1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen

According to the online 1611 King James Bible, today is the feast of Stephen. You may have heard the feast of Stephen mentioned in the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas.

"Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen"

Thus, Good King Wenceslas (Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, 907-935 AD) looked out on December 26th. But who was Stephen and why do present day Christians remember Stephen and continue to name our children after him?

Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

In Acts 6 we read that there was a "murmuring" among Greek Christians against Hebrew Christians concerning the care of widows. The Apostles chose Stephen and several others to attend to the problem.

they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 6:5-8

Acts 6 goes to state that a dispute arose in one of the synagogues and charges were brought against Stephen:

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts 6:9-15

Acts 7 begins with the elders asking Stephen if the charges are true. Stephen then launches into his famous soliloquy. Stephen's soliloquy is unique due to Stephen experiencing a theophany, or vision of a deity. Just before he is to be martyred, Stephen is granted a vision of Christ:

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:56

Acts 7 ends with the stoning of Stephen:

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:57-60

By the way, the Saul mentioned in verse 58 above,is the future missionary and epistilist Paul. Acts 8 informs us that Saul, who had not yet had his road to Damascus event, consented to the stoning of Stephen and then made such as havoc as to "scatter" the Christians abroad.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Acts 8:1-4

For those inspired by the story of Stephen and wishing to name a son after him, you may like to know that "Stephen" has Greek roots and means "crown." Also Eastern Christians (Greek Orthodox, Chaldean Catholics, etc.) commemorate Stephen on December 27th.

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1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen
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Source: Acts 7 (King James Version)