Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-07
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.
Mar ls: The First Clrstiln lrtyr-Acts 6:ji'0 an'
IA


departure from e,rth that the time was
coming when men would think that they
were doing Gods pleasure in staying
them This lesson brings us to the frs,
recorded fuillment of this declaration
The effect of Stephens address was such
rs TO fill the hearts of the council with
most fiendish rage. He did not attempt
to make any real defence of himself, but
recalled the leading facts of Jewish his
try in such way as to give prominence
to the perversity and folly of that people.
Joseph's brethren envied and in their
hearts slew their brot1er. whom God
preserved to be their deliverer. The
Israelites rejected Moses, their Col
appointed leader, and many times turned
back to idols and to bondage. This
perverser ess had been perpetuated and had
eliminated in the murder of the Son of
Man, the only Savior. Stephen appears
to have given over all hope OF saving
himself; and determined to use his last
opportunity in showing his people the
enormity of their crimes. The truth had
keen edge. They were "cut to the
heart" The word indicates a cleaving
asunder rs with saw. The truth pro
diced Il very harsh wound upon them. 1t
does always upon the heart bent on sin.
So violent was their anger that, like
beasts, they gnashed with their teeth in
their rage.
But while the assembled council was
thrown into such passion, Stephen was
calm and full of the holy ghost. Notice
how often this is repeated respecting him.
The disciples did not fail to honor the
Spirit.
Stephen was thls unmoved by what was
transpiring about him because he was
looking seadfstly up into heaven. The
smiles of friends Or the gnashing of enc
mics produce little effect upon the man
who has his eyes rned persistenty
toward God. 1t was not II vain thing that
Stephen directed his gaze heavenward
He saw, and instantly without thought of
his surroundings he reported what he saw
10 him the heavens seemed cleft asuuder,
and through the opening he saw the glory
of God and Jesus standing on tie right
hand of God. He who follows Jesus in
the way of duty. the way of suffering, will
surely have some visions of the present
glory and majesty of the Master he follows.
When the council heard him speak OF
and heard the declaration that Jesus,
whom they despised, was now iu the place
of honor and power at the Fathers right
hand, their an ,er could be no longer
restrained. Their corduct Is most extra.
ordinary. From being, in form at least,
grave tribunal sitting to judge in the
most important matters, they become a
furious mob without candor, order ol
restraint. They became indeed trans
formed into furious beasts, and ran upon
their victim as though eager only for his
death. 1t has been supposed by many
t'lat their action is represented as n little
more precipitous than it really was. Some
have thonght that hasty vote was taken
in the council, and Stephen adjudged
guilty of basphemy. The punishment
was certainly that prescribed for lasphe
my, see Lev. "a: IA, but it may be doubted
whether any show of orderly proceedings
was maintained. Notice that the first
martyrs died under the same accusation
brought against the Master, and the tenn
per of the council was quite the same in
the two cases.
The fact of Saul's connection with the
shameless procedure is mentioned because
Of wish to introduce him as early as
may be 10 the reader of the Acts. TIL,
character which aferward became 81
eminent in the work of the Lord her,
appears among his enemies. The tern
young man has been before considered il
these notes. 1t docs not imply that a
this time Saul was a youth in our sense O
the term. At his feet those who were tt
cast the first stones, the witnesses of th,
blasphemy, laid down their garments
They were removed to give unimpedec
action to the body, and left in the hand
of Saul for safe keeping. After the wit
nesses had cast the first stones then al
the multitude were allowed to stone th,
condemned person.
While they were casting stones in rag,
at their innocent victim, he was calling
upon Jesus 10 receive his spirit. A the
Master commended his spirit to the Fathe
when dying on tho cross, SO Stepher
commits bis spirit TO Jesus as to God
with voice that could be heard abov,
the tumult of his enemies he prayed "Lort
lay not this sin to their charge" This il
almost identical with the prayer of Jesu
for his foes; Father forgive them fo
they know not what they do" Whethe
either prayer was ever answered may b,
matter of question, but the spirit whicl
prompted them is the true test of disciple
ship; love for all even for enemies. The
death of Stephen is remarkable in many
ways. lie came to his cruel agony will
such marked composure. He died with .
prayer for his murderers upon his lips
lie died upon his knees, and in such per
feet quiet as that it is said he fell asleep
Jesus greatly magnlfed his saving power
In the case of this his first martyr. Som,
have even supposed that the ordnar,
sense of pain was removed, The be,te
explanation of his peaceful death is tha
the spiritual nature so far asserted it
supremacy over the physical at that time
tha, pain of body was forgotten in tn,
rlptures of the soul blest with a vision o
the glory that is above the throne.
The death of Stephen was a signal fo
general persecution of the believers il
Jesus, and it would appear that those whc
hld been lingering at Jerusalem nov
made haste to return to their forme