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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
He ably defended the truths he advocated, and utterly defeated his
opponents.
The priests and rulers who witnessed the wonderful manifestation
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 ting him to death. They had on
several occasions bribed the Roman authorities to pass over without
comment instances where the Jews had taken the law into their own
hands, and tried, condemned, and executed prisoners according to
their national custom. The enemies of Stephen did not doubt that
they could pursue such a course without danger to themselves. They
determined to risk the consequences at all events, and they therefore
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seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrim council for trial.
Learned Jews from the surrounding countries were summoned
for the purpose of refuting the arguments of the accused. Saul, who
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 Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and was fully established in regard to the privileges
of the Jews; but his faith was broad, and he knew the time had come
when the true believers should worship not alone in temples made
with hands; but, throughout the world, men might worship God in
Spirit and in truth. The vail had dropped from the eyes of Stephen,
and he discerned to the end of that which was abolished by the death
of Christ.
The priests and rulers prevailed nothing against his clear, calm
wisdom, though they were vehement in their opposition. They deter-
mined to make an example of Stephen, and, while they thus satisfied
their revengeful hatred, prevent others, through fear, from adopting
his belief. Charges were preferred against him in a most imposing
manner. False witnesses were hired to testify that they had heard him
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speak blasphemous words against the temple and the law. Said they,