WHO IS STEPHEN IN THE BIBLE????

 STEPHEN WAS ONE OF THE 7 DEACONS CHOSEN BY THE CHURCH TO SERVE THE WIDOWS IN ACTS 6. THE WIDOWS WERE NEGLECTED. STEPHEN WAS CHOSEN TO GO OUT AND FULFILL AN HONEST REPORT OF THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH. HE WAS FULL OF THE  HOLY GHOST AND WISDOM. STEPHEN WAS FULL OF GREAT FAITH AND POWER, MIRACLES WERE PERFORMED ON OTHERS THROUGH HIS FAITH. 

STEPHEN CAME UP AGAINST OPPOSITION FROM THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE LIBERTINES, AND CYRENIANS, AND THE ALEXANDRIANS AND THEM OF CELICIA AND ASIA, DISPUTING WITH STEPHEN. STEPHEN WAS SET UP . HE WAS LIED ON ABOUT SPEAKING BLASPHEMY. ALL OF THE CONFUSION WAS BROUGHT UP AGAINST HIM AND TAKEN TO THE COUNCIL. FALSE WITNESSES WERE SET UP. STEPHEN WAS TELLING THE COUNCIL THAT THEY WERE STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN THEIR HEARTS. ACTS 7: 56 SAYS BEHOLD, I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED, AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. VS 59 AND THEY STONED STEPHEN, CALLING UPON GOD, AND SAYING, LORD, JESUS , RECEIVE MY SPIRIT. 60 AND KNEELED DOWN , AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, LORD LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE. AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE FELL ASLEEP.

STEPHEN PRAYED FOR HIS PERSECUTORS. HE SERVED THE WIDOWS WHO WERE IN NEED OF HELP. ASK YOURSELF ARE YOU WILLING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THE RISEN KING TO GIVE UP SOME THINGS FOR HIM AND TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR ACCUSERS. HE DID REMARKABLE THINGS IN HIS FAITH.