Jean Ann Williams | Author

“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 […]

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7 ESV). Yes, Father, what a wonderful time for Your people. Please, bring a Reawakening to us today! Help us to bring the name of […]

“‘But we [apostles] will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before […]

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God […]

“. . . and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus]. And every day, in the temple […]

I’m sorry for the lack of verses yesterday. We had no electricity and no Internet until evening.“‘After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case [of Jesus] I […]