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Stephen: The First Martyr

 

            
             Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit, was as compassionate and dedicated as they get. He was the first person, post-crucifixion, to be martyred because of his love for our Savior. .
             He was originally chosen, along with six others, by the apostles to "wait tables", or oversee food distribution, for all of the Jewish followers that they had. The apostles could not do this job because it would interfere with the teaching of the Word. They decided to choose men who were full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Stephen met their standards perfectly. He performed his job flawlessly. In chapter six of Acts it states that he was "a man full of God's grace and power", and he "did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." For his dedication and his actions of truth he was brutally opposed by the priests of the synagogues. They persistently argued with Stephen and could not match his superior wisdom and knowledge of the old and new laws. This angered his enemies even more and led them to frame him. Those members of the synagogue persuaded some people to falsely accuse Stephen of blasphemy against their laws and of Moses. They set him up and all of the people believed he was guilty. Stephen was asked he if he would confess his guilt but instead he brought out their ignorance of the truth and how they are circumcised but not truly consecrated to the Lord. After hearing what Stephen had to so boldly say, the Sanhedrin was infuriated with him. At that very moment they took him outside and began to stone him. Even in the face of death Stephen was still committed to God. He asked, while being stoned, that God would receive his spirit and that those who brought about his death would be forgiven.
            


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