Stephen's Crown

It is noteworthy that there have always been those faithful believers whose love for and commitment to the Lord seems to shine through so greatly that others around them notice.

Stephen was such a man. Stephen, whose Grecian name means "crown," and hence the name of this Bible Study Blog. Stephen was "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts. 6:5).

I was so encouraged by the testimony of Stephen. How that even when no one would listen, he would still preach and share the Gospel. The Apostle Paul may arguably be the best Apostle there was, but it was the faithful testimony of Deacon Stephen that influenced the great ministry of the Apostle Paul. It was only fitting to start this Bible Study blog with Deacon Stephen, this faithful disciple of God whose testimony still impacts the lives of believers even today.

Although the name of this Bible Study blog is Stephen's Crown, the studies will not be limited to only one faithful character, but to faithful characters in the Bible whose testimonies shine through even to this day.

Each time a faithful character is introduced on this blog, ask the question, "What can I learn his/her faithfulness?"

May this Bible study blog be a source of blessing and encouragement to each one who reads it.

In Acts 7:58, one man among Stephen's persecutors is prominently named: Saul (of Tarsus). Saul would later on become the 13th Apostle. But before looking into that, let's take first take a look at the dark side of Stephen's Persecutor.

Saul was born in Tarsus in Cilicia around A.D. 1–5 in a province in the southeastern corner of modern day Tersous, Turkey. He was of Benjaminite lineage and Hebrew ancestry. His parents were Pharisees—fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses—who sought to protect their children from “contamination” from the Gentiles. Anything Greek was despised in Saul’s household, yet he could speak Greek and passable Latin. His household spoke Aramaic, a derivative of Hebrew, which was the official language of Judea. Saul’s family were Roman citizens but viewed Jerusalem as a truly sacred and holy city.