The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-02-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
International Lessen for February n, 1897
Tho First CAristisu Martyr - Acts
0,9.l n: 7s6l.0O.t

Tho First CASlstiau Martyr - Acts
e,s-lS; 7sB4-00.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TExT-Be thou faithful unto
death, and will give thee crown of life.-
Rev. 2:10.
THE SECTION includes Chapters and
Z. The story of the choice Of deacons. and
the work and martyrdom Of Stephen, who
was one OF them. and brought into notice
by his choice to the office.
EXPLANATORY.
/. Stephen. The First Christian Mar
tyr.-V. 8. "And Stephen:" One of the
most active of the seven deacons was
man named Stephen, probably Gre
clan (Hellenistic) Jew. He was "full
of faith" the faculty through which he
received the Holy Spirit, the power and
the character which was his. He was
man of "power." Grace and power do
not always go together. Some things
ere beautiful, but not strong. Some
things are strong and not beautiful.
How seldom is a Boanerges (son of
thunder) at the same time Barnabas
"a son of consolation)." But the highest
characters combine both. He was a
man of deeds. "Dd:" Was doing dur
ing the events just described. "Great
wonders:" Proving the power of God
that worked in and through him. "And
miracles" A sign of Gods presence
and Endorsement, and object lessons of
the loving. saving spirit of the Gospel.
II. The Public Discussion.-Vs. 9-10.
0. Them" II. V. But, as a new diff
Guilty. Synagogue Of the Libertines:"
A synagogue for the foreign Jews, who
were libertines, i. e.. freed men, Roman
captives who had been made free by
their captors and their descendants.
"Disputing with Stephen:" Either in
public debate. or more probably in the
synagogues.,
10. "And they were not able:" Had
not strength "to resist" to withstand
his Scriptural arguments that Jesus
was the Messiah. as he was inspired by
the Holy Spirit to see and to explain.
III. Stephen Accused of Blasphemy,
and Brought Before the Sanhedrim.-
VS.. Ills. II. "Suborned:" Provided
secretly. and instructed themwith false
accusations.
12. "They stirred up the peoples"
This is the first notice of opposition
scribes:" Who could carry out the inn
pulses of the people and were glad to
do it. They now no longer "feared the
people," They seized him. The Greek
expresses an act of great violence. They
grasped him roughly: hurried him off.
,"Council:" The Sanhedrim, the SUI
preme court and parliament of the ma
ton. Against this holy place." The
temple adjoining. The same charge
was made against Christ Matt. 26: 61;
Mark IA: 5S).
IA. "Shall change the customs which
Moses delivered u.s." The whole cere-
monial and theocratic dispensation,
which was now to come to an end, hav-
ing fulfilled it's mission. 1t was a
calumny, for the whole Old Testament
itself points beyond itself to Christi
anity, as the fulfilling of the law and
the prophets.
". Stephens Argument in Reply:
1-53. (D Stephen begins most gracious
ly. (2) His appeals to the Scripture are
themselves an answer to the charge of
blasphemy. (3) He proves that Goods
dealings with His people showed con-
stant progress" implying that the Cos
pei was continuation of the same plan
of progress and growth. (4) In the
historical discourse he shows that he
holds his faith in Moses and the temple.
(5) He shows that the Scriptures ad-
vocate the very principle which he as
serted, and which were perverted by
his accusers. (6) He declares that his
accusers are simply treating him as
their fathers treated the prophets. (7)
There is sudden change at verse 81,
as if the speaker had been interrupted
in his argument, and had to. leave it
unfinished. He broke off his argu-
ment and made an earnest personal ap-
plication.
v. Stephen Mobbed and Stoned to
Death.-Vs. 54-6O. 54. 'They were cut
to the heart:" literally, they were sawn
through, or asunder. A fgurative ex-
preston for being greatly enraged, ex-
asperated. This was a very different
thing from being convicted of sin.
55. Being full of the Holy Ghost: :"
The Greek ''being full" implies, not a
sudden inspiration, but permanent
state. sand saw the glory of Cod"
Some visible manifestation of the in
etfable brightness and splendor of God,
such as Moses saw on Horeb, and the
apostles Oh Hermon. "And Jesus stand
ing on the right hand of God"
SIS. "And cast him out of the city:"
According to the law for executions
Gev. 24:14.) "And stoned him." The
| Jewish mode of caDital nuniShment
"And the witnesses" According to the
| law of Moses, the witnesses were to
| cast the first stone (Deut. 1876, y, as a
guard against making careless or un-
| justcharges. Laid down their clothes" "
Their outer garments, the cloaks or
mantles, leaving on only the under gar
nent or tunic. 'At young mans feet,
! whose name was Saul" The same who
became afterwards the great apostle tt
|