Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-18

Z 1keN. Z.ll.
THE SECTION includes Chapters 6 and
4 The story OF the choice Of deaeons. and
the work and martyrdom Of Stephen, who
vas one OF them, and brought into notice
By his choice TO the Office.
EXPLANATORY
l. Stephen. The First Christian Mar
Tyr. s. And Stephen:" One Of the
most active of the seven deacons was
a man named Stephen, probably Gre
clan (HeIlenistic) 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
a man of power" Grace and rover do
not always 90 together. Some things
ere beautiful, but not strong. Some
things are strong ard not beautiful
How seldom is Boanerges (son of
thunder) at the same time a Barnabas
% son of consolation). But the highest
characters combine both. He was a
man Of deeds. Did" 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.
.. Then" r. V. But. as a new diff,
| Guilty. synagogue of the Libertines:"
\ synagogue for the foreign Jews, who
! we're libertines, l. e., freed men. Roman
/ eaptives who had been made free by
| their captors and their descendants.
"Disputing with Stephen" Either l.,
public debate, or more probably in the
synagogues.
10. And they were not able:" Had
not strength Ito 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,
ard Brought Before the Sanhedrim.-
Us. Ills. II. 'Suborned:" Provided
secretly, and instructed them with false
accusations.
-. They stirred up the people:"
This is the first notice of opposition
from the people. Elders, and the
scribes:" Who could carry out the i'm
pulses of the people and We're 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. 20: 61;
Mark IA: 5s).
II. 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 its 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 Argumentin Reply:
1-53 ~ Stephen begins most gracious |
ly. (2) His appeals to the Scripture are |
themselves an answer to the charge of |
blasphemy. 60 He proves that Gods
dealings with His people showed con-
slant progress" implying that the Cos
pei was a 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. |
go He shows that the Scriptures adj |
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. ca
There is a 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 APP
plication.
V. Stephen Mobbed and Stoned TO
Death.-Ns. $3.50. 81. They were cut
to the heart" literally, they We're sawn
through, or asunder. y figurative ex-
preston for being greatly enraged, ex-
asperated. This was a very different
thing from being convicted of sin.
IS. Being full of the Holy Ghost"
The Greek 'sbeing full" implies. not a
sudden inspiration, but permanent
state. And saw the glory of Cod"
Some visible manifestation of the in
effable brightness and splenGor Of God,
such as Moses saw on Horeb, and the
apostles on Hermon. And Jesus stand
ing on the right hand Of God"
IS. And east him out of the city,"
According TO the law FIR executions
(Lev. 24:14) And stoned him" The
Jewish mode of capital punishment.
and the Witnesses" According to the
law Of Moses. the witnesses We're to
cast the first stone (Deut. 17:6, y, as
guard against making careless or I'M
just charges. .'I1aiddown theircIothes:"
Their outer garments, the cloaks or
nantes, 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 u
the Genules.
Co And he kneeled down" While
| they were stoning him. he rose up on
E, his knees. And cried with a loud
| voice" SO that his prosecutors could
hear him, and understand his spirit:
4