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{{quote | text={{web_verseBible verse|actsActs|7|59|lang=WEB}} [[Acts 7:59]]}}{{Infobox_Contents |topic_name = Stephen [[Image:StephenBeingStoned.jpg|thumb|center|200px]] |subtopics = [[Persecution]]* [[Acts 7]] |opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} * [[Stephen (EBD)|Easton's Bible Dictionary entry on Stephen]] |}}

''Synopsis:'' Stephen was a Christian whose story is told in the [[Book of Acts]]. He was stoned to death for his beliefsbecause 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.

Acts reveals that great persecution arose after Stephen's death. Saul (later the [[Stephen apostle Paul]]) was one of the main perpetrators of this violence. Believers (EBDprobably predominantly Hellenistic Jews)|Easton's Bible Dictionary entry on Stephenleft 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.

==Main articleQuotes==

Stephen was a Christian whose story is told in the [[Book of ActsOscar Cullmann]]. He : Apart from Paul, Stephen was stoned to death for his beliefs, described in [[Acts 7]]. Following his death, perhaps the Jews most significant man in the early church became dispersed throughout Judea, Samaria and their Diaspora homelands, taking the gospel with them/. It seems he grasped what was new in Jesus’ thought better than almost anyone else.

==Video=Death of =<YouTube>title=Saint Stephen, The 1st Martyrhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhc-Rqmd6Z4&rel=1embed_source_url=http://www.youtube.com/v/qhc-Rqmd6Z4&rel=1wrap =yeswidth=500height=400</YouTube>

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