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| − | {{quote | text={{Bible verse|Acts|7|59|lang=WEB}} [[Acts 7:59]]}}
| + | LOL INTERNET |
| − | {{Infobox_Contents |
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| − | topic_name = Stephen
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| − | [[Image:StephenBeingStoned.jpg|thumb|center|200px]] |
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| − | subtopics = [[Persecution]]
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| − | * [[Acts 7]] |
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| − | opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}}
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| − | * [[Stephen (EBD)|Easton's Bible Dictionary entry on Stephen]] |
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| − | }}
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| − | 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.
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| − | ===Theology of Stephen===
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| − | In [[Acts 6]] and [[Acts 7|7]] a picture emerges that shows Stephen questioning the importance of the Temple and the Mosaic Law. In his mind, Jesus fulfilled and superseded these.
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| − | ===Speech===
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| − | After 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.
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| − | ===Death of Stephen===
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| − | Stephen was stoned to death.
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| − | ===After-effects of Stephen's death===
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| − | Acts 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.
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| − | ==Quotes==
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| − | [[Oscar Cullmann]]
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| − | : Apart from Paul, Stephen was perhaps the most significant man in the early church. It seems he grasped what was new in Jesus’ thought better than almost anyone else.
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| − | ==Links==
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| − | {{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Famous Christians]] -> [[Characters of the Bible]] -> [[Apostles]]
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| − | {{stub}}
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| − | [[Category:Famous Christians]]
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