Middletown transcript., 1921-07-09
l.. Saups Training as a Pharisee


Saul Prosecuting the Church.
l.. Saui's Training as a Pharisee
(Acts - :3,4; 26: :4,5).
1. Taught to love his own nation. Il
am a jew" The Pharisees were
the nationalists of their day. Those
who are intelligently loyal to their own
nation can more effectively help others.
.. Taught to love Gods law. Taught
according to the perfect manner OF the
law of the fathers" Love for the
Holy Scriptures is a valuable asset
in life. One may misinterpret it and
dangerously misapply it; but If he
has love in his heart for it there is
hone of getting him to come into right
relationship to it.
3. Was jealous toward God" The
root of the word jealous signifies
ito boil" 1t means a passion for God
and His work. 1t was zeal for God
that made Saul think of and plan
for his work. This zeal for God eX-
pressed itself in persecution OF the
Christians whom he regarded as do
ing that which was contrary to GODS
law and purpose. He spared neither
age nor sex, even to Imprisonment and
death (Acts 22:4).
u. Saul Thoroughly Conscientious
(26:9, 10Y.
In his conscientiousness he opposed
Jesus, for he regarded Him as an
ilnpostOr. Saul is to be commended
in that he responded to his conscience,
but he is to be condemned for his
attitude toward Jesus; for there w;ts
overwhelming evidence that Jesus was
Gods Son and came i'll fuliliment of
The Scriptures. The resurrection of
Christ was such an outstanding mira
cle-a proof Of the Deity of Christ,
that there was no room left for doubt.
Saul was to be blamed for mis- ig-
norance. Conscience is the law OF
lite for every man, but it should be
regulated by the Word of God.
III. Stephens Martyrdom (Acts Q:
"a; S:3).
In order to understand the signiti-
canoe of his martyrdOm we must OBJ
tain synthetic view of his life.
1. Who Stephen was GID. He
was one Of the seven who were ap-
pointed to look after the temperate
ties OF the church. A division OF the
newly formed church was averted by
the appointment of properly qualified
men to look after the distribution of
the benevolences.
,. Why Stephen was opposed (G:S-
l5). In his work he testified of Christ
and by the Holy Spirit wrought mira
cles. These mighty works aroused
the people. The following features
characterized him: (D Wisdom.
which means common sense; (2)
grace, which means beauty of charac
ter; (3) power. He had the ability
to do wonders and great signs and
speak the truth effectively. The men
of the opposing synagOgues were not
able to withstand the wisdom and
The Spirit by which he spake." They
arrested and brought him before the
great council. Even here they could
not silence him by argument, so they
decided to do ii by violence. When
the hearts of wicked men are set
against the truth, the testimony OF
Spirit-flled men only eXasperates them.
They accused him of blasphemy and
employed false witnesses to prove that
he had made an attack upon the TEN
pie.
3. Stephen stoned (7:54-6O. Before
the council he made magnificent de.
Tense. This he did by tracing the
history Of Israel from the call of Abra.
ham to the crucifiXion Of Christ. His
aim in this review was to show that
God never had been localized and that
the temple was but small part OF
Gods plan. In his address he did
not speak against the temple, but
showed that God did not in the full.
est sense dwell in it at any time. He
proved this from Scripture Elsa. 81:
1, 2; l Kings S-27). In his cOnclu
sion he declared that the Jews had
always been u stiff-necHed people, re.
sisting the Holy Spirit. and now their
stubbornness had reached it's culmina.
ton in the betrayal, rejection and
murder of the Son of God. This
charge cut to the heart. His argu-
ments were unanswerable. Being un-
willing to answer him and at the same
time to accept the truth presented,
their anger was stirred to it's highest
pitch so their only answer was stones.
They gnashed upon him as mad dog.
In this hour of trial God gave him Il
wonderful vision. He was permitted
TO see into heaven itself. and there