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is recorded that “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders
and miracles among the people.” They were fully qualified to instruct
in the truth. They were also men of calm judgment and discretion,
well calculated to deal with difficult cases of trial, of murmuring or
jealousy.
This choosing of men to transact the business of the church, so that
the apostles could be left free for their special work of teaching the
truth, was greatly blessed of God. The church advanced in numbers
and strength. “And the word of God increased; and the number of the
disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith.”
It is necessary that the same order and system should be maintained
in the church now as in the days of the apostles. The prosperity of
the cause depends very largely upon its various departments being
conducted by men of ability, who are qualified for their positions.
Those who are chosen of God to be leaders in the cause of God, having
the general oversight of the spiritual interest of the church, should be
relieved, as far as possible, from cares and perplexities of a temporal
nature. Those whom God has called to minister in word and doctrine
should have time for meditation, prayer, and study of the Scriptures.
Their clear spiritual discernment is dimmed by entering into the lesser
details of business, and dealing with the various temperaments of those
who meet together in church capacity. It is proper for all matters of
a temporal nature to come before the proper officers, and be by them
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adjusted. But if they are of so difficult a character as to baffle their
wisdom, they should be carried into the council of those who have the
oversight of the entire church.
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, dising 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.