10
Sketches from the Life of Paul
He perceived the resistance that met his words, which were spoken at
the dictation of the Holy Ghost. He knew that he was giving his last
testimony. 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
stiff-necked 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
showed 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.”
[19]
At this the 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. The scene about him faded from his vision; the gates of Heaven
were ajar, and Stephen, looking in, saw the glory of the courts of God,
and Christ, as if just risen from his throne, standing ready to sustain
his servant, who was about to suffer martyrdom for his name. When
Stephen proclaimed the glorious scene opened before him, it was more
than his persecutors could endure. They stopped their ears, that they
might not hear his words, and uttering loud cries ran furiously upon
him with one accord. “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God,
and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and
cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And
when he had said this, he fell asleep.” The witnesses who had accused
him were required to cast the first stones. These persons laid down
their clothes at the feet of Saul, who had taken an active part in the
disputation, and had consented to the prisoner’s death.
The martyrdom of Stephen made a deep impression upon all who
witnessed it. It was a sore trial to the church, but resulted in the
conversion of Saul. The faith, constancy, and glorification of the
martyr could not be effaced from his memory. The signet of God upon
his face, his words, that reached to the very soul of those who heard