The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-02-17

Feb. 81. Stephen the First Chris
rtian Martyr. Acts 6:s-15: 1854; 8:3.
The lesson for this date is still con-
sidering the history of the Christian
church in the first few months and
years after Christ assembled into hea-
ven. We have seen in recent lessons
how Peter and John preached the new
gospel bravely before the people,
how very many were converted, how
some Of these who were able. put
their property in a common treasury
so that all might have food and nee
essities of life. Common sense tells
US that the work of seeing the help
was properly given out, would be
burdensome to the leading apostles.
and it was natural there would be dis
satisfaction in the distribution. All
this occurred. and so the apostles
called the converts together and ex-
planned that it was best to have some
of their number take charge of the
distribution of aid. This was agreed
70 and seven men "full of the Holy
Ghost and WISDOM were chosen to
have this work in hand. The leading
man of this groupe was Stephen "a
man full of faith and the Holy Ghost. -
Stephen Immediately came to the
front as leader. He had the power
to do miracles, and it was not long
before his activities brought him to.
the attention of the men who did not
want the new religion to spread.
When it came to disputing with him
none could resist his arguments. and
so to make case against him. men
were hired to witness that he had
spoken "Blaspnemous words against
Moses and against God'' According
to the law of Moses it was ALLOW able
to take one out of the city and stone
him to death if he "blasphemed. I"
Before this was done Stephen was
given chance to defend himself. As
he stood before the council the record
says his face was as that of an
angel. We will not here go in to the
words of defense of himself which he
made. except to say that he began
with Abraham and wildly set forth
the history of the Children of Israel
from that time d,wn. showing how
God had led alls cared for them.
After presenting this grand. magni-
ficent picture of what God had done
for the ancestors of the people who
stood before him, and it coming to
his mind how that through it all those
having His care had rebelled. grum-
bled. were defiant, and now Jesus
was spitefully treated and crucitied.
the Indignation of Stephen broke
forth, and he denounced them, ex
claiming "Ye stiff necked and uncir-
cumcised in heart ana ears, ye d. al
ways resist the Holy Ghost. ~ your
fathers did, 80 do We. Which of the
prophets have your fathers not Parse
cuted and they have slain them ~Ah.a
showed before of the coming of the
just One (Jesus), Of whom you have
now become the betrayers and muir
derers." His hearers were cut to
the heart. and they rushed him out of
the city and quickly stoned him to
death.
But what death! Aside from the
record of the death of Jesus on the
cross there is nothing like it in the
bible. 1t was the triumphant death
of the christian. 1t was the death
you and / want to die. Stephen
looked up and saw the face of the
blessed Jesus and cried, "Lord
Jesus receive my spirit. He
kneeled down and called out. "Lord
lay not this sin to their charge"
and then "fell asleep" What y
grand setting forth of the historic
scene. Not word left out, yet
all there. Stephen forgave his
enemies and murderers, as did Jesus
and triumphantly went to heaven.