Jean Ann Williams | Author

“‘Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to […]

“‘And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all […]

“And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place’” (Acts 7:6, 7 ESV).  Father, […]

“‘Then he [Abraham] went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a […]

“And the high priest said, ‘Are these things so?’ And Stephen said: ‘Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will […]

“‘. . . for we have heard him [Stephen] say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.’ And gazing at him [Stephan], all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:14, 15 ESV). Thank You, […]

“And they [Synagogue followers] stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him [Stephen] and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law’” (Acts 6:12, 13 ESV). Father, did […]

“But they [Synagogue followers] could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he [Stephen] was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God’” (Acts 6:10, 11 ESV).  Such lies, Father. Please help us to not be guilty of lies. In Jesus’ holy name, […]

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen” (Acts 6:8, 9 […]