Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-25

Stephens selection as one OF the
seven, who are usually referred TO as
deaconS, was the commencement OF q
new era in the Apostolic Church. His
work in connection with the admins
tration of the relief fund carried him
into all parts of Jerusalem. 1t brought
him into contact with the foreign
speaking Jews with whom he converSed
and debated in their synagogues about
the Lord Jesus. His healing ministry
attracted attention to Stephen, who
was deep student of the Old Tesla
ment and a skilled debater on all relig-
iouS and theological subjects. He took
an advanced position that the religion
Of Jesus was q fulfillment OF the
prophets and rttualistic services OF the
temple. He held that Christianity was
new faith that put an end to all the
old Hebratc institutions. In the dis
cussions that he carried on in the syna-
! gogues, no man was able to overcome
him in debate. The suggestion that
Saul of Tarsus, the brilliant young
rabbi. had been put forward as a cham
pion Of the orthodox Judaism and been
defeated by Stephen has much merit.
This may have caused his arrest.
In the address that he delivered be-
fore the Sanhedrin, one notes a depar-
ture from the position taken by Peter
in his defense of the new faith. Luke
probably secured this address from none
other than Saul, who was deeply i'm
pressed by the logical reasoning of
Stephen. Speaking of Israels historic
development, Stephen selected the ca
reerS and characters of Abraham, Jo-
seph and Moses. Appealing to the ma
tons pride in their founder he quietly
suggested that Abrahams privileges as
the friend Of God were not linked up
with any particular place. His descend
ants were slaves for 400 years before
even an altar was erected to God in
Palestine. Joseph, Stephen pointed out,
was the first instance of Israels mis-
conception of JehoVah'S purpose and
rejection of the one God had chosen to
save the nation. He pointed out with
much detail how the nation had mis-
understood and refused to accept him
as champion, lberator and prophet, just
as their posterity was refusing and mis-
reading one, who was the greater
prophet concerning whom Moses had
spoken. He insisted that in every cru
cial hour that they as a people had
mistaken the leadings of Jehovah and
rejected those whom He sent to save
the nation.
Starts a Persecution.
No one would charge Stephen with
ASADCA @LCiy SIoA tlIlS persecution, DuL
the indictment that he drew against
his own countrymen resulted in the
church being prosecuted. He had been
charged with blasphemy because of his
position that one could worship Je-
hovah apart from the temple. This
early champion Of religious liberty and
spiritual freedom indicated the Spiri-
tual elements that had always existed
in the faith OF the Hebrews in spite
OF the efforts of some to centraliZe it
and identify it with the worship in the
temple. Stephen insisted that 1t was
only in recent times that this element
had been dominant. He pointed out
that there had been a progressive and
gradual character of divine revelations,
which had finally given an expression
in the temple and its services.
While he turned the charges made
against him as an indictment against
the nation, the members of the court
were cut to the heart" by his charges
They noted amid the tumult that his
charges created that his face was radi-
ant with spiritual glory such as
marked the face Of Moses Of old. APP
parently for a moment they were para
lyzed as to action, except that they
"gnashed their teeth" at the angelic
face confronting them. The calm, cou-
rageous champions attitude and his
charges hlled them with almost uncon-
trollable rage. Stephen was strength
ened for the trial by being full of
faith and of the Holy Ghost" He was
given a vision of Christ that helped
him to face the court and gave him
courage to face that hostile tribunal
that ordered Stephen to be stoned to
death, because they held he had vio-
lated the law. The crisis in the history
Of the Church had arrived, when the
tide Of rage which awe had for O
moment frozen" swept through the
court and through the chambers with
rush and filled with passion, they
carried Stephen for execution without
the city gate" The death sentence
was executed while Saul of Tarsus con-
sented to the same by caring for the
clothes Of those who cast the stones, in
accordance with their code.
Saul never forgot that hour. The
prayer of Stephen for his enemies stirred
his soul. He tried to silence his con-
science, but throughout his desperate
efforts In prosecuting the saints and
NSUE1 ENfl SSsS IN III NJ ONION