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Death of Stephen
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not been able to preserve Israel from idolatry. He connected Jesus
Christ with all the Jewish history. He referred to the building of the
temple by Solomon, and to the words of both Solomon and Isaiah:
“Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands.”
“Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye
build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest? Hath not
my hand made all these things?” The place of God’s highest worship
was in heaven.
When Stephen had reached this point, there was a tumult among
the people. The prisoner read his fate in the countenances before
him. He perceived the resistance that met his words, which were
spoken at the dictation of the Holy Ghost. He knew that he was
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giving his last testimony. Few who read this address of Stephen
properly appreciate it. The occasion, the time and place, should be
borne in mind to make his words convey their full significance.
When he connected Jesus Christ with the prophecies and spoke
of the temple as he did, the priest, affecting to be horror stricken,
rent his robe. This act was to Stephen a signal that his voice would
soon be silenced forever. Although he was just in the midst of his
sermon, he abruptly concluded it by suddenly breaking away from
the chain of history, and, turning upon his infuriated judges, said,
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always
resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the
prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them
which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye
have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the
law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”
A Martyr’s Death
At this priests and rulers were beside themselves with anger.
They were more like wild beasts of prey than like human beings.
They rushed upon Stephen, gnashing their teeth. But he was not
intimidated; he had expected this. His face was calm, and shone
with an angelic light. The infuriated priests and the excited mob had
no terrors for him. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up
stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing