1. Church Superior to Internal Difficulties.

Acts 6:1-7.

(1) Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews (Gr. Hellenists) against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (2) And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit (Gr. pleasing) that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables (or, minister to tables). (3) Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (4) But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. (5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude: 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 Nicolaüs a proselyte of Antioch; (6) whom, they set before the apostles:and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

(7) And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The church ever oscillates between two opposite but hostile forces—persecution from without, and dissension from within. Luke had just completed his account of the second persecution from without, followed by a period of peace, love, and increase of church membership, and now gives us description of the third persecution from without. The church had been growing rapidly and this brought about greater difficulty in providing for the church treasury, and the daily distribution of allowances to the needy from the common fund. While the church was small, there was little danger for accidental or intentional neglect in the daily distribution of alms. The Apostles had charge of this duty, but as believers were multiplied, and the opposition increased from without, their time was wholly occupied in the ministry of the Word, and the distribution was made by persons appointed by them. And here may be some cause for this neglect.

There were two classes of Jews in Jerusalem, the foreign-born and the home-born. The Grecians were Greek-speaking Jews, born in countries outside of Palestine, and therefore called Hellenists, or Grecians. Between the native and foreign-born Jews there existed considerable jealousy; because of this feeling it would be difficult to distribute the fund to the needy without some criticism from either party. The orthodox Jew was a strict observer of the law and tradition of the Elders, and was the means of putting Christ to death, because He opposed the tradition of the Elders, although His teaching was in full harmony and spirit of the Old Testament.

The foreign-born Jews, having been educated in different parts of the world, having come in contact with broader educational influences, were more liberal and open to the reception of truth. The wrong-doing could, however, not be justified. The Apostles summoned a meeting of all the Christians in Jerusalem, and stated that they could no longer be responsible for the distribution of the fund, inasmuch as it would interfere with their giving themselves wholly to prayer, teaching and preaching the Word. They left the matter entirely in the hands of the church. The Apostles, however, suggested the appointment of seven men, who had these three qualifications, " of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom," to take charge of this work now causing disturbance in the church.

The church should look after her own work, even to the feeding of the hungry widows, and not burden the ministers, whose whole time should be given to prayer, teaching and preaching the Word.

The church accepted the suggestion of the Apostles, and made choice of seven deacons, and brought them to the Apostles, who ordained them by prayers and imposition of hands. The Holy Spirit was present in the church, and the Apostles, being but agents, were under His direction, and it was easy to correct this difficulty. The church continued in peace and prosperity. It is strange, however, that the seven persons were selected from that part of the church which had made the complaint. Those who had time to complain could not assist in this distribution, and see that no complaint was made from the other side.

If it was not right then to serve tables and neglect preaching the Word is it right now? Here the church trouble was adjusted by the increase of laborers and church membership.

QUESTIONS.

• What was the difficulty in the church?

• What two classes of Jews? Give history of each.

• What was the work that could not be neglected by the Apostles?

• Why say "disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly"?

  To intimate that there were none elsewhere, and the disciples have been left here long enough to test whether Israel would repent, and secure the privileges spoken of by Peter (3:19-20).

• Who was to select the seven men and what three qualifications?

• Name these seven new church officials.

• What part had the Apostles in selecting?

  They had a consecration meeting:

  (1) By having prayer;

  (2) by the laying on of hands.

• What effect had this upon the church?

  (1) It gave the church more laborers;

  (2) laborers of broader views;

  (3) it increased Bible study in the church;

  (4) resulted in a great revival.

• Give the texts which show the increase of membership during the first five years of the church.

  (1) At ascension at least 120 (1:15).

  (2) At Pentecost, 3000 were added (2:41).

  (3) A month or more later this number was increased to over 5000 (4:4).

  (4) During the next two or three years multitudes of men and women were added (5:14).

  (5) When the seven workers were added to the church, the number of converts "multiplied in Jerusalem greatly," and a great company of priests were obedient to the faith. Church membership increases rapidly when converts are added daily to the church.

2. STEPHEN'S ACTIVITY AND ARREST.

Acts 6:8-15.

