The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-17
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY II.
Lesson Text: "The First Christian
Martyr.'' Acts w.. S-16; VIII.
54-GO--Golden Text: Rev.
H., documentary.


8. "And Stephen full OF faith and power
did great wonders and miracles among the
people" As days passed OH and the disci.
pies increased, satan increased his zeal in
disturbing the peace. There is murmuring
because some thought they were neglected
in the daily manistration. This leads to the
appointment Of committee OF seven Spirit
filled men to see specially to the distribution
OF aims. leaving the others free to give them
selres to the word and prayer. The seven
were set apart by prayer and the laying on
OF hands. Disciples multiplied greatly, and
many priests b 'lieved. Stephen. full Of faith
and OF tho Holy Spirit, content to do the
humble work OF tn committee, was led by
the Spirit into greater things, for the humble
shall be exalted.
8, 10. sand they were not able to resist the
wisdom and the Spirit by which He spake. I"
This was in accordance with the promise OF
the Lord. II will give you mouth and
wisdom which all your adversaries shall moi
be able to Rainsay nor resist" duke xxi.
15). There Is power in the word Of God
when spoken by the Spirit Of God, even
through very weak earthen vessel, which
can be accounted for only by the fact that
God is IN His word. and it is the same word
by which he made the heavens and all their
host (Ps. xxxiii., g.. His word is like a fire
and hammer to break ro,ks In pieces. He
that hath il. let him speak it faithfully Ger.
xxxiii., %, 2g.
II, H. 1--WE have heard him speak BIAS
phemous words against Moses and against
God" Tho things that are farthest from
onr thoughts, and that We would be most
unlikely to be guilty of, are just those which
the devil through his agents Ia apt to accuse
US Of. Think OF his calling Christ glutton.
and Of his accusing Him of being in league
with himself, and of His being crucified as
an evildoer. Imagine Stephen, filled with
the Spirit OF God, being guilty of blasphem-
ing God. Yet Christ was accused of the
same. When such treatment comes our way,
let us be ,hankfulfor fellowship with Christ
q Pet. H., 20). =
13, IA. eve have heard him say that this
Jesus Of Nazareth shall destroy this place"
Such was some of the testimony which the
false witnesses bore against Stephen. The
false witnesses said of Christ that He said He
was able to destroy the temple OF God and
build it in three days (Matb. xvi. 61).
Is. 'And all that sat in the council, look.
ing steaifastly on him, saw his face rs 1t had
been the face Of an angel" His Lord was
with him and In him and made something OF
His glory to be seen In him. Perhaps 1t was
something as when the lace Of Moses so
him (EX. xXxiv., so, 35).
Chapter VIII, "a. "When they heard these
things, they were cut to the heat, and
they gnashed on him with their teeth"
When the false witnesses made their false
accusation, the high priest said TO Stephen.
"Are these things so?' (vil., y. In reply to
this he began at the appearance OF God to
Abraham and traced the goodness Of God to
Israel down to David and Solomon; then
1,,%l ott - &Iav
the prophets, and OK the murder Of Christ,
and Of not keeping the law OF God. This
cut them AMI led to their gnashing their
teeth at Stephen.
IS. "But he, being full OF the Holy Ghost,
looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw
the glory OF God and Jesus standing on the
right hand OF God" Thus he was III m oved
by their anger and needed not leir IN ;sh-
ing teeth. The way OF peace Is TO sec Jesus
only and always. Look sieadfastly upward
and never within nor around. See lisa. Kill,
10, r. V. margin. Jesus at Gods right
hand for US, and the glory which awaits
rs are enough TO lift US above all the
things we see.
Sc. sand said. Behold see the heavens
opened and the Son of Man standing on the
right hand of God" Heaven opened al.
ways show. US Christ or His church either
In glory or trlbulation. The phrase is found
only seven times in Scripture, the other six
places being in the following chapters: Eek.
l., Math. ill.,. John j., Acts x, Rev. iv. and
xix. We are saved by beholding Jesus
Christ rs the Lamb OF God taking away our
sins. We run with patience and grow in
grace only Rs we look constantly to Him,
and when We see Him as He is we shall then
be forever like Him (John l., 20; Heb. xiii,
!, 2: II Cor. ill.,, 18; John iii..2).
tApd tho puitpacqoo lnid dopup
their clothes at young mans feet, whose
name was Saul" This Is our ilrst introduc-
tion to one who figures so large y in the rest
of this book and in most OF the ep1stles to
the churches. How little he dreamed that
day as He minded the clothes OF those who
stoned Stephen that he would ever be q
most devoted follower of Him whom
Stephen said he saw at Gods right hand!
In after days he must often have thought o.
this day and its events. God hail a plan for
him to be revealed in duo time. See Isa.
xlvi., 9, 10; Gal: l., Is, Is. Iu His own way
and IN His own time God tumbled Saul and
brought him to Himself. Doubtless Steph-
ems testimony had something to do with it.
SO. And they stoned Stephen, calling
upon God and saying, Lord jesus, receive
my spirit" In Ps. XXI, 5, it is written.
"Into Thine hand l commend my spirit"
These very words said Jesus to His Father
whom He died on Calvary, and similar words
says Stephen as he dies. 1t is asked. Where
is the spirit after death2 Jesus's Spirit-that
Is, Jesus Hiiuself out OF the body-was with
the Father. Stephens spirit-that is. Step
hen himself out OF his body-was with the
Lord Jesus in glory. Jesus taught in Luke
XVII. 22-28, the conscious existence OF those
who pass out Of the body by death. The
same is clearly taught in Rev. vi. gil. and
in Phil. l.. 81, %; II Cor. ". 8. The body
sleeps, but not the soul. The uon-existence
OF a person between death and resurrection
or the annihlatlon OF the wicked is not
taught In the Scriptures and cannot be
taught from them without violent peryersion
of these passages.
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" Here is the Spirit OF the Lord
Jesus, who said concerning His murderers,
"Father forgive them, for they know not
what they do" Guke xiii, 34). Stephen
then went out to be with his Lord. and his
body slept. Paul himself was afterward
stoned 10 death and left for dead. But as
to his spirit willie his body slept or lay dead,
see II Cor. xiii, IA. May Paul's motto he
ours. "Christ shall bo magnifled In my body,
whether it be by life or by death" (Phil. j.,
2O).--Lesson Helper.