Seven Deacons
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“For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy
this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”
As Stephen stood face to face with his judges, to answer to the
crime of blasphemy, a holy radiance shone 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.” Those who exalted Moses
might have seen in the face of the prisoner the same holy light which
radiated the face of that ancient prophet. The shekinah was a spectacle
which they would never again witness in the temple whose glory had
departed forever. Many who beheld the lighted countenance of Stephen
trembled and veiled their faces; but stubborn unbelief and prejudice
never faltered.
Stephen was questioned as to the truth of the charges against him,
and took up his defense in a clear, thrilling voice that rang through
the council hall. He proceeded to rehearse the history of the chosen
people of God, in words that held the assembly spell-bound. He
showed a thorough knowledge of the Jewish economy, and the spiritual
interpretation of it now made manifest through Christ. He began
with Abraham, and traced down through history from generation to
generation, going through all the national records of Israel to Solomon,
taking up the most impressive points to vindicate his cause.
He showed that God commended the faith of Abraham, which
claimed the land of promise, though he owned no foot of land. He
dwelt especially upon Moses, who received the law by the dispensation
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of angels. He repeated the words of Moses which foretold of Christ:
“A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto me; him shall ye hear.” He presented distinctly before them
that the sin of Israel was in not heeding the voice of the angel, who
was Christ himself. Said he, “This is he that was in the church in the
wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and
with our fathers, who received the lively oracles to give unto us.”
He made plain his own loyalty to God and to the Jewish faith,
while he showed that the law in which they trusted for salvation had
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