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Chapter 36—Death of Stephen
This chapter is based on
Acts 6:8 to 7:60
.
Stephen was very active in the cause of God and declared his faith
boldly. “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called
the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he
spake.” These students of the great rabbis had felt confident that in a
public discussion they could obtain a complete victory over Stephen,
because of his supposed ignorance. But he not only spoke with the
power of the Holy Ghost, but it was plain to all the vast assembly
that he was also a student of the prophecies and learned in all matters
of the law. He ably defended the truths he advocated, and utterly
defeated his opponents.
The priests and rulers who witnessed the wonderful manifes-
tation of the power that attended the ministration of Stephen were
filled with bitter hatred. Instead of yielding to the weight of evidence
he presented, they determined to silence his voice by putting him to
death.
They therefore seized Stephen and brought him before the San-
hedrin council for trial.
Learned Jews from the surrounding countries were summoned
for the purpose of refuting the arguments of the accused. Saul, who
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had distinguished himself as a zealous opponent of the doctrine
of Christ, and a persecutor of all who believed on Him, was also
present. This learned man took a leading part against Stephen. He
brought the weight of eloquence and the logic of the rabbis to bear
upon the case, and convince the people that Stephen was preaching
delusive and dangerous doctrines.
But Saul met in Stephen one as highly educated as himself, and
one who had a full understanding of the purpose of God in the
spreading of the gospel to other nations. He believed in the God of
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