesus: forgiving his killers and entrusting his spirit to the Lord.
    • “He’s basically being just like Jesus as he says, ‘Father forgive them, don’t hold this sin against them.’ And yet even that innocent Stephen ... they don’t want to listen to.”
• [25:05] A Powerful Visual:
  • Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at God’s right hand enrages his audience, leading to his stoning—a moment that models both spiritual courage and tragic resistance.
    • Fr. Mike applies this personally: “How often is that the case where that could be us? ... I don’t know if I want to hear God’s word. I don’t know if I want to hear what God has to say to me today because I’ve already hardened my heart.”
• [26:00] Introduction of Saul:
  • A brief but significant mention: "There’s a young man named Saul ... consenting to Stephen’s martyrdom. ... whose name will later on be changed to Paul."

3. Romans 11: God’s Plan for Israel

• [28:50] Clarifying God’s Relationship with Israel:
  • Fr. Mike underlines Paul’s assertion that the Jewish people are not rejected.
  • "Here’s St. Paul who’s saying, listen, the people of Israel, they’ve not been abandoned. ... Any kind of anti-Jewish sentiment, any kind of anti-Semitism, that ... has no place. Because Romans chapter 11 talks about God’s plan, his love, his call.”
• [29:30] The Image of the Olive Tree:
  • Christians are “grafted in” to God’s ancient people, not a new “Christian tree” separate from the Jewish root.
• [30:20] The Gifts and Calling Are Irrevocable:
  • "He's not taken back his love. He's not taken back his gifts, he's not taken back his call from the people of Israel. He is calling them forward ... but he hasn't taken back his promises. He has not taken back his blessing."
• [31:15] A Spiritual Identity:
  • Fr. Mike references Pope Paul VI: “Spiritually, we are all Jewish because we've been grafted onto the tree.” This inspires a prayer for “our Jewish brothers and sisters” to come to the fulfillment of God’s promise in Jesus.

4. Romans 12: A New Life in Christ

• [32:00] A Favorite Chapter:
  • Fr. Mike expresses his deep love for Romans 12, especially verses 1–2, noting the resonance with Catholic liturgy.
  • "I appeal to you, brethren, therefore, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
  • He explains: "At Mass, that’s one of the things we pray for. ... Lord help us to be part of that. As St. Paul says here ... offer your bodies as a living sacrifice."
• [33:00] Transformation over Conformity:
  • "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind ... It’s necessary for us, because if we think the way the world thinks, then it is highly unlikely that we're thinking the way God thinks."
• [34:00] Marks of Christian Living:
  • Highlights from verses 9–21: Genuine love, hatred of evil, brotherly affection, humility, hospitality, patience in trials, blessing persecutors, seeking peace, overcoming evil with good.
  • Personal reflection: "Sometimes you just ... highlight, go back and write notes ... pray and say, okay, God, how do I do this? How do I bless those who curse me? How do I live in harmony with one another?... It goes on and on, as you know, because you just listened to it."

5. Prayer and Final Encouragement

• [36:00] Fr. Mike’s Prayer for the Day:
  • Gratitude for salvation and the gift of being “grafted” into God’s family, asking for grace to live accordingly.
• [36:45] Ongoing Support & Prayer:
  • "I definitely, every single day, I’m praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Stephen’s Martyrdom:
  • “Even that innocent Stephen, even that holy Stephen, they don't want to listen to. They plug their ears and rush upon him and stone him to death.” (25:00)
• On Christian Identity:
  • "You and I, we have been grafted onto the tree of Israel. ... The root is the story that Stephen told today. The root is all the way back to Abraham, this faith of our fathers." (29:50)
• On Romans 12 as Practical Spirituality:
  • “Those are the sections of the Bible. Sometimes you just, like, highlight, go back and write notes on the side ... pray and say, okay, God, how do I do this?” (34:10)
• On the Joy of the Journey:
  • “What a gift. Isn't this the craziest gift to be able to go through the whole Bible like this?" (35:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 20:50 — Humorous reflection on Proverbs 27:14
• 22:05 — Stephen’s speech: summary of salvation history
• 24:10 — Stephen’s martyrdom: parallels to Jesus
• 26:00 — Saul’s introduction at Stephen’s execution
• 28:50 — Romans 11: God’s fidelity to Israel
• 32:00 — Romans 12: Presenting ourselves as living sacrifices
• 34:00 — Marks of true Christian living
• 36:00 — Guided prayer & final encouragement

Tone and Themes

Fr. Mike’s style is heartfelt, accessible, and pastoral. He uses humor and real-life examples to connect scripture to daily experiences, while also offering deep theological reflections. The episode is both a journey through the text and a gentle exhortation to personal transformation and unity in God’s plan.

For listeners and readers alike, this episode blends the drama of the early Church with timeless wisdom for Christian living—offering encouragement, perspective, and prayerful support on your journey through the Bible.