Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-08
(By the Teacher).

Christianity is to my mind one Of the
most remarkable events In sacred his
tory. Some commentators say that
Saul or Paul was a man who would
= naturally haye' been drawn to Jesus
and to christianity But can'ttsee 1T
that way. Paul ,,was.ia Pharf7ee7-a
member of the haughtiest,.' ,proudest,
most ibigoted sect of the'Jews: He be-.
longed !. to ring of selfish arrogant
gangsters who were determined to rule.
or$ruin and who would brook no oppo-
sition to their views Of religion no
matter what might be-, the, :sost in
putting down, opposition. at any rate
they were so cock sure, that they were:
right that they were not, amenable to
reason. Paul was leadertof that
crowd
Jesus, on, the other hand was the
first Christian and one of the plainest1
and most democratic of men. He was
a man broad and generous in his
views. He taught the doctrine Of
peace and love on the part of one for
another and affecting every man and
wpman in the; world. -,
What contrast with Saul the
Pharisee! Therefore r. maintain that
it was most remarkable that Saul
afterwardi known as Paul should yield
even to Jesus Christ.
-. Tho Scripture Lesson.
But before we go ihto any further
discussion let US read the Scripture
lesson Which describes the stoning Of
Stephen as it is found in Acts 7:54-S.
3;4; 26: .4-5,:%9-10: - .:44-, .aHu
54 When they heard these things
they were cut 10 the heart and they
gnashed on him with their teeth:
. 55. But he, being full Of the Holy
Ghost. looked up steadfastly' into hca-
ven and saw the glory of God and.
Jesus standing on the right hand Of
God.
Sc And said, Behold. l see the heav-
ems opened. and the Son. Of man
standing on the right HAND of God; ! :.
81 Then they cried out with a loud
voice and stopped their ears; and ran
upon him with one accord
IS And cast him out of the;city and
stoned him: and the witnesses lalo
down their. clothes at a14young mans
feet, whose name was saul
5e And tbey stoned Stephen, sin to
their charge. And when he had called
upon God and saying, Lord Jesus re-
ceive my spirit. 49,,
60 And he kneeled down.. and cried
with loud voice, Lord, lay not this SIN
to their charge. And when he had said
this, he fell asleep. ,s.;.i. ~ r..
death. " And. at that time; there was
great persecution against the church
which was at Jerusalem; and tney
were all scattered abroad throughout
the regions of. Judea ana Salnaaa' eA-
cept the apostles.
And deyout men carried Stephen
to his burial. and made great iamenta-
ton over him. ..,'r,. r -
AS for Saul, he made havoc OF the
church. entering into every house. sna
hahng men and women commiltea
them to prison.
2 lam verify man which am q Jew.
born in Tarsus, a city in Clllca' get
brought up in this city at the 1eeC vi
Gamaliel and taught according'to TO the
nerfect manner of the law Of the faith.
ers.| and was Jealous toward Goa, as ye
all'are this day. ~
tho death. binding and delivering into
prisons both men and women.
a NV manner of life from my YOUTH
which was at the first among mine
own nation at Jerusalem, know all the
Jews;
Z, Which knew me from the begin
ming, if they would testify. thal alter !:
the most straighteSt sect oil our reH-
zion I lived a Pharisee.
81 verify thought with myself, that
ought to do many things contrary 10
the name of Jesus OF Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in .icrusa-
1eni: and many Of the saints did SHUT
nm in prison; having received authority
from the chief priests; and when tney
were put to death, | gave my voice
against them. So
Stephen was lynched or stoned TO
death about four years after Jesus
Christ was put to: death on Calvarys
cross. Let us play on our lmaglfa-
tions here just a minute.
Stoning Of Stephen.
stephen had been teaching ana
nrca ching tn the people the story Oh
.1esus and his love. He made many
converts. The. Scrbes and Pharlsces'
over the enemies Of Jesus and Chrls-
.i.nitv. were worried. They held coun-
Gil together They went over the i'S'
of bright and influential men OF thclr
.oc+s who were bitterly opposed to Jc-
sus Finally they decided upon inc
,.onnp man Saul to work; up opposition
against Stephen, and to organize 'he
mob into n secthing. bowling mass
who like vicious bull when he sees a
,ad rae or a rat when he is cornefco'
,.ould not hesitate to kill and malm'
The young man Saul was admlrao'S
fitted for the work. nnc orator =, ''
tnorough student. and man o' "'a'
,o,rniug, q man of great physique VIII"
,.",r.1.elpd much and who knew the