Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with Stephen from the Bible

The six degrees of Kevin Bacon is a popular game that connects any actor to Kevin Bacon in six steps or less. But have you ever wondered if you can connect a biblical character to Kevin Bacon? We are going to do that with Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Step 1: Stephen to Saul/Paul. Stephen was one of the seven deacons chosen by the apostles to serve the needy in the early church. Saul/Paul was a persecutor of the early Christians who was present and approving of Stephen’s stoning.

Trivia: Saul/Paul later became one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament, authoring 13 of the 27 books. Kevin Bacon starred in the movie "Mystic River" which was based on a novel by Dennis Lehane. Lehane also wrote the novel "Gone, Baby, Gone" which has been adapted into a movie directed by Ben Affleck, who starred in "Phantoms" with Kevin Bacon.

Step 2: Saul/Paul to Barnabas. After his conversion, Saul/Paul became a missionary and was eventually joined by Barnabas.

Trivia: Barnabas was known for his generosity and encouragement of others in the early church. Kevin Bacon was a co-founder of Sixdegrees.org, a social networking site that connects individuals with charities and encourages them to donate to causes they support.

Step 3: Barnabas to Mark. Barnabas and Paul had a dispute about taking Mark on a missionary journey. This led to Barnabas taking Mark under his wing and Paul taking Silas.

Trivia: Mark is believed to have written the Gospel of Mark, one of the four Gospels in the New Testament. Kevin Bacon is known for his roles in films such as "Footloose", "A Few Good Men", and "Apollo 13".

Step 4: Mark to John Mark. John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas and traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

Trivia: John Mark is mentioned in the book of Acts as being the reason for the dispute between Paul and Barnabas. Kevin Bacon starred in the television show "The Following" which was cancelled after three seasons.

Step 5: John Mark to Peter. John Mark is believed to have been a disciple of Peter and wrote the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s teachings.

Trivia: Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and was known for his boldness and impulsive nature. Kevin Bacon starred in the movie "X-Men: First Class" which was a reboot of the X-Men franchise.

Step 6: Peter to Jesus. Peter was a follower of Jesus and became one of the leaders of the early church after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Trivia: Jesus is the central figure of Christianity and is believed to be the Son of God. Kevin Bacon has been married to actress Kyra Sedgwick for over 30 years and they have two children together.

Wrap up: Stephen was a faithful servant of God who was willing to die for his faith. In Acts 7:55-56, it says, "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’" Stephen’s testimony and courage inspired many believers, and his story reminds us to remain faithful to God even in the face of persecution.