Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-02-20

GOLDEN TEXT.-rhey stoned Stephen.
calling upon God. and saying Lord
Jesus. receive my spirit Acts Z 80
TIME--About a. y. 81. .. Ramsay and
Harnack place Il earlier. - and 81 &C
cording 20 Prof Riddle there was an in
terregnum Of the Roman governors about
a II. IS when PLATE was deposed. which
made Il easier FOR the Jewish rulers 10
put stephen TO death contrary 70 Roman
PI.ACE.-Jerusslern. The city. the syn
eEoEue OF the Iabertsnes. the council
Chamber and outside OF St Stephens
gate opposite Gethsemane.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
We now enter upon a new epoch
OF continuous development which will
lead us without pause 20 Acts n 20.
!. G. from Hebrew disciples al Jerusa-
len 70 Greek Christians at Antioch. -
Rackam.
There we're two classes OF Jews at
Jerusalem. The Grecians~ ". u.
r. v. "Grecian Jews" Heuenists.
those Jews who had settled in Greek
speaking countries. who spoke the
common Greek dialect In place OF tho
vernacular Aramaic current In Pales-
tine. and who would be more OF less
Influenced by Greek thought and Gus
toms. and broadeued TO accept OF
tho necessary new development OF
Christianity. Against the Hebrews"
". ID. the Jews OF Palestine. who com
posed by far the larger Fart OF the
church or Jerusalem.
Between these two classes there
arose a 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 Il even more than
the widows who we're among acquain-
tances and friends
- The Difficulty Settled by the Or
ganization OF T.aymen for the Work
The church elected seven men 20 at
tend TO this and similar duties. leav-
Ing the apostles free TO give their
whole time 20 preaching. prayer. and
training the disciples
The qualities required in these Off
GERS OF the church were % Of good re-
port. (2) fun OF the Holy Spirit. CD
OF wise Judgment. CD full OF faith.
Character Sketch OF Stephen.
"A young man OF such original genius
and special grace that there was moth
ing he might not have attained 10 had
he been allowed TO live. His wonder
fui openncss OF mind: his perfect free
dom from All the prcpossessions. pre-
Juiiccs, aGj superstitions OF his day:
his courage. his elOquence. his spot
less character; with a certain sweet.
and az the same time majestic man
ner. all combined 20 set Stephen in
the very front rank both OF service
and OF risk. lie was already all but
the foremost man OF his ay."-Alex-
snder Whyte. Bible Characters
2. He was man OF power. the
power OF faith and character ahame
with the Holy Spirit
3. He 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 a Barnabas Ga son OF con.
solatiOn). 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 ".
30. Prof. Bruce said OF Phillips
Brooks: The man is Just a great
Waterman attached to the everlasting
reservoir OF Gods truth and grace and
love. and streams OF life. as by a
9 heavenly gravitation. pour through
him TO refresh weary souls. PROF.
A. V. c. Aliens Life OF Phillips Brooks
5. The fruits OF mis- power were
deeds OF healing and love. wonderful
miracles, signs" which were Gods
Endorsement of his teachings. II is
almost impossible to prove that ones
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 Be
fore the Sanhedrim.-Acts 7:1-53.
!. Stephens address IS not a direct
but real answer to the charges
against him.
2. His very use of the Scriptures is
proof that he received them and did
not blaspheme by repuciating them
3. He defends what the Christians
thought of the temple by the history
IN the Bible they accepted.
4. He shows that the Jesus he
preached was the one foretold by
Moses.
5. He shows that they who pretend.
ed TO uphold the law were themselves
breaking II as did their fathers. whom
the prophets condemned.
Saul standing by and deeply i'm.
pressed by the scene. and not long aft.
erward changed into q disciple Of
Jesus. shows how the blood OF mar.
:. tyrs became the seed OF the church.
A seemingly ordinary man was con.
verified. opened his heart to receive
the Holy Spirit. and became one of
the most influential OF men. So II
may be true OF us.
Out of troublous times, difficulties
and prosecutions. as from Jacobs piI
low Of stones, there may arise q ca.h,