The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-15

( 2
The Arrest of stephcn-Acts vi. LIS
sCtolden Text-Fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul.
Matt. x. %. e
The storm we considered last week did
not in any degree injure the young oak
against which it beat, but only made it strike
more fully established in it's place. When 1t
had spent its fury,-like the storm on the Sea
of Galilee which Jesus rebuked, -"the wind
ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark
w., 39). How long this calm continued we are
not informed. We are only told that Sin
days the q the E DISCIPLES s1 les
they were 'multplying" even whilst the
storm was raging. And not only were they
multiplied CA W but after it they were
in a position to be made stronger and more
united by a better and more systematic or
ganization.N
The number of the disciples had probably
at this time increased ITO at least ten thou
sand, three thousand at one time iii, fl
Five thousand at another sGy.,N and "mul-
titudes of both men and women at another
~, la. 1t was very essential, therefore, that
definite provision should now be made for
the administration of their affairs.
This great company of disciples was made
Jews by birth and were jewellers in Je-
rusalem. Some were Jews who had their
homes in foreign lands And some were not
Jews at all by birth, but had become such
by adoption as proselytes, and were for for
eigners. Those who were born in Jerusalem,
or in some HOtherS part Of Judea,q as a class,
were poor and needed often to be helped by
contributions from their brethren dwelling il
foreign lands (Rom., XIV, 28). They spoke the
common Aramaic Hebrew of Judea, and hence
were called Hebrews
The foreign Jews, or Jews born or living
outside OF Judea, were, as q rule, more active
and progressive than those who had remained
lin Judea. They had gone out in various fd-
rections to seek their fortunes, and as a body
they had prospered in7worldly things: In
their ordinary intercourse they used the
Greek language of the colonies in which they
had settled. Hence they were called Gre
clans. They were also sometimes known
as "Hellenists,'' because the ancient name
of Greece was "Hellas.' $500
These two classes were separated from each
other widely net only by their differences in
language and residence, but far more SO by
differences in their religious opinions. The
"Grecians," under the influence of Greek civ
ilization and customs, were speculative, philo-
sophical and liberal. The Hebrews on the
contrary, held tenaciously to their historic
and national traditions and to the dogmatism
OF their rabbis.
Besides the necessity Of meeting these differ
zences in language and opinions, many diff
culties* were also undoubtedly encountered
in commissioning the ordinary secular affairs
corded, is strong evidence that a very beauti-
full Christian spirit animated all. One Of
these dif1cultiesIis brought before us in this
lesson. ss
AS we have already seen,s very many of this
large company were from the poorer classes
Of the community, OF We're impoverished by
the stand they had taken when joining it.
This condition on their part awakened spirit
of great l1bera1ity on the part Of those who
were more wealthy. It wasAa spontaneous
and voluntary liberalfty, and the receipt Of it