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Welcome to WikiChristian! God bless you. Stephen (Acts)From WikiChristian
Stephen was a Christian whose story is told in the Book of Acts. He was stoned to death because of accusations of blasphemy, described in Acts 7. The apostle Paul (Saul) was present at Stephen's death, giving approval to it. Following his death, which probably occurred some time around 33 AD, the Jews of the early church became dispersed throughout Judea, Samaria and their Diaspora homelands, taking the gospel with them. SpeechAfter Stephen was accused of blasphemy he was brought before the Sanhedrin, where he gave a speech in his defence. Key features of this speech include the Jewish leaders' ongoing rejection of God's prophets throughout Israel's history, culminating now in their rejection of Jesus, God's righteous one. Stephen reveals in his speech his understanding that God does not live in man-made buildings, but inside the heart of man. Death of StephenStephen was stoned to death. After-effects of Stephen's deathActs reveals that great persecution arose after Stephen's death. Saul (later the apostle Paul) was one of the main perpetrators of this violence. Believers (probably predominantly Hellenistic Jews) left Jerusalem to escape the persecution, and the gospel travelled with them, for example, to cities such as Antioch. So this persecution resulted in expansion of the early church. Quotes
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