(8) And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people. (9) But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines (or, Freedmen), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. (10) And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. (11) Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. (12) And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, (13) and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:(14) for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. (15) And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

The church was now on the verge of a great crisis. Twice before, as the church was increasing so rapidly in power and numbers, the unbelievers set themselves up against the progress of the church by way of persecution. The appointment of the seven men, to distribute alms, had an outcome not anticipated. These men, with broader views and open hearts for the truth, opened the door for the church to go forth to evangelize the world. Pentecost was about five years in the past, and the risen Christ had not yet been preached outside the city of Jerusalem. This was the first exhibition of miraculous power by any other disciple but an Apostle.

Stephen, fully given over to the influence of the power of the Holy Spirit, was able by truth to meet the opposition brought against him. The parties here mentioned are Greek-speaking Jews; they loved to meet together, and had a synagogue of their own. Stephen, being one of them, doubtless was a member of the synagogue before he was a Christian, and although a Christian had not forfeited his membership. It would be but natural for him to go to the synagogue and try to lead his associates to Jesus as their Savior. In the discussion the argument and power were all on Stephen's side, for the reason that he was the Holy Spirit's messenger. Unable to meet Stephen in argument and resist the " wisdom and spirit with which he spake," they perverted his language and represented him to the people as a blasphemer against Moses and against God. " Suborned men." These dishonest men are willing to be used to make false accusations. These accusations appeal to all their selfish interests. These enemies of the Truth understood very well the feeling of the Jewish people, that nothing would incite them more against Christianity, than the belief that it was to supersede their much loved Judaism. The church was looked upon with suspicion, and if Christianity was to triumph it could only be on the ruins of Judaism.

The common people, by the means described, were thoroughly aroused and there was no longer any danger of their taking sides with the church. Stephen was at once arrested and dragged before the Sanhedrim. This was the first time that the people were represented as being stirred up against the disciples.

The Pharisees avoided the blunder committed by the Sadducees, of bringing men into trial without having definite charges against them. The charge laid against Stephen was that of blasphemy, especially that he said Jesus of Nazareth claimed that He would destroy the temple and change the customs which Moses had delivered. Stephen was now standing before the same body where his Master stood, when condemned to die. He was arraigned on a similar charge. He realized that his supreme hour had come. He knew the feeling of the court, and it was not their purpose to try him but to condemn him. Stephen was not alone. He was in the midst of Holy Associates. God Himself manifested His presence in an outer visible form. Even these wicked men were permitted to see this miraculous brightness which made his face appear as the face of an angel.

QUESTIONS.

• Why was Stephen able to do such great work among the people?

• If Stephen distributed alms what opportunity gave it to him for greater work?

• In what synagogues arose the opposition to Stephen?

  (1) Libertines—the synagogue for foreign Jews, who were Roman captives, and had been set at liberty by their captors. " Tacitus speaks of 10,000 Libertine Jews."

  (2) Cyrenians—immigrants from Cyrene, on the north of Africa.

  (3) Alexandrians—Jews from the city of Alexandria, in northern Egypt, near the Mediterranean Sea.

  (4) Cilicia—province of Asia Minor, with Tarsus as its capital. Saul, no doubt, was a member of this synagogue, as he was born at Tarsus, and was the disciple of Gamaliel, and one of the most active opposers.

  (5) Asia—a Roman province, of Asia Minor, with Ephesus as its capital.

• Why did these foreign-born Jews oppose the teaching of Stephen?

  Because they were under special teachers, who taught that the tradition of the elders was of equal importance with the inspired Word of God.

• How did they secure false witnesses?

• Who stirred up the common people?

  This is the first opposition noted coming from the common people. The Jewish rulers, at different times, desired to do with the Apostles what is here done with Stephen, but they feared the people.

• What were the two charges against Stephen?

• What shows Stephen's real contrast with that of his accusers?

3. STEPHEN'S SERMON.—Acts 7:1-53.

(1) Age of Abraham.—Acts 7:1-8.

(1) And the high priest said, Are these things so? (2) And he said,

Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, (3) and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. (4) Then came he out of the land of the Chaldasans, and dwelt in Haran:and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell:(5) and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. (6) And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill, four hundred years. (7) And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God:and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. (8) And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

Stephen's sermon can only be understood when the charges made against him are kept in mind. Stephen, in the face of this bitter opposition, is true to the Holy Spirit, who directs his defense, and the Old Testament, from which he gathers proof of his innocence, and the guilt of those who made the charge. He begins his sermon with Abraham, the great father of the nation. The God of glory appeared unto Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he received his call at Haran. This glory that appeared unto Abraham, Stephen himself experienced when his testimony was finished before these Jewish rulers and the Lord Himself appeared unto him in glory. God had called him out of the land of idolatry and Abraham had gone forth in faith, and God led him into the land of Canaan. He himself received not the inheritance, only by promise. He did not get into this promised land for a day, a month, or a year. The covenant of circumcision was not given him until nearly the close of his days.

QUESTIONS.

• Who was the presiding officer of the Sanhedrim?

• State clearly the charge made against Stephen.

• How did Stephen address his hearers?

• Where, when, and how often was Abraham called?

• How many years was he in bondage?

  The period of four hundred years is taken by Stephen from Gen. 15:13 as the time during which the seed of Abraham sojourned, not including the thirty years of his own sojourn before the birth of Isaac. The time of actual sojourn from the call of Abraham from Ur of Chaldees to exodus from Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.

(2) The Age of Joseph.—Acts 7:9-16.

(9) And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and 'God was with him, (10) and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. (11) Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction:and our fathers found no sustenance. (12) But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time. (13) And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's race became manifest unto Pharaoh. (14) And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. (15) And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers; (16) and they were carried over into Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor (Gr. Emmor) in Shechem.

When Joseph's brothers through envy sold him, God was with him. It was God who delivered him out of all of his afflictions. And by Joseph's faithfulness and God's favor, he became the governor of the land of Egypt. It was not until Joseph was made governor of Egypt that the family had increased to seventy-five and were invited to dwell in the land of Egypt, and receive blessings and favors from him whom they had sold. At this time the promised land was only theirs by anticipation, and they still bought land in which to be buried.

QUESTIONS.

• Who sold Joseph and why?

• Recite the story of Joseph dealing with his brethren when they came to Egypt to buy corn.

• Whom did Joseph save?

• Who were included in the seventy-five?

• Where was Jacob buried?

• Who bought the sepulchre from the sons of Hamor? (Gen. 33:19-20.)

(3) Age of Moses.—Acts 7:17-43.

a. The First Period.—Acts 7:17-28.

(17) But as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, (18) till there arose another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. (19) The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live. (20) At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father's house:(21) and when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. (22) And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works. (23) But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. (24) And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian:(25) and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance (or salvation); but they understood not. (26) And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? (27) But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? (28) Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?

In Moses these people boasted eternally. He is their great lawgiver and the one to whom they point as the deliverer from the Egyptian bondage. What was his experience when he came first to his own people to deliver them? They rejected him. Thus, when the time drew near for the delivery from bondage, the people were not ready for it, and had to wait forty years, during Moses' sojourn at Mount Sinai.

QUESTIONS.

• Where did Moses spend the first forty years of his life?

• Why did the King of Egypt not know Joseph?

• What was the purpose of destroying the male children?

• Give story of Moses being kept before Pharaoh's daughter took him.

• Where did Moses get his education?

• What was his early religious training?

• Why did Israel not recognize Moses as the deliverer?

b. Moses' Second Period.—Acts 7:29-34.

(29) And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. (30) And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. (31) And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord, (32) I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold (33) And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (34) I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

Moses had to flee into a strange land and be among strangers for forty years. After his forty years' stay the Angel of the Lord appeared to him. Although Moses had been rejected as their deliverer, God had appointed him to the very office which they refused him. God knew the condition of the people in bondage and also knew of the people's rejection, and God meant to deliver them through Moses, their leader.

QUESTIONS.

• Give history of the second forty years while Moses was in Midian.

• Why did Moses flee when he was to be deliverer?

  The people were not ready to be delivered, and while Moses had intellectual culture, he was in need of forty years' schooling in the wilderness, with God as his Teacher.

• What did Moses hear at the burning bush?

• Does God know when his children are persecuted?

• Who really delivered the children of Israel?

c. The Third Period.—Acts 7:35-41.

(35) This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer (Gr. redeemer) with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush. (36) This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. (37) This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. (38) This is he that was in the church (or, congregation) in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:(39) to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, (40) saying unto Aaron, Make us gods that shall go before us:for as for this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. (41) And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.

God appointed Moses to deliver the people, and he brought them forth after showing many wonders in Egypt and in the wilderness. After this wonderful deliverance, the march to Mount Sinai, giving of the law, they rejected Moses after he had accomplished the main part of their deliverance. Although they rejected Moses, God made it possible for him to complete the deliverance which he had begun.

QUESTIONS.

What did Moses do during the third period of his life? When did they refuse Moses as their deliverer? Who was the prophet like unto Moses?

Stephen showed it was right to be true to the teaching of Moses, and therefore they should also be true to the Prophet who was to be like Moses—Jesus whom they crucified.

Why did the fathers not obey Moses?

The hearers of Stephen accused him ot speaking against Moses and the law, and he showed how their fathers had treated Moses.

d. God's Final Rejection of Israel.—Acts 7:42-43.

(42) But God turned, and gave them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, (Amos 5:25 ff) Did ye offer unto me slain beasts and sacrifices Forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

(43) And ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of the god Rephan, the figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

Israel had rejected their divinely-appointed leaders and deliverers during a period of many centuries. The speaker passes over a large part of Jewish history, from the worshiping of the golden calf at Mount Sinai to the announcement of the Babylonian captivity by the prophet Amos.

QUESTIONS.

• Why did God turn from His people?

• Give the quotations from the book of Amos.

• What offerings are acceptable to God?

• What did they worship instead of God?

  The Jews had many idols, and here Stephen is defending himself because many of the Jews had become such strict ritualists that they were worshiping the temple instead of God, who cannot be confined in any temple made by man's hand.

(4) The Tabernacle and Temple.—Acts 7:44-50.

(44) Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he appointed who spake unto Moses, that he should make it according to the figure that he had seen. (45) Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua (Gr. Jesus) when they entered on the possession of the nations (or, Gentiles), that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; (46) who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. (47) But Solomon built him a house. (48) Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet,

(49) (Isa. 66:1 f ) The heaven is my throne, and the earth the footstool of my feet: what manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

(50) Did not my hand make all these things?

Stephen now takes up the charge of speaking for the purpose of destroying the temple. He first speaks to them about the movable building, known as the tabernacle, and of its perishable nature; this tabernacle was superseded by the temple. David desired to build this temple, but it was not built by him but by his son Solomon. But the Most High dwells not in places made by hands. Solomon himself had made this declaration. The temple, great as it was, could not be great enough to contain the living God; the building made with hands could not contain Him who has made by His own Hand all things.

QUESTIONS.

• When was the tabernacle built?

• How did the Jews know how to build it?

• When did the people first have a fixed place of worship?

  When the Jews were on their way from Egypt to Palestine, the tabernacle was built, but it was a movable house.

• Where is the Lord's dwelling place?

  God has a higher dwelling place than a temple made with hands. So man has a higher dwelling place than the temple (the body) that must perish.

(5) The Application.—Acts 7:51-53.

(51) Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

(52) Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers;

(53) ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.

Stephen has shown to his hearers these four special things that are proof of his innocence, and shows their own guilt. God's dealings with His people show constant progress. Abraham did not get into the promised land immediately. It took a number of years from the time Joseph was sold until he was governor of Egypt. Stephen is a live religious wire, and therefore believes in progress. The people to whom he is talking are dead and cannot be moved. The second thing that he teaches them is that the temple is not exclusively holy. Of all the good things to which Stephen points, Israel does not possess one part from the heathen land, except the temple, and that, we know, was not large enough to make God's absolute abiding place. Wherever God is, there is His sanctuary. If God goes to the Gentiles now, that will make them acceptable. The third thing he had taught, that invariably Israel rejected the deliverers sent, suffered a while in consequence, and then accepted that very deliverance afterwards. Joseph was sold by his brethren; later they accepted him as their deliverer.

Moses came to deliver his people, and they rejected him the first time. God sent him the second time, and Moses led them forth into the wilderness. The people again deserted his guidance until Joshua led them into their possession. The lesson in all this is very evident. The Jews now by their opposition rejected not Moses or Joseph, but Jesus who is the Deliverer sent them by their Father. He charged the nation with their long-continued crime—its murder of the Just One.

QUESTIONS.

• What did he call his hearers?

• Whom did they imitate?

• Give chief points in the application.

  Joseph, the Divinely-selected savior of his brethren, had been sold by those brethren into slavery. Moses, the Divinely selected deliverer of Israel from bondage, was at first rejected by them and became a sojourner in Midian. He was sent back by the God of their fathers, to be rejected again and again, notwithstanding God's manifestations were made so that they could know him as their deliverer. The prophets met with a similar fate, and now the final Prophet, Jesus Himself, is slain by the sons of these persecuting fathers.

• How was the law received by them?

  The Jews received the Law by the disposition of angels. This put an honor on the Law and the Lawgiver, and should have increased their veneration for both. The Jews, to whom Stephen was speaking, received the Gospel by the disposition, not of angels, but of the Holy Spirit in the gift of tongues, and yet they did not receive it.

4. STEPHEN, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR.

Acts 7:54-8:4.

(1) Condemned and Executed.—Acts 7:54-60.

(54) Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. (55) But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (56) and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (57) But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; (58) and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. (59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (60) And he 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.

These bold and truthful statements had the effect of arousing the Sanhedrim to madness. They were cut to the heart, and gnashed on him with their teeth. But Stephen, full of faith and courage in his Lord, turned from the angry mob, and directed his gaze towards heaven. There he beheld the sight that gave him courage in this hour of trial, and made him bold to resist every influence of this unholy and unrighteous body. He saw the Lord, not sitting, but standing, as it were to welcome him. This vision related by Stephen increased their anger and they gave expression to their feelings in a loud cry. To show their disapproval, they stopped their ears so they might not be compelled to hear any more, and ran upon him with one accord. Stephen was dragged out of the city, and there stoned. The last moments he spent in praying for his murderers. " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And after he said this he fell asleep, and we have the name of the first martyr of the Christian church.

QUESTIONS.

• What cut the hearers to the heart?

• What did Stephen see when the hearers became angry? What was the purpose of this open Heaven and the visible Christ?

  It was designed in this crisis to give strength to faith, and so give a tone of triumph to this final testimony. It was another testimony to what Christ had foretold to the same council, " Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of God."

• Did this angry mob wait for a legal decision?

  They took the law in their own hands and the solemn Sanhedrim was turned into a mob of murderers.

• Who took care of the clothes of witnesses?

• What was Stephen's prayer when he was stoned?

• Give the prayer he gave for his enemies.

• Who was the conquering party in this victory?

  The mightiest blow against the kingdom of evil was struck by that apparent victory. The persecution that followed scattered the disciples, each one a burning and shining light, over the whole country.

(2) Progress Through Persecution.—Acts 8:1-4.

(1) And Saul was consenting unto his death.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. (2) And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. (3) But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.

(4) They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.

Saul, who was carrying forward at this time bitter opposition by way of persecution, himself consented and witnessed the stoning. The young men who stoned Stephen laid their clothes down at Saul's feet. The conduct of the Sanhedrim, however, did not meet with universal approval. There were devout men among the people who were grieved and manifested their sorrow by making great lamentations over Stephen and giving him a decent burial. These devout men were Jews and not believers. Every effort had been made to check the progress of the growth of the church by the opposition to the truth so earnestly preached by the leaders of that body. They have now an example in the death of Stephen, what the devoted follower of Jesus will do. This persecution had not stopped the good work of the church. Hitherto the Gospel seemed to have been preached only by a few, and now the followers of Jesus are scattered abroad and in many places Jesus Christ is held up as the Light of the world.

QUESTIONS.

• Who was consenting unto his death?

• Who was the leader in the persecution?

• What is said about Stephen's burial?

• Who made havoc of the church?

• What effect had it on the church in Jerusalem?

  It spread the Gospel into a new field. Every member of the church, who was active, taught the same doctrine of Stephen, and church members did not wait to be authorized to tell the story of Jesus, but were so deeply interested in the mission of the church that they went everywhere telling the story.