Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-07

, who. as Paul. was TO become the
Lords ambassador to the Gentiles,
could have been in Jerusalem during
the ministry OF the Master, although
he evidently had returned to the city
as the rabbi of the Cilician synagogue.
and in that Office had attained such
! prominence that he was elected to the
| Sanhedrin. After The first brief per-
| Secution of the Christians made by the
priestly party on Political grounds had
| ceased the church had peace, because,
under the leadership of the Apostles, 1t
was looked upon as a purely Jewish
| sect hut Stephen, who was a recog-
nized leader among the Hellenisttc
Hebrews. who had accepted Jesus as
| the Messiah and Saviour, took another
view
Stephen had much in common with
Saul for they were both probably
Cilician Jews. but in the open forum for
religious discussion in the synagogue,
where Saul served as rabbi. the two
had evidently FLASHED over Stephens
Interpretation of the Scriptures. eSpe-
cially the prophetical teachings con-
corning the Messiah. which Stephen
had insisted were fulfilled in the life
of the Risen Christ. 1t may have been
such a debate with Saul that brought
about the arrest and trial of the first
deacon of the Jerusalem Church. In
all probability Saul. who was not
man to compromise. recognized the
danger that Judaism faced from the
new faith. which Stephen presented
with all his charm and power in his
disputes in the synagogue Of Ctlicia and
with such force of logic and oratorical
power that his opponents were not
able to resist the wisdom and the spirit
by which he spoke Although the wit
nesses are said to have been false and
hired TO swear against Stephen, their
testimony contained an element OF
truth Saul may have misunderstood
the eloquent deacon. for he backed up
the accusation against Stephen, whose
interpretations of the teachings OF
Jesus gave to the new faith a wider
field of action and made it a separate
faith from Judaism
Stephens Defense.
The face of the prisoner shone with
the glory of an angei of God when ne
faced the supreme court of the nation
The 10 men of distinction did not
awe him. Stephen knew that they had
1t in their power to declare him guilty
of the charges read He could have
secured his freedom easily when he
was asked 10 plead to the charges
against him by the high priest. who
asked him Are these things SOP" He
did not think Of his freedom. He recog-
nized an opportunity to present the
gospel of Jesus Christ. The aggressive,
fearless. champion of Christ made
defense that gripped Saul. He recalled
the words of Stephens defense and.
without doubt, We are indebted TO him
for giving to Luke the account OF that
trial.
In his defense. which is without an
equal in the records of the Scriptures,
Stephen delivered an address which
was more than maSsing OF facts oil
Jewish history. for 1t is in reallty
masterpiece of legal pleading. In his
preaching Stephen had taken the posi-
ton that religious life was not to center
about the city of Jerusalem and the
temple as it had and, therefore. he was
accused of teaching that Jesus would |
overthrow the temple and the Mosaic /
regime. He had chompioned the posi- |
ton taken by Christ in His talk with |
the woman OF Sam3ria at the well oil /
Sychar. Jesus declared the Magma
Charta of religious freedom when He
announced the great principle tnat
God is a spirit; and that they that
worship Him must worship In spirit
and truth" Stephen considered tnal
this was a vital point of difference pc
tween Judaism and Christianity. me
current anticipation OF the MESSIAH
was that He would restore the natlons
glory bv making Jerusalem the head
ma rters and the temple the center OF
worship. whereas Christ actually elimi.
mated them as essential factors OF
spiritual worship.
Stephen selected his facts and pre-
sented them In such manner that tney
were an historical application OF the
narable of the vineyard and the nus
bandmen. He presented the great
enochs of the nations history, every
one of which his opponents must ac-
cent but the logical inference estao-
lisfed his contention. He reviewed the
whole history of Israel from the Gays
of Abraham to the cTuciflx1on OF Jesus,
and showed clearly in every age tnat
the nation had been an unbelieving
ana rebellious people. His references
are to Gods presence and FAVOR apart
from Jerusalem and the temple. and
when he does come to the temple, ne
AT once quotes from Isaiah words that
sustained his position.
Probably it was at this point that
they saw the force and recognized the
aim of his argument. Realizing that
they could not hold their own against
him for he had assailed their position
with their own weapons, they mace
demonstration not recorded in the les
son, This led Stephen 10 bring ms
argument to an abrupt close ana I'd
utter in his last words a vehement pro-
tea which aroused them TO a perfect
NTH Of frenzy: "Ye stiff -necked and
i,ncircumcized in heart and ears. We 90
always resist the Holy Ghost: as your
fathers did. so do ye." The effect upon
the council and the multitude VINO nad
assembled resulted in their hearts being
"Sawy1 asllnder" and they gnashe0 on
him With their teeth" Their Dent-np
wrath was loosened by Stephens state
rnent OF hts vision of seeing the heaven
opened so that he saw the glory OF God
an Jesus. whom Stephen cnargeo tnst
they had killed, standing upon the rlgnt
hand of God" They either had TO re-
nent and confess their error In reference
In Christ or order Stephen stoned TO
death. They issued his death sentence.
which was carried out. probably upon
the same spot where Christ had been
cruc!ffsd. His death was the act OF
mob not the execution OF a ludlcial
court Among the witnesses VINO
watched Stephen being slain was
Saul. who had charge Of the clothes
Of the Slayers. He was impressed by
the prayer offered by the martyr NO
parallel 10 his petition can be iound
out of Christian history. His plea that
the Lord should not lay Their slh
TO their charge gripped saul. VINO
started his crusade against the church
!. in an effort tn silence his conscience.
Saul the Prosecutor.
A furious persecution broke out IN
Jerusalem under the leadership OF Saul.
He was OF the opinion that ne was
doing Gods service. He desired 70
BIBLE STUDENTS.
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