Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-02-18
Stephen the First
Christian Martyr
Sunday sshsol Lessen for Feb. n, iscs
Specially Arranged for This Papsr

GOLDEN TE&T.-They stoned stephen,
,hiilnz Upon God and saying Lord
Iesus. receive my spirit.".-Acts 1850.
TIME--About a. u. IS. 90. Ramsay and
Hnrnack place u earlier. % and %. Ac-
sording TO Prof. Riddle there was an In"
terregnum OF the Roman governors about
T. ID. - when plate was deposed which
made II easier for the Jewish rulers 20
put Stephen 10 death contrary to Roman
law.
PLAcE.-Jerusslem The city. the syn
agogue OF the Libertines. the council
chamber. and outside of SO. Stephens
gate opposite Gethsemane.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
I'VE now enter upon q new epoch
OF continuous development which will
lead Us without pause to Acts 1876.
|. O.. from Hebrew disciples at Jerusa-
icn 10 Greek Christians at Antioch
Rackam.
There we're two classes of Jews at
Jerusalem. THE Grecians" ". ~.
n. ". "Gfecian Jews" Hellenists.
those Jews who had settled in Greek
speaking countries, who spoke the
common Greek dialect in place Of Che
vcrnacular Aramaic current In Pales-
tine, and who would be more or less
Influenced by Greek thought and Gus
toms, and broadened to accept OF
the necessary new development OF
Christianity. Against the Hebrews"
". -. the Jews OF Palestine. who COM
posed by far the larger part OF the
church Of Jerusalem.
Between these two classes there
arose complaint and murmuring be
cause the widows Of the foreign Jews
did not receive their natural share Of
the support given to the home Jews.
And yet they needed II even more than
the widows who we're among acquain-
tances and friends.
The Difficulty Settled by the Or
rauization OF Laymen for the Work
The church elected seven men to at
tend TO this and similar duties, leav.
Ing the apostles free to give their
whole time to preaching, prayer, and
training the disciples.
The qualities required in these ON.
GERS Of the church were ID OF good re-
port. (2) full of the Holy Spirit, (3)
OF wise judgment, az full Of faith.
Character Sketch OF Stephen.
~ young man OF such original genius
and special grace that there was moth.
Ing he might not have attained to had
he. been allowed to live. His wonder.
full openness OF mind; his perfect free
dom from all the prepossessions. pre-
JUDGES, and superstitions OF his day:
HIS courage. his eloQuence, hts spot.
less character; with a certain sweet.
and at the same time majestic man.
ner, all combined to set Stephen In
the very front rank both OF service
and Of risk. He was already all but
the foremost man of his day."-Alex.
ander Whyte. Bible Characters.
2. He was a man Of power. the
power Of faith and character afame
with thu Holy Spirit
3. Ho was full OF grace. and OF
graces, and the beauty OF holiness
Grace and power do not always 20 TO.
gether. Some things are 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 con.
solaGon). But the highest characters
combine both. They that wait upon
the Lord shall renew their strength
. and the beauty OF the Lord
God shall be > upon them Pres
Mark Hopkins. Strength and Beauty.
4. The source of his power was that
he was filled with the Holy Spirit "
81. Prof. Bruce said Of Phillips
Brooks: The man Is Just n grea,
Waterman attached to the everlasting
reservoir OF Gods truth and grace and
love. and streams Of life. rs by a
heavenly gravitation. pour through
him to refresh weary souls."-Prof
A. v. q. Aliens Life Of Phillips Brooks
s. The fruits Of his power were
deeds OF healing and love. wonderful
miracles, signs" which were Gods
Endorsement OF his teachings. II Is
almost impossible 70 prove that cne's
teachings are from God, except by
deeds that only God can do-miracles
OF transformed character, or miracles
Of healing and help.
Stephens Argument OF Defense De
fore the s&nhedrim-Acts 7:I-53.
1. Stephens address Is not n direc'
but real answer to the. charges
against him.
.. His very use OF the Scriptures IL
q proof that be received them and aid
not biaspheme by repudiating them
g. He defends what the Christians
thought Of the temple by tho history
in the Bible they accepted.
4. He shows that the Jesus ne
preached was the one foretold by
Moses.
s. He shows that they who pretend.
edso uphold the law were themselves
breaiCing Il as did their fathers. whom
the prophets condemned.
saul standing by and deeply I'm.
pressed by the scene. and not long aft.
eTward changed into disciple OF
Jesus. shows how the blood OF mar.
lyss became the seed OF the church.