Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-06
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh r. Stevenson

all spiritual weapons They turned
to persecution and force. They had
perjurers swear falsely against the
champion OF the Christian faith. His
arrest quickly followed and he was q
prisoner before the Sanhedrin.
The Eloquent Prisoner.
Stephens personality appeared In his
face, that was transfigured before the
court, fillipg oil with awe, as they saw
the marvellous transformation OF the
prisoners face until 1t appeared to be
that OF an angel. No one can read
that adroit and skillful defense OF
Stephen without realizing that there
must have been given to him help from
above to answer the charges, that he
did In his impromptu address. He
grippsd the court by his mastery re-
cital Of jewish history from Abraham
to Solomon with philosophic grasp and
spiritual insight" He criticized their
materialistic' religion, tracing through
an the changes s.of Hebrew history a
divine progress that indicated Chris
tlanity was an accomplished spiritual
end. He pointed out that there could
not De found In the temple and its re-
ligious services the f1nality that his
countrymen held. He insisted that in
every forward program. that prom
program had been misunderstood, His
plans hindered and His prophetic mes
sengers rejected by Israel The ma
tional tendency to cling. to the ma
terial practice of the moment had kept
them from recognizing the higher
spiritual blessing that Jehovah had
longed to impart to them.
An exhaustive exposition of Stephens
brilliant defense is impossible within
~ FVvl.x
progressive character of their religion
he established by his references to
Abraham, Joseph and Moses. He proved
by his historical references that the
mode OF worship had not been limited
to q definite place or a fixed ritual, but
that they had been late in origin and
temporary in their purpose. He con-
clusively demonstrated that at every
critical period in its history Israel had
mistaken the leadings of Jehovah and
resisted His messengers that He had
sent to save them. His generous refer
enceS to Moses and the law established
Stephens innocence of the charge that
He had blasphemed God by his attitude
toward Moses and the temple. He evil
IDENTIFY recognized the folly of expecting
justice from the court, for he delib-
erately charged them with being guilty
In their. hearts Of the charges made
against him. 1t resulted in his death.
The First Martyr.
The first martyr to witness by his
death to his loyalty to Christ was
the gifted man whose service and speech
reveal the fact that had he lived
Stephen would have taken a prominent
place in n1olding the history and teach
ings OF Christianity. He died the VIC
tim Of q mob; yet at the same time
his execution was as legal as they could
possibly make It, The casting of the
first stone was all in accordance with
the Mosaic law. Saul took care of the
clothes of those casting the stones.
There was something about the atti-
tude OF Stephen, whose face showed the
reflection Of the Master. whom he saw
in glory. His prayer for his enemies
reflected the spirit of the Lord Jesus.
Saul was well pleased at his death"
He left the scene full Of rejoicing, but
he could not get away from the spirit
that Stephen had shown in his death.
1t disturbed him to that extent that
he fought the Christians with a bitter
persecution that scattered them abroad
into all parts of Judea and Samaria."
Although the first person chosen to be
a deacon had died for the glory of the
Christ, the effect of his martyrdom was
seen later in the conversion of Saul and
his great missionary work. His preach
ing carried out the ideals that he had
heard the martyr Stephen proclaim in
the synagogue and at his trial. In his
death Stephen conquered Saul, who
took up the martyrs work.