The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
TERNATloNAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY %.

Subject: Tie Arrest of Stephen, Acts VI,
1-15-Golden Text, Matt. z, 2S-Mem-
ory Verses, :, s-Csm,aentary on tho
Days Lesson.
l. "In those days" This phrase was
used to mark an indefinite period. In
Matt. ): ! it implies a number of years,
only few days. The events of this lesson
occ.rred just before the death of Stephen,
which was only short time before the
conversion Of Saul. "Was multiplied"
Was becoming numerous. "A murmuring."
A complaint. The ground for the COM
plaint was that partiality had been shown
in the distribution of the common fund.
9. "The twelve" The apostles. Mat
thias was now one of their number. 1t
had attended to this matter. "Called the
multitude" As soon as they were in.
formed of the complaints they immediate:
ly called the whole church together and
proposed plan by which these temporal
interests could be conserved. "Not rea.
son." 1T is not ft." R. V. It is not the
proper thing to do. "Forsake the word OF
God" (R. W To leave the higher func.
tions to which we have been called. And
serve tables" That is, to attend to the
business duties of the church.
8. "Look We out" Choose. Here we
see an organized, working church. The
allay any suspicion that they were show.
ing partiality or desired to control the af.
fairs of the church. "From among you"
(R. W That is, from among the Gre
clans and Hebrews, that there may be jus.
tice done, and no further cause of COM
plant "Seven men," Seven was a sa.
cred number among the Hebrews and de.
noted completeness.
4. Continually to prayer" The orig
inal expression here used denotes intense
and persevering application to thing, or
not live without prayer. Ministry of the
word" The preaching of the gospel. It
is by "the foolishness of preaching" that
the world is to be saved. The minister
who does not pray, much will be failure
spiritually.
S. "The saying pleased" There was no
thought of neglecting any oae, and the
whole body of the disciples rejoieed that a
remedy had been proposed: stephen"
A man in every way qualified to fill the
Office. He nobly defended the cause of the
Lord Jesus and had the h6nor Of being the
first Christian martyr; ."Philip." In chap.
Samaria, and he is probably the. same as
'Philip the evangelist" mentioned in chap.
ter 81: 8. Of the other five nothing q
known outside of this passage. Nicolas.
That Nicolas was the founder Of the sect
mentioned in Rev. 2: is conjecture
without proof.
6. "Set before the apostles" The peo-
pie chose the men, but the apostles con-
frmed the selection. This implied veto
power prayed" The apostles prayed
for these persons that they might be quail.
Gzl - ,a1, fba.y hoA
been called. '|Laid their hands" This
was a symbol of the importation of the
gifts and graces which they needed to
qualify them for their Office:
7. Increased" That is, was more
widely spread now that the apostles were
freed from secular cares, and left to give
themselves unto the ministry of the word.
The prosperity referred to- shows that per.
feet harmony had been restored. "a great
company" etc. This was the crowning
triumph of the gospel.
8. "And Stephen" Very little is
known of the, history Of Stephen, 1t is
verts on the day Of Pentecost. "Full of
grace and power" (R. W BE was filled
with the Holy Spirit and had power, ~
cles. "Did." "He was man Of deeds"
"Wonders." This is one of the words
used in the New Testament to denote mir
acles. @Miracles"-"Si Signs" r. V. "He
wrought miracles, principally, no doubt,
in cases of sickness and suffering"
g. "There arose certain" Stephen ex.
cited the envy and jealousy of the unbe-.
lieving Jews, not only by the wonders and
miracles which he wrought, and which
gifts OF knowledge and eloquence which
he employed in bearing witness for Christ.
They became excited, addressed him per.
sonally, and engaged in discussion or de-
bates with him. They were Hellenistic
Jews, and had previously known Stephen,
who was very probably a Hellenist him
self. 'Libertines" -:"Freed men" Ro-
man captives who had been given their lib.
erty. Many of these had returned to Ju-
dca and they had a synagogue OF their
own in Jerusalem. CACTUS speaks OF
10000 Libertine Jews" The Talmudists
say there were 46o synagogues in Jerpsa: :a;
city in North AFRICA, and great Jewish
colony. Numbers of Jews were settled
there, and are said by Josephus to have
been a fourth part of the inhabitants Of
the city. These Jews also had a syna,;
rogue. "Alexandrians." The Talmud
specially mentions the synagogue of the
Jews who came from Alexandra, in which
city about 100000 Jews resided. They
were the most learned Of other. their race c;
This was the Roman province in Asia Mi
nor, and not the grand division,
10. "Not able to resist" Not that they
owned that they had failed to sustain their
position, and thereby submitted to the
truth. but that they could adduce no ar
guments possessing any force in opposi-
tion to the wisdom and the Spirit where
with he spake.
II. "Suborned men" Privately brihed
and instructed. Against Moses. Ste
phen taught that the old dispensation was
in decay, and that the temple must pass
away. against God" This must, refer
to the supreme dignity and authority
which Stephen claimed for Christ; ., !,
u. "They stirred up the people" AT
this time the whole Jewish people were IN
sensitive jealousy for the honor OF the Mo-
sale institutions feelings which broke out
in constant revolts against the Roman
power. This accusation was therefore the
most likely one they could have pitched
upon to stir up ill will Caught him."
Without law or form of justice the people
and magistrates rushed on the good man,
seized him and brought him to council
that was ready for every evil work. 1.-The
council" The Sanhedrin. ~,
10. "False witnesses" Their falseness
consisted in the perverted turns which,
they gave to the words Of Stephen. ;,
Is. "All-saw his face" All eyes turned
upon Stephen. AS he had been inspired
by the Spirit in his arguments, 30 now,
in the hour of trial, the Spirit shone out
upcn his face, to testify Of his presence
within. "Of an angel. Gods people
shine brightest in severe trials.