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Bible Centered People Oriented |
St. Stephen's United
St. StephenSt. Stephen was the first Christian deacon and the first martyr for the Faith. His story is told in the sixth and seventh chapters of The Acts of the Apostles, where it is stated that 'Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.' However, those of the old faith in Jerusalem were disturbed and angered by Stephen's words and by his influence over the people. They had him arrested and brought before the council, where on the testimony of false witnesses, he was accused of having spoken blasphemous words against Moses and against God. In reply, Stephen preached his famous sermon (Acts 7 : 2-53), which so aroused the authorities that he was taken out of the city and stoned to death. Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul, was present as a witness, and consented to Stephen's death. As they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." As he died, Stephen knelt down and cried, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." The symbol for St. Stephen is the costume of a deacon and the stones which were the instrument of his martyrdom. |
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