The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-03-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles K. Meyers.

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son; Seth Calderwood, West Side.
supsrintsndsnts
Elementary Grades ....... ........
s......... Miss Susie Craft. Denisor
Secondary Grade ...................
$3.50. Miss Florence johnson, Kiror
Adult Department .................
....... Mrs. i. l.. Hoffman, Dsnison
Teacher Training ...................
Rev A. =. Adams, Dow City
Temperance observation-disclosures.
$3.50. Miss Minetta JorGensen, Vail
Missions. Mrs. Anna Williams, Denison
Home Department ..................
.......... Mrs. T.. w. Pierce. Denison
March 5--Death of Stcphq.-Acts
Z, to s, 3.
We have for our lesson this week a
description of one of the most remark
able scenes Of the New Testament. !,
is only exceeded in Importance and
dramatic effect by the word painting
for lis of the death Of the Savior on the
cross. The death OF Stephen, the first
christian martyr, will ever stand to
the forefront as shining evidence OF
the power of the gospel, we profess, to
fire the brain of worthy believer to
fearlessly proclaim the truth; that
such can face death with confidence.
extend forgiveness to his murderers
as did his Master, and the manner in
which follower Of Jesus will be re-
ceived into heaven.
a loo.
son of last week that one OF the men
selected to be helpers to the apostles
in the distribution of funds and goods
from the common store was Stephen
1t would appear from the record that
he was singularly fine. capable man.
Like Saul Of Tarsus, he must have
been possessed of thorough educa-
ton in the history of the Children OF
Israel, and Of the intelligence to read
its lessons Alright in the light of pres
ent conditions about him. The record
says that Stephen was full Of faith and
power and did great wonders and mir
acles among the people. The best
Jewish scholars Of the day undertook
to dispute with him, but were not able
to resist the wisdom and spirit with
which he spoke.
The Jewish authorities soon saw
that such champion OF the gospel OF
Jesus must be silenced, either by over
argument or death. They entered into
the same plan which they used when
unable by direct testimony to hnd
cause for death against Jesus-hlred
false witnesses to appear against nm.
He was brought before >the Jewish
council and after the witnesses had
spoken, Stephen was asked to DEFEND
himself. The record says as lie arose
to speak his face was illumined as
ii it had been the face OF an angel.
The defense of Stephen spoken that
day is one of the masterpieces OF the
bible. He began by going to the very
foundations of the history of Gods
people, even the days before Abraham
was called. He showed the hand OF
God in Jewish history in the careers
of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,
and Moses. When Moses was ready to
undertake leadership before his flight
to the desert his Jewish fellow slaves
rejected him and caused him to leave
tile country Under the final leader
shin of Moses, when he was Gods in
strument in the wilderness, the Jews
were constantly complaining to him,
ready to revolt from his directions
waited to be taken back to Egypt.
urged Aaron to make the golden eau
and then worshiped it IN the very
days when mamma was falling every
morning from heaven, sent by Cod to
feed them. Stephen reminded his
hearers that Moses, as recorded in
Deuteronomy 1915, foretold that Goa
would raise UP prophet and unto
him The Jews should harken. In due
time they were not satisfied with the
government provided by God, rcbellcd
over the leadership Of Samuel and de-
manded king. A temple was built
in Jerusalem but this did not mean
that only was God present in that
structure. This statement was MADE
MS argument against the idea that on.
" in the Jewish way and place couia
God DO worshiped.
Finally the indignation OF Stephen
over the way the favored Jews had
ever stood against the policies OF COD
toward them, blazed forth in terrible
arraignmcnt, which charged that the
Jews had ever been stitf neckea' al
ways ready 10 TeSlSI lHo 1Ao'S N'
always ready to browbeat His prophets
Of old, would not hear to their profit
The prophecies of the coming Messiah'
and now in due time were the murder
ers of the lust One, they had been
given theft word by angels any Kept
it not.
This terrific arraignment Of the
faithiessness of the Jews OF old ana
down to their very time enraged the
hearers Of Stephen to white heat.
They were cut to the heart and in their
rage, rushed upon him with murder
in heart. Their intended victim was
not afraid; He looked upward and saw
the glory of God and then called out:
81 see the heavens opened, and the
Son of man standing on the right hand
of God" To declare that the one whom
they had crucified on the cross was
now at the right hand Of God was
more than the Jews present at the
trial could stand, and With one accord
they rushed upon him, carried him out
of the city, so to comply with their
sacred law, while violating 1t in the
spirit, and killed him with stones.
Note the death OF the first christian
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