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The Death of Stephen
Disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and many of the priests
were obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of faith, was doing great
wonders and miracles among the people. The Jewish leaders were
stirred to greater anger as they saw priests turning from their tra-
ditions, and from the sacrifices and offerings, and accepting Jesus
as the great sacrifice. With power from on high, Stephen reproved
the unbelieving priests and elders, and exalted Jesus before them.
They could not withstand the wisdom and power with which he
spoke, and as they found that they could prevail nothing against
him, they hired men to swear falsely that they had heard him speak
blasphemous words against Moses and against God. They stirred up
the people and took Stephen, and, through false witnesses, accused
him of speaking against the temple and the law. They testified that
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they had heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the
customs which Moses gave them.
As Stephen stood before his judges, the light of the glory of God
rested upon his countenance. “And all that sat in the council, looking
steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”
When called upon to answer to the charges brought against him, he
began at Moses and the prophets and reviewed the history of the
children of Israel and the dealings of God with them and showed how
Christ had been foretold in prophecy. He referred to the history of
the temple and declared that God dwelleth not in temples made with
hands. The Jews worshiped the temple and were filled with greater
indignation at anything spoken against that building than if it had
been spoken against God. As Stephen spoke of Christ and referred
to the temple, he saw that the people were rejecting his words; and
he fearlessly rebuked them: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in
heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.” While they
observed the outward ordinances of their religion, their hearts were
corrupt and full of deadly evil. He referred to the cruelty of their
fathers in persecuting the prophets, and declared that those whom
